AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > May > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia High School Baseball Blog - May 13, 2008
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Step up to the plate: Hardball is the place to talk high school baseball on ajc.com. We’ll be posting scores as they become available, but if you’ve got the scoop, please feel free to post scores, recaps and highlights. Thanks.
Complete list: Second-round pairings for all classes
Brackets: AAAAA • AAAA • AAA • AA • A
The first round of the state baseball playoffs was full of surprises, but the usual suspects advanced to the second round. The Hardball staff was able to watch eight teams play — Woodward Academy, Dutchtown, Loganville, St. Pius, Parkview, Walton, Alpharetta and Brookwood — and there were plenty of top performances.
The late game heroes
These three players hit dramatic game-winning home runs, providing some first round momentum for their teams:
• Jordan Erisman, Brookwood — Before the Broncos shortstop delivered a two-run, opposite-field home run in the bottom of the ninth to beat Alpharetta, Erisman hit the first of back-to-back solo home runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh (Ross Heffley hit the other) to tie the game.
• Patrick Henry, Flowery Branch — With the Falcons trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh, Henry, a shortstop/pitcher who will play college ball at Valdosta State, hit a two-run homer to send the Region 7-AAA champions to the second round and a meeting with Stephens County.
• Sid Cooper, Camden County — With the Region 3-AAAAA champs behind 18-15 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in the first game against Tift County, Cooper crushed a grand slam to give Camden a 19-18 victory.
Fore
These four teams knocked off a No. 1 seed to advance to the second round:
• Newnan — Trailing 8-5, the Cougars scored five runs in the top of the seventh to steal a 10-8 victory in the third game of the series against Region 2-AAAAA champion Redan.
• Burke County — The Bears lost 15-8 in the second game of the series against Cairo, but in the first and third games outscored the Region 1-AAA champs 19-1.
• Adairsville — The Tigers were humbled in a 12-2 loss in the first game, then came back to upset the Region 5-AA champions.
• Appling County — Dublin came into the playoffs with a six-game winning streak, but the Pirates left with a sweep and a second-round meeting with Screven County.
The second-round radar
Four second-round series we’re looking forward to:
• South Forsyth at Kell — The War Eagles are coming off a series victory against Harrison. Kell was taken to the limit against South Gwinnett but is always capable of a sweep with starters Zeke Spruill and Adam Martin.
• Walton at Mill Creek — The defending Class AAAAA champion Raiders looked good in sweeping Parkview and will face a Mill Creek team that’s flying under the radar, despite a Region 7-AAAAA title.
• Thomas County Central at Woodward Academy — Fans of pitchers’ duels need not apply. Woodward has an explosive offense and plays in a cozy ballpark, while the visiting Yellow Jackets have scored nine runs or more in 15 games and scored 44 runs in the first-round series against Effingham County.
• Blessed Trinity at Cartersville — Same round, same field as 2007 when Blessed Trinity shocked the Purple Hurricanes in a sweep. Good news for Cartersville: Evan Tieles, who won the first game of that series and drove in the winning runs in the nightcap, is at the University of Georgia. Bad news for Cartersville: So is former first baseman/pitcher Lyle Allen. But plenty of firepower remains, led by superstar Donovan Tate.
Squeeze bunts
Norcross coach Andy Collins picked up career victory No. 100 in the second game of the Blue Devils’ sweep of Woodstock. Collins, in his fourth year at Norcross, coached for two years at Johnson-Gainesville. … East Paulding junior Zach Wheeler pitched four perfect innings in the first game of the Raiders’ sweep of Ridgeland. Wheeler faced 12 batters and had 11 strikeouts in the 15-0 victory. … Pacelli had its 19-game winning streak snapped in the first game of its series with Turner County. No problem: the Region 4-A champions won the next two games in five innings, 11-1 and 14-4.
Step up to the plate: Hardball is the place to talk high school baseball on ajc.com. We’ll be posting scores as they become available, but if you’ve got the scoop, please feel free to post scores, recaps and highlights. Thanks.
Permalink | Comments (40) | Post your comment | Categories: Hardball
Comments
By John
May 13, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Kurt,
Have you seen Salem play? Think they have a shot against EP?
By Coach
May 13, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Good luck to the Raiders against Salem in the second round.
