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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.
Bright spot: It’s been an otherwise forgettable year for Benedictine. The Cadets, who lost seven starters from last year’s state playoff team, entered the week on a three-game losing streak. But the Savannah school has had bright spots. Senior Michael Patton, a left-hander who has committed to North Georgia College, struck out 17 batters in a 4-0 win over Burke County.
Gale force: Cartersville’s Lyle Allen is averaging two RBIs per game for the Hurricanes, who are 18-2 overall and 8-0 in Region 6-AAA. Allen leads the team with six homers while hitting .500 (35 for 70). Donavan Tate, son of former Georgia running back Lars Tate, is at .480 with three homers, while Benji Farr is 8-0 with 0.40 ERA, having allowed two earned runs in 35 innings of work.
Bright spot, II: Hardaway, usually a state playoff fixture, has also struggled this spring, but catcher Jake McCoy his hitting .407 with four homers and 17 RBIs for the Hawks, who play in perhaps the toughest region in Class AAA.
Bright spot, III: Shortstop Jody Hobbs is the lone senior starter for Vidalia, which fell to 8-11 overall in 3-4 in 4-AA with a 6-4 loss Tuesday against rival Toombs County. Hobbs leads the Indians with a .417 average and 12 RBIs, while a pair of juniors — third baseman Chris Dykes and leftfielder Michael Madison — are both hitting better than .380.
Heating up: In his last three starts, Social Circle pitcher Chris Anderson has allowed just one earned run, and teammate Tyler Jones is hitting .533 over his past two games.
Double streakin’: North Oconee’s Justin Roberts had an 11-game hitting streak, improving his average to .468. Meanwhile, on the mound he has put up a 14-inning scoreless streak covering three games. Teammate Bryson Smith is putting up one of the most complete offensive seasons in the state, hitting .551 with three homers, 28 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 13 attempts.
Fearsome foursome: Ryan White, Nathan Bass, Greg Sealey and Ryan Allen are carrying the load for Lanier County, which is 14-5 and 8-1 in Region 1-A. Bass is 5-1 with 50 strikeouts and only four walks in 42 innings pitched, while White is 4-1 and Allen is 5-3. Sealey is hitting .561 with a team-high 28 RBIs.
Tiger, Tiger: Washington-Wilkes’ Demont Gresham is 5-1 with a 0.92 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched, according to coach Rob Jackson, whose club is 11-4-1 and 6-2 in Region 8-AA South. Teammate Clete Wilson his hitting .500.
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 (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Baseball, State Report
Comments
By Ozzie
April 18, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
wow, Gresham with 89 ks in only 46 innings?
By l
April 18, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this
Yes Gresham was throwing 91 mph in the 7th inning last night against North Oconee. Cincinnati Reds scouts were impressed. :)
By rachael
April 21, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
I understand that a little old team from north georgia is ranked 41st in the nation. You may want to give them some pub. Calhoun high school has a high school all ameican pitcher and a hitter that has 20hr and will probably break the GHSA home run record for a year. Not bad for a school that is outside the Atlanta area that gets little or no mention. Will probably win the state again with a little luck and a lot of skill. Show them some love.
By Fred
April 22, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
readers of these blogs have very short memories…..I believe Calhoun was mentioned in LAST WEEK’S state baseball blog.
By Andrew
April 23, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this
Calhoun is going to be a very very tough contender in the play offs and will probablly go to the state finals. I have followed them all year and they have fallen short only once. with awesome pitching by Josh Smoker and tremendous strength at the plate with Brody Pullen. Other greats include Catcher Brad Moss Jared Diedrick Charlie Culberson and Kurt Welch. The JV team just pulled up Chas McCormick to add to the already awesome line-up. These are some great boys they carry themselve’s extremely well. I look for them to take the state ring. Then we will see who has a short memory.