AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTate’s name spreading state-wide
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rounding the bases — 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 weekly state baseball report.
The official “making a name for himself” campaign for Donovan Tate may have started Monday for the Cartersville outfielder.
The son of former UGA running back Lars Tate, Donovan blasted two homeruns and made a game-saving diving catch with the bases loaded in extra innings for the Hurricanes in a 12-inning win over Parkview.
Cartersville is was 11-2 after the win, which also featured seven innings of relief pitching by Chris Willingham.
“Other than the state championships, that was a pretty big win,” said Cartersville coach Stuart Chester. “We definitely got more out of that than we would going and beating somebody 15-0.”
Colby cheese: Lowndes senior Colby Yates is slicing up opponents on the mound and at the plate. He’s 2-0 with a 3.09 ERA and his hitting .542 with three homers and nine RBIS. The Vikings, who entered Tuesday’s games at 8-3, have five other players batting .300 or better, led by designated hitter Jarrod Pass (.348) …
Quick turnaround: Despite a short preseason due to the school’s run to the state basketball championship, Wilkinson County is off to 7-1 start, the Irwinton school’s best start in 24 years according to coach Erwin Clowers. Senior Nick Mazaris is unbeaten and has 24 strikeouts in three starts, while senior catcher Justine Hayles is hitting .555 with 12 RBIs …
Can’t let go: Harris County coach Tommy Parks was a stop-gap measure last year after Scott Johnson stepped down in the middle of the school year. Parks, also the Hamilton school’s football coach, intended for it to be a one-season thing.
“We won too much,” he said. So Parks re-upped for coaching two sports again, and the Tigers are making it pay off with a 10-0 start.
“It’s great,” Parks said, “but we haven’t played Columbus yet.”
Seniors Logan Foster has belted six homers and is hitting .545 for the Tigers, while Western Kentucky football signee Chris Bullard his batting .520. Senior right-hander Caleb Brewer is 4-0 and has fanned 34 batters in 24 inning pitched …
No-no so close: Cartersville’s Benji Farr lost a no-hitter with two outs in the seventh inning of a 5-0 win over Sandy Creek last week …
On the skids: Toomb County started 5-1, but lost three straight going into Tuesday’s play. Coach Brian Fitzgerald said the trouble was with the Bulldogs’ bats. Senior right-hander Jared Allen is 3-1 and has 23 strikeouts in 22 innings of work. He’s allowed just two earned runs in his last three starts, including a two-hitter ina 2-1 loss to Bleckley County last week.
“We’re getting pretty decent pitching, but the curveball’s giving us all kind of trouble,” Fitzgerald said.
Ace pitcher Cody Williams has missed two starts because of a bone bruise in his shoulder.
Surging Jackets: Jeff Davis started slow but has pushed to 7-5 and 3-1 in Region 2-AA. Middle Georgia signee Bryant Kerns, a 6-foot-4 left-hander, is 4-0, while junior center fielder Kelly Williams his hitting over .400 …
Super sophomores: Lowndes’ James Hanger has won his first three starts with 16 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched … Toombs catcher Justin Adams is batting .340 … Fitzgerald’s Brad Taylor is 4-0 with an ERA less than 1.00 while hitting .350 …
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: State Report
Comments
By Josh
April 4, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
Speaking of super sophomores, Woodland High School’s shortstop and leadoff hitter, Alex Forsyth, is hitting around .380. Has scored in each of his last 6 games and has reached base in every game he has played this year. He did, however, miss three games with a sprained ankle.
By Josh
April 4, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Also, Forsyth has an OBP of .550.