Did anyone ever think that a team from paulding County would ever be ranked number 1 and picked to win it all?
By Coach
May 13, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
Good luck to EP in the second round against Salem.
Did anybody ever think that a team from Paulding County would EVER be ranked number 1 and picked to win it all?
By Kurt Aschermann Jr.
May 13, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
John
Unfortunately, I have not seen Salem play. But any team that’s won 10 consecutive games and owns wins over Heritage and Loganville is legit.
I’ve liked East Paulding for quite some time, but this time of year, upsets happen.
Besides the 4 series mentioned above, here’s another 8 I’ve got circled:
North Cobb at Lassiter. Time to find out if North Cobb is for real.
Norcross at Brookwood. Broncos got a big scare in round 1. Like N.Cobb, I’m interested to see if Norcross is a final four contender. We’ll find out tomorrow.
Jones County at Greenbrier. 2-time champs have their hands full with Barry Veal’s bunch.
Carrollton at Dunwoody. Rematch of last year’s Class AAA semi final.
South Effingham at Henry County. I think the winner of this series will win again next Tuesday and go to the final four.
Adairsville at Holy Innocents’. Defending champs got back on track last week against Banks. Now they get the Cinderella Tigers.
Lovett at Calhoun. I picked Lovett to go the final four and this will be a stiff test for the Lions.
ELCA at Jefferson. My Class A champion pick, Jefferson, trying to avenge a loss in last year’s Class A semis.
By Vince
May 13, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
If North Cobb has a chance against Lassiter, they need to throw their #3 Pitcher in game one. No need to waste your best against Pallazone in the first. Start Dalton in game 2 and your number 2 in the third game, where Lasiter could be suspect.
By Baseball Fan
May 13, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
I just have to comment that something needs to be done about region 3AAAAA. This region sent 1 team with a winning record to the playoffs. 1 team. Camden County deserves to be there. But lets look at the other 3 playoff teams from that region. Jenkins 12-16 Groves 9-12 Bradwell Inst 2-17
Cmon that is pitiful. The teams they play in the 1st rd. might as well have a bye. There should be a rule that you need a certain winning percentage or you forfit your spot. So many other deserving teams and these teams get….. thats just SORRY!
By Dear Baseball Fan
May 13, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
region 3 is an eye-sore when it comes to play-off time in most sports. camden is the only true AAAAA school in the region; all the others are playing up. camden pounds the smaller schools in the region and gets a top seed…sounds fair to me. actually it screws the other AAAAA schools. wake up ghsa, time to act is way past.
By steve
May 13, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
I hear ya BBFan… Regions 1, 2 and 4 in AAAAA aren’t much better. Each of those regions has 7-8 teams, which means you only need to be average in a weak region to go to the play offs. At the same time, regions 5-7, have 10-12 teams and only solid contenders advance.
Look at region 1-AAAA. Greenbrier played a 6-19 team. GB is an excellent team and didn’t need to play the equivalent of a Jr HS team in round 1, while regions 5, 6, 7 & 8 beat up on each other.
By bruce
May 13, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
kurt,have you seen tanner bryant landmark christian play? he went 6 for 8 against wilkerson county,which included 3 home runs picthed a shutout in game two. they should go far in the playoffs.
By Phil
May 13, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
If you think Lassiter is suspect, then you must not have seen them play this year. Their pitching is DEEP. Handler pitched a complete game in an 11-1 win at Kell and in Game 2 against Grayson Link had a no-hitter going into the seventh before giving up a home run and then striking out the side to complete the game.
By Kurt Aschermann Jr.
May 13, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Bruce
I saw Bryant and Landmark beat Providence Christian a few weeks ago. I’m glad I did because Bryant had a phenomenal game - great on the mound; 2 or 3 great plays in the field and hit the go-ahead home run.
I like Landmark a lot in Class A…got them over Calvary in semi finals and Jefferson over Landmark in final.
Phil
I don’t know who thinks Lassiter is suspect, but it’s not me. If they don’t go to the final four I’ll be very surprised.
