I wanted to do an introduction column like this when I first got here a couple of weeks ago, but when you are in the midst of a busy sports season, you're not always afforded that luxury.

However, now there is this break between the fall and winter sports, it seemed like a great time to formally introduce myself to the loyal readers of Scotland County, if you have not met me already.

My name is Zach Colburn, and I am the newest member of the Laurinburg Exchange family.

I have come to Laurinburg from the mountains of western North Carolina (Asheville, to be exact). I am still getting use to this being able to wear short-sleeves in November, compared to wearing long sleeves by the beginning of October back home, but it's a good change.

A.C. Reynolds is the name of the high school that I went to, it is about the same size as Scotland High. While there, I served as a team manager for the varsity baseball team and was also a statistician/ assistant coach with the junior varsity boys basketball team.

After four years of being a Rocket, I traded in my green and gold for purple and gold and became a Catamount of Western Carolina University.

My sophomore year is when I got an opportunity to start writing sports, and for some reason it seemed like a good fit for me.

After graduating with a bachelor's of science degree in communications (concentration in broadcasting) and a minor in criminal justice, I started writing freelance for a high school sports website in Asheville and enjoyed almost every minute of it.

A few months later, I began writing for a three-day-a-week newspaper called The Mountaineer. This is where I met their sports editor and my mentor, Chuck Fiebernitz.

Fiebernitz, a.k.a: The Godfather, taught me about writing under deadlines and that my job as a sports reporter is to help sell newspapers by writing entertaining and informative stories.

I got a chance to cover a pair of high schools, Pisgah and Tuscola, that are literally eight miles apart. Trust me, I did the mileage.

Along with writing game stories, features, and doing side-bars for those schools, I got an opportunity to cover my alma mater in many different sports. I even got a chance to cover former Scotland High and WCU standout Nick Liles, who is currently now in the Giants organization. Once baseball season begins, I plan on doing updates on him and all the other former Scots standouts.

Just because I write sports, does not mean that there is not a fan side to me. Growing up, and still now, I continue to be a hardcore Boston Red Sox fan. I guess that comes from all of my extended family coming from the New England area.

Along with the Sox, I am an avid Atlanta Braves fan and Carolina Hurricanes fan. In football, I root first and foremost for the Carolina Panthers along with the New England Patriots Luckily they play in separate leagues and rarely play each other, except for Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Outside of professional baseball, I am probably the most passionate about college basketball. Though this may be Tar Heel country, I am a big Duke basketball fan, so do not be surprised if you see me wearing a Blue Devils hat when I cover sporting events.

I guess you could say that my love for sports has to come from my mom. She's always been a big fan, even more than my dad.

With this column that I hope to start doing every week, I plan on discussing numerous topics in sports, especially Scotland and St. Andrews college. I will also be throwing in the occasional college or professional sports story. If you have any ideas on topics, feel free to e-mail them to me or talk to me when I am at a game about them.

With my last paper, I got to know all the coaches, players, volunteers and parents in the towns rather well, and I hope to continue that all of you.

Post Cards to home: Volleyball edition

This little section is another way that I plan informing the readers of this county on how some of the Scotland alum are doing at the collegiate level.

Since I have already informed everyone on Fayetteville State volleyball standout, Kim Jefferson, I am going to update you on a few of her teammates, all three of them come from the Scotland County area, as well.

Demarius Pankey has put up some solid numbers for the Fayetteville State volleyball team. The junior deep setter has played in 54 sets this season, tallying 18 service aces, good for fourth on the team. She is also fourth on the team in digs with 80.

Sophomore outside hitter, Kierra Crosland, has played in 70 sets this year, and like Pankey, is fourth on the team with 80 digs. She has also added 15 service aces.

Samantha Meeks just completed a regular season for the Lady Broncos that saw her being honored with a spot on the the all CIAA first team. The junior is second on the team in kills, behind Jefferson, with 185. The junior is also second on the team in service aces with 27 and third with 97 digs in 66 sets.