AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 21
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Inside Pitch: Metro
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Each week, staff writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. blogs about who’s hot and who’s not in the metro Atlanta baseball scene. Scroll down to comment on this blog.
‘Canes deserve cred
In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s preseason top 10 teams story, Cartersville was inexplicably left out. After further evaluation (and several emails from readers pointing out the Purple Hurricanes’ credentials), I’ve decided to try and make amends with all C’Ville fans. After all, these guys are good.
Cartersville, a Class AAA Elite Eight team a year ago, looks even stronger in 2007. In just three short weeks, the ‘Canes have put together an 8-2 record that includes a win over Class AAAAA McEachern, a victory over defending Class AAAA champion Greenbrier and four wins in a 24-hour span in the LaGrange Tournament.
Senior outfielder Lyle Allen is one of the state’s best. The MVP in LaGrange, Allen is committed to Georgia, but he might be a professional by the fall. His .464 average leads the team and he’s getting help: junior catcher Taylor Hightower’s hitting .460 and outfielder Donovan Tate is one of the highest-rated sophomores in the country.
On the hill, senior Benji Barr won two huge games over Greenbrier (struck out the side on four occasions; 12 for the game) and Alabama power, Cullman High School.
But who’s counting? On the flip side, the Northgate Vikings’ 10-0 start raised a few eyebrows in the Metro area. The Vikes won 25 games a year ago and reached the Class AAAA Elite Eight, yet, an unbeaten run through 10 games wasn’t expected. Senior battery mates, catcher John Doolittle, who’s already hit 10 home runs, and Will Smith, 4-0 on the mound and responsible for five long balls, have carried the Coweta County school. “We’ve been hitting the ball real well,” Vikings’ coach Greg Hamilton said, perhaps alluding to his team’s 10.8 run per game habit.
Perfect mix: Avondale has two key ingredients in building a playoff-caliber team: a catalyst at the top of the lineup in junior outfielder Antonio Scott (.559 average with 14 stolen bases) and an ace hurler in junior Greg Boyd (1.75 ERA, 24 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched). The Blue Devils won their first eight games before splitting a doubleheader; a 12-7 loss to Mays followed a 12-10 win over Stone Mountain.
Player of the week: East Paulding junior catcher/first baseman, Adam Brazenas homered in two consecutive games to help the Raiders to wins over Douglas County and Lithia Springs.
Hack away: Got a team you’d like to see profiled here or just want to talk ball with Kurt? Send an e-mail.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Baseball, Metro, State Report
Rounding The Bases: State
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Each week, staff writer Jay Stone catches up with teams throughout the state. Who’s hot? Who’s not? Who’ll be a bear to contend with this season? Find out here in the state baseball report. Scroll down to comment on this blog.
Smokin’ and Pullen ‘em: After striking out 20 batters in 10 2/3 innings over his first three starts, Calhoun senior left-hander Josh Smoker, a Clemson signee, tossed a one-hitter against Rockmart to improve to 4-0. But the player who is really hot for the unbeaten Yellow Jackets is senior pitcher/third baseman Brodie Pullen, who in eight games is batting .577 with eight homers and 20 RBIs. “He’s just tearing the cover off the ball,” said Calhoun coach Chip Henderson, whose club is hitting .401 as a team with 17 home runs. Two other Calhoun players are batting better than .450. Junior catcher Brad Moss is at .456 and senior shortstop Charlie Culberson, is at .529.
Solid in-state: Lowndes went 5-3 through its first eight games, its only losses against teams from Florida. Two-way threat Colby Yates is leading the charge, with a .529 batting average and three homers while winning his first two starts. The Vikings have four other players hitting .300 or higher.
Feel good, then not: Vidalia dedicated its field last Saturday, naming it after longtime coach Greg James, who led the Indians to a state championships in 1995 and 2003. After playing on fields run by the Vidalia Recreation Department for years, the Indians moved to the new facility behind the high school in 2002. The same day of the dedication, Vidalia ace pitcher Justin Harrington was hit on the chin by a line drive in his start against Swainsboro. Harrington, who is 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched, was not seriously hurt, James said. The Indians’ No. 2 starter, Michael Madison, who was also hit by a line drive earlier in the season, was hitting .500 with two homers and seven RBIs through nine games.
All hit? Perennial state power Columbus is off to a 4-2 start thanks mainly to its hitting, according to coach Bobby Howard. “We’ve been struggling pitching,” said Howard, whose club is 3-0 in Region 2-AAA nonetheless. Alabama signee Chase Weems, a senior catcher, is hitting .571 with four homers,and senior center fielder Adrian Thomas, who is headed to Penn, is batting .462.
Playoff springboard: Tift County looks to be benefiting from its playoff run last year. The Blue Devils are off to a 9-1 start behind Georgia football signee Israel Troup, who is hitting .484, and junior pitcher/second baseman Jacob Stinson, who is batting .410 and is 4-0 with a 1.46 ERA.
Make your pitch. Got a team you’d like to see profiled here or just want to talk ball with Jay? Send an e-mail.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Baseball, State Report