By Vince
May 13, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
I’m not saying Lassiter won’t win. Just, if NC is going to have a chance, they will have to get to the third game. Lassiter’s #3 DID pitch great against Kell and Pope. No question about it. But, he got touched up against Columbus and Sprayberry in starts and also in relief at Harrison. Link has not been touched hard and, until the Grayson game where he gave up 7 runs, Pallazone has been unhittable. By the way, I have seen over 20 of Lassiter’s games this year. I believe Lassiter will make it to the semi’s, also. My post was about what I belive North Cobb’s best chance is to take the series.
By bigtimesport
May 13, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
Kurt, Jefferson over Landmark in the class A finals? Isn’t that some positive thinking? Both of those teams have major hurdles to climb just in this round. Athens Academy and ELCA have major talent. I know Tanner Bryant (Going football I believe), the Wren Brothers, Blake Austin etc., and Jeffersons pitching are championship material but dont count out Jake Davies and Co. for ELCA.
By Rick
May 13, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this
I believe EP is the best AAAA team in the state talent wise, lets just see if they can make it happen on the field the rest of the way.
Kurt,
Do you think EP could be still playing if they were in AAAAA as well? Are they that good? What do you think of the Wheeler kid I keep hearin bout?
By Kurt Aschermann Jr.
May 13, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
Rick
Interesting question about East Paulding in AAAAA and it will be answered next season when the Raiders move up a classification.
I do think there are more good-to-great teams in AAAAA, but to figure out whether East Paulding would be just as good if they were up a classification is probably an exercise in futility. Good thing is, we’ll find out in 2009.
Look at Region 5-AAAAA next season:
Harrison, Kenn. Mtn, McEachern, East Paulding, Cherokee, North Cobb, Woodstock…..good looking league.
By Rick
May 13, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
Its going to be a tough region next year. They graduate a lot of players I heard. Is the Wheeler kid the real deal or what?
By Newnan Cuga
May 13, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
I’m going to have to disagree with region 4 being weak. They still have 3 teams left in the state playoffs: East Coweta (1), Mundys Mill (2), and Newnan (4). They are all very stong contenders to make it to the elite 8. Newnan and east coweta started out slow because they both lost 10+ seniors last year. I’m not saying that region 4 is the best region, but its def. far from being weak.
By Newnan Cuga
May 13, 2008 11:20 PM | Link to this
Also, Whats your output on the Newnan / Warner Robbins match up Kurt?
By mistermak
May 14, 2008 1:13 AM | Link to this
Being a part of Region 3, we have always said that the region is very weak. But we play where we are told to play. And we continue to build our programs (all of them). We have never had any problems with moving to another region. Until that happens we will just keep on keeping on.
I would like to say something about the Bryant kid at Landmark. He played down here before he high school and I had the honor of coaching him. He is a tremendous athlete at 3 sports and a great kid. I can’t wait to see what D1 school he goes and letters in multiple sports!!
Another note about the Cooper kid who hit the walk off Grandslam to win the first game against Tift, He came back the next day and pitched a complete game, striking out many and only giving up 2 runs in 90+ heat. Great series!!!
By Phil
May 14, 2008 1:24 AM | Link to this
Vince- Link didn’t give up 7 runs against Grayson. He gave up one that was a home run in the seventh. He had a no-hitter going before that. After that he struck out the side to end the game.
Pallazzone has not been sharp lately, but he’s still on the short list for best pitcher in the state.
By Vince
May 14, 2008 6:16 AM | Link to this
Phil, Read the post slowly. I WAS refering to Pallazone concerning Grayson. “Link has not been touched hard and until the Grayson game, where he gave up 7 runs, Pallazone has been unhittable.” I guess my coma’s were in the wrong place! My concern with Pallazone is that his velocity is down and it’s no secret he’s hurting. Even at that, he’s still one of the best!
By Steve
May 14, 2008 7:14 AM | Link to this
Newnan Cuga, The region 4 teams are still in it and contenders to make it to the elite 8, because they get to play teams from even weaker regions (2 in the 1st round, 1 or 3 this week). When that half of the bracket finally has to play teams from regions 5-8, I’ll be surprised if 1 team survives. If they seeded teams along the lines of the NCAA seedings, there may be 1 team from regions 1-4 still in the play offs.
By bigtimesport
May 14, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
I talked to Tanner Bryant about Sid Cooper. He said that he and Cooper were teamates at Camden County. Tanner said Sid Cooper is a beast and has some major wheels. He said Cooper can play anywhere on the field as good as anybody.
