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DEL.ICIO.USRounding 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
Comments
By HC
March 21, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this
Better watch out for the HARRIS COUNTY Tigers!
By Shamrock Snagger
March 21, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
Great stuff. Good to read about players and teams from other areas outside of the AJC range.
By Jawjadude
March 22, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this
if you are the same Jay Stone that wrote for the paper in Tifton at one time (and I wish you were back, because Steve Carter is awful) you would know that it is Israel Troupe not Troup
By Nick
March 22, 2007 6:13 PM | Link to this
Northgate 10-0! watch out they are on fire!!
By Blue Devil Block
March 23, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
Tift County is now 10-1 and is benefiting from solid, dependable defensive play from Seniors Garrett Blalock, Charlie Edwards, Carson Tapp, Luke Bragg and Sophmore Chance Veazey. They also have respectable hitting abilities and we hope to make another run in the playoffs this year. Who knows, a state title is not out of the question.
By Rick
March 26, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
I would like to know some info on Heritage high school baseball and individual stats and leaders.
By Jon
March 27, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Most underated team in 8AAAA Loganville High School. Solid hitting from Dearing (5 bombs)Great defense, awesome pitching from Hickey a senior right hander. Great team to watch!
By Ronnie Christian
March 27, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Tyler Norton C / 2b Henry County Highschool . 5/6 2HR 12 RBI’S in 2 games .