By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

With the Region 2-AAA schedule nearing the midway point, things are starting to take shape in the standings.

Columbus is still the front-runner at 5-0, which was expected coming into the season.

The Blue Devils won the LaGrange Invitational tournament last month, and they’ve cleaned up most of the opponents they’ve faced.

Armed with a pair of pitchers who have already signed with the University of Alabama, Columbus remains the team to beat, according to LaGrange head coach Donnie Branch.

“They have better pitching and pitching depth than any other team in the region,” Branch said.

Troup High and Northside each still have a shot at catching Columbus, though.

Troup and Northside are both 3-1 in the region.

Troup lost to Columbus 8-2, while Northside plays Columbus for the first time today.

The top four teams in the region will make the state playoffs, and LaGrange owns that spot with a 3-2 record.

Shaw, Kendrick and Carver have just one region win between them, although Shaw showed some positive signs in Monday’s 14-4 loss to Troup.

Although it ended up as a blowout loss, Shaw was only down 5-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

LaGrange could all but sew up a playoff spot with a win at Shaw on Wednesday.

LaGrange has already defeated Shaw once this season.

“If we sweep them, then Shaw has to beat some really good teams (to get fourth place),” Branch said. “We would have the tiebreaker.”

As always, Monday’s rivalry showdown between Troup and LaGrange will have plenty of emotion, but also has a lot of weight in the region standings.

“(Troup) will be tough to beat,” Branch said.

In addition to Troup and Shaw, LaGrange also plays Kendrick next week.

The LaGrange showdown is one of three huge games for Troup.

Troup hosts Northside on Wednesday before traveling to Columbus High on Friday,

“It’s a big week for us,” said Troup coach Craig Garner, whose team was scheduled to play Kendrick today.

In Region 5-AA, Callaway is in a fight to stay in the top four.

Heard County (9-0) and Pike County (8-0) are both unbeaten and atop the standing, and Callaway is a distant third at 5-3.

Lamar County is 4-3, and Manchester (5-5) and Crawford County (4-5) are also in the hunt.

Callaway hosts Lamar County on Tuesday before visiting Crawford County Wednesday.