By baseball fan
May 14, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
I’m not saying anything bad about any other region other than region 3AAAAA. When you 2,3,4 seeds have a combined record of 23-45, non with winning records and your 4 seed Bradwell Inst is 2-17 something is not right.
I thought theses schools asked to stay up in that classificaton not told to. Either way if they are going to continue to be there then let seeding change from year to year so that some of the schools in regions 5-8 can play those schools in the 1st rd. of the playoffs. Those schools deserve 1st rd byes as well. Thats basiclly what it boils down to is a 1st rd bye.
By Phil
May 14, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
Vince- thanks for clarifying. If Pallazzone has got something nagging him, I would think a coach would try to put his best guy up against him to take advantage of that.
baseball fan- Do the math, man. 2-17? So Bradwell only played 19 games? Whatever website you got that from doesn’t have their full schedule posted.
By Jojajacket
May 14, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
mistermak,
Here’s Bryant’s Fball video. You’re right…he’s a good one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8_Bbn847Q4
By Steve
May 14, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Greenbrier sweeps Jones County 15-0 and 10-3 in AAAA. Nolan Belcher wins game one and closes last 2 innings in game 2. First game 8 k’s and 1 hit.
By Steve
May 14, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Game one went 3 innings.
By Jojajacket
May 14, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
Landmark sweeps Athens Christian. Kyle Wren homers, Colby Wren goes 6 for 6 for the day.Tanner Bryant throws one run game in second game as Landmark run rules A/C in the second game.
Landmark hosting third round next week.
Landmark started seven sophomores!
By steve
May 14, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
Phil, even if we assume that they played 26 games and were 7-0 for the rest of their games (highly unlikely given the fact that they are 2-17 in their reported games), they are 9-17. Are you saying that a AAAAA team that barely won 1/3 of their games belongs in the play offs?
Any one have scores they can report? I know Kell split with S Forsyth. Spruill got no run support and was a loser (5-0).
By Yo
May 14, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
Lassiter lost first game to NC 4-2; Lassiter won 2nd game 8-1 (or something very close to that score).
Also know Walton split with Mill Creek, not sure on the scores.
By Newnan Cuga
May 14, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
id have to say that the zoning lines for players in the 5,6, and 8 reasons are ridiculous. The schools are so close together the players can pretty much choose what school to go to and can transfer schools easily. Thats how certain teams get so much talent in these regions.
By mistermak
May 14, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this
there are several teams in Region 3 that don’t play a full schedule. I don’t understand why.
I have seen Tanner Bryant’s football video. they say he is great at basketball also. I have had the pleasure of coaching him and cooper back when they were much younger. Both are great athletes!!
By EPSenior08
May 14, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this
Lets go East Paulding. We have known we’re the best for some time and it’s great to finally get the recogniton for it. GO EP SENIORS!
By Kurt Aschermann Jr.
May 14, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this
Second round scores:
Brookwood 9-0, Norcross 0-1 (Game 3, 6 p.m. today at Brookwood Camden 4-4, Mundy’s Mill 3-1 East Coweta 9-10, Coffee County 1-2 Newnan 5-2, Warner Robins 3-12 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at Warner Robins) North Cobb 4-1, Lassiter 2-8 (Game 3: 6 p.m. today at Lassiter) South Forsyth 5-1, Kell 2-3 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at Kell) Valdosta 7-6, Luella 5-4 Walton 5-5, Mill Creek 2-7 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at Mill Creek)
Class AAAA Greenbrier 15-10, Jones County 0-3 Griffin 4-14, Statesboro 2-2 Heritage 6-6, Dalton 5-2 Lee County 10-5, Starr’s Mill 9-1 Rome 3-1, Loganville 2-4 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at Rome) Salem 5-2, East Paulding 4-8 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at East Paulding) Sequoyah 8-2, Marist 3-0 Woodward Academy 6-14, Thomas County Central 3-8
Class AAA Carrollton 7-6, Dunwoody 1-5 Cartersville 5-9, Blessed Trinity 1-1 Columbus 13-10, Crisp County 0-1 Flowery Branch 4-7, Stephens County 1-8 (Game 3: 5:30 p.m. today at Flowery