SPORTS BRIEFS: Darton softball sweeps Thomas University

Darton softball sweeps Thomas University

The Darton State College softball team combined for 22 hits as they swept Thomas University Wednesday at Darton.

Tiffany Bishop improved to 5-5 after pitching a one-hitter to win Game 1, 9-1, in five innings.

Kendall Holland allowed only four hits to get the 8-3 win in Game 2.

“Everybody in the lineup had at least one hit today,” said Darton State College head softball coach Amber Miles. “And we found a way to manufacture runs.”

Darton improved to 7-14 overall and 2-2 in GCAA play. The Lady Cavs will travel to Niceville, Fla., for the Jimmy Stewart Classic Tournament Friday for the first of a dozen consecutive away games. They’ll return to Albany to host East Georgia in a double-header on April 1, at 3 p.m.

Lee County baseball upends Valdosta

The Lee County baseball team picked up a huge Region 1-AAAAAA victory late Tuesday night in Valdosta, topping the Wildcats 7-3.

The Trojans improved to 9-1 overall, 2-0 in region play. Michael Reddick earned the victory, working four and two-thirds innings and striking out seven. Andrew Wingate picked up the save.

Josh Hatcher went 3 for 4, while Garet Morrell went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Jordan Reep finished 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Nick Bush finished 2 for 3.

Lee County will play host to region rival Colquitt County on Friday.

Johnson heads to Indianapolis

The Indianapolis Colts signed free-agent wide receiver Andre Johnson, the team announced Wednesday.

Details of the contract were not released, but ESPN reported it is a three-year, $21 million deal.

It is the Colts’ second major move to shore up their offense and add some pieces around quarterback Andrew Luck. Free-agent running back Frank Gore officially signed with the Colts Wednesday morning.

Johnson became available when he was released by the Houston Texans this week after 12 years with the Texans.

Rather than accept a diminished role with the Texans, Johnson, a seven-time Pro Bowler, asked to be to be traded or released.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Johnson had 85 receptions for 936 yards in 2014, which was a significant decline from previous years. He had 109 catches for 1,407 yards in 2013 and 112 catches for 1,598 yards in 2012. He led the NFL in receptions in 2006 and 2008.

Johnson, who turns 34 in July, had two years remaining on his Houston contract, with a salary-cap figure of $16.1 million for 2015.

Gore, who signed a three-year, $12 million deal, and Johnson both played at the University of Miami.

Jets, Revis reunite

On a day marked by blockbuster trades, one of the most stunning moves took place late Tuesday night when Revis and the New York Jets agreed to reunite.

Revis tweeted: I want to thank the Pats and Pats Nation for an unbelievable year. NEW YORK I’m coming home.

Just five hours after becoming a free agent, the Jets swooped in and secured the services of one of the best defensive players in the league.

ESPN is reporting that the Jets offered the 29-year-old Revis a five-year deal worth $70 million, which will make him the highest paid cornerback in NFL history. According to reports, $39 million is guaranteed.

By signing with the Jets, Revis picked the team that drafted him over the team he helped win a Super Bowl.

The Patriots had declined to exercise Revis’ $20 million option for 2015, but they had retained exclusive negotiating rights until 4 p.m. ET.

Revis played for the Jets from 2007 to 2012, earning All-Pro honors three times. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2012 season.

After one season in Tampa Bay, he was released and signed a two-year deal worth $32 million with New England.

By the time the Jets traded Revis, he had worn out his welcome because of two contract holdouts.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Jets bolstered their defensive backfield with the signing of former Cleveland Browns cornerback Buster Skrine.