SPORTS BRIEFS: Georgia Firebirds fall in season opener

Georgia Firebirds fall in opener

The first game for the Georgia Firebirds won’t be remembered as a good one. In the season opener Sunday afternoon at the Columbus Civic Center, the Firebirds were crushed 86-0 by the Columbus Lions.

No other details were available.

The Firebirds return home Saturday to play the Atlanta Vultures in the season opener at the Albany Civic Center. Game time is at 7:05 p.m.

Darton swept by Georgia Highlands

The Darton State College baseball team dropped a pair of games to Georgia Highlands Sunday afternoon and fell to 2-2 in conference play.

In the first game, Georgia Highlands won 7-4. They jumped all over starter Jeremy Beasley, who allowed eight hits and six earned runs in five innings to take the loss. Mike Huggins went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Matt Harman went 3 for 4 with an RBI, while Denzell Gowdy went 2 for 4 with a triple.

In the second game, Georgia Highlands took a 5-4 victory. Rabon Martin took the loss. Huggins again went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI. Kendall Herron finished 2 for 3, while Tyler Morris went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

The Cavaliers (15-13) will play host to Thomas University JV Thursday in a doubleheader.

Pelicans Davis out for the rest of season

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, a three-time NBA All-Star, will miss the rest of the season due to knee and shoulder injuries that require surgery, coach Alvin Gentry said before Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

“We’re going to shut him down, so he’s done for the year,” Gentry said.

Gentry also said the injuries, which include a torn torn labrum, likely would force Davis to miss the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“If I was a betting man, probably so,” Gentry said.

The Pelicans did not release specifics on Davis’ left knee injury, which he sustained while setting a pick for teammate Jrue Holiday in a 117-112 loss to Portland on Friday night.

Davis’ left knee appeared to hyperextend when Holiday, defended closely by Damian Lillard, collided with Davis at the end of the first half. Davis had 19 first-half points but never returned to the game, and after the game, Gentry said the injury did not appear to be serious.

“I just know that it’s something that’s very fixable,” Gentry said. “It’s just something that needs to be done in time (so that it can) heal and be ready to go. And the same thing with the shoulder.”

Davis, the Pelicans’ leading scorer (24.3), rebounder (10.3) and shot blocker (2.0), injured his left shoulder in November but has played through the pain. He has missed seven games due to injury this year and will miss the final 14 games of the season.