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DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia High School Baseball Blog
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The staff at Hardball holds no bias against non-metro Atlanta baseball teams, and we sometimes venture outside the metro area to find some great teams you may not know about. Here’s a look at three of the best from beyond the perimeter.
Pierce County, Blackshear
Despite dropping their first game on Monday against Toombs County, the Class AA Bears from Southeast Georgia are 15-1 and are threatening to improve last year’s victory total of 25. Senior right-handed pitcher Caleb Lairsey and junior left-hander David O’Neal are each 5-0, and last year’s state pitching leader Hugh Lee is getting back to form after recovery from two strained forearms. Scary thought for opponents.
South Effingham, Guyton
The Mustangs reached the state semifinals in three of coach Tony Kirkland’s first four seasons. It looks promising for a return trip for the Southeast Georgia team with seniors Colby May (University of Georgia commit) and John Roberts (Armstrong Atlantic State commit) creating havoc for opposing pitchers. Roberts has 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in 15 games while hitting behind May in the lineup.
Aquinas, Augusta
Everyone knows Augusta’s other baseball powerhouse, two-time Class AAAA champion Greenbrier. But the Fighting Irish are 17-1 after Monday’s victory against St. Pius. Aquinas has reached the state playoffs in each of the last three seasons, reaching the quarterfinals in 2007 after consecutive first-round exits.
Pike County, Zebulon
The departure of Boston Red Sox minor-leaguer Hunter Strickland hasn’t slowed the Class AA Pirates, who are 14-2 and unbeaten in eight Region 5-AA games. Pike County, located 50 miles south of Atlanta, reached the state playoffs in each of coach Don Hanson’s four seasons. The 2008 team, which has won 10 consecutive games, is led by senior pitcher D.J. Tice and senior catcher Butch Brown.
AJC Top 10
1. Brookwood (1): Broncos on seven-game winning streak.
2. Columbus (4): Only two losses were one-run setbacks to Brookwood and Parkview.
3. Harrison (2): Loss to Kennesaw Mountain not a bad one, especially after the Hoyas dropped McEachern earlier in the week.
4. Heritage (7): Patriots haven’t lost since March 1.
5. Holy Innocents’ (6): Ace Mark Grimm looking good for defending AA champs.
6. Greenbrier (3): Slipped with consecutive losses to Lakeside-Evans and Marist.
7. South Effingham (9): Matt Zettler 5-0 on mound for 11-4 Mustangs.
8. East Paulding (8): Only one loss to Georgia schools.
9. Valdosta (9): 2-1 week capped by region victory against Coffee.
10. Dunwoody (NR): Defending Class AAA champs have won 10 straight.
(X) - last week’s rating.
Squeeze bunts
Chase Hawkins had a fun night in No. 1 Brookwood’s 8-3 victory against Parkview: CG, 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, victory on the mound; 3-for-3, 3 RBIs. … Jackson County starter Trevor Booth pitched back-to-back shutouts in victories against Clarke Central and Dacula. … No. 9 Valdosta is 15-2 because of Kyle Rowe, who is 7-0.
Friday’s Scores
Alexander 18, Lithia Springs 5
Armuchee 18, Temple 5
Brookwood 6, Shiloh 0
Butler 1, Hancock Central 0
Callaway 3, Heard County 1
Cass 11, Villa Rica 1
Chattahoochee 6, Wheeler 4
Coffee 8, Wayne County 4
Dalton 4, Northwest Whitfield 1
Druid Hills 13, McNair 0
Etowah 10, Murray County 1
Gilmer 15, Johnson-Gainesville 0
Greenbrier 13, Evans 0
Harlem 7, Thomson 1
Henry County 3, Ola 2
Hillgrove 7, Sequoyah 6
Kell 8, Roswell 1
Jackson 2, Woodland-Stockbridge 1
Jefferson 11, Hebron Christian 1
Lakeside-DeKalb 6, Southwest DeKalb 1
Lassiter 4, Milton 1
Loganville 9, Winder-Barrow 5
Lovejoy 9, Forest Park 6
Manchester 15, Macon County 5
Miller County 14, Calhoun County 7
Miller Grove 13, Mays 2
Monticello 7, Hancock Central 0
Mundy’s Mill 12, Morrow 4
North Gwinnett 11, Collins Hill 6
North Forsyth 7, Peachtree Ridge 1
Pacelli 16, Greenville 1
Pike County 13, Marion County 5
Pope 6, Centennial 2
Redan 13, Newton 3
Ringgold 8, Ridgeland 6
Sandy Creek 16, Haralson County 0
Savannah Christian 13, Charlton County 8
Shaw 18, Kendrick 0
South Forsyth 7, Duluth 4
St. Pius 13, Cedar Grove 2
Tattnall County 7, East Laurens 5
Taylor County 4, Brookstone 2
Telfair County 7, Montgomery County 5
Tucker 18, Columbia 6
Wesleyan 13, Paideia 0
Wesleyan 12, Cross Keys 0
Wilkinson County 17, Glascock County 4
Westminster 17, Carver-Atlanta 1
Woodstock 17, Marietta 0
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Hardball
Comments
By Kurt Aschermann Jr.
April 9, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
Baseball fans - what games have you circled on your calendar this week? Here’s 3 I’ve got my eye on:
Wednesday: Lovett at Holy Innocents’. Region 6-AA battle; defending champ HIES has won 7 straight.
Thursday: Blessed Trinity vs. Statesboro. Game is at Ga Southern. Statesboro’s record isn’t great but they play a difficult schedule; Trinity’s 2 years removed from AAA title and having another solid year.
Saturday: Game of the week - Kennesaw Mountain at Sequoyah. Mustangs are catching fire, 4 straight wins, while Sequoyah one of the top teams in rugged 5-AAAA.
Let me know where you’re headed the rest of the week.
— Kurt
By Russ
April 10, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Simply stated, good pitching will beat good hitting. Brookwood has some excellent pitching, and depth to boot. Coach Howard has done a fine job. This team doesn’t get down if they fall behind, they continue to play regardless of the score. They appear to overcome emotion well and rely on their talent.
By Eric the Red
April 10, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
How have they overcome emotion? I don’t understand what that means.
By Russ
April 10, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
They don’t get too emotional. Whether their up or down they appear to maintain the same relaxed demeanor. Unlike some teams who tend to feed on emotion play well when their up but not when they are trailing. Brookwood exhibits a consistency that doesn’t appear to feed on emotion, but confidence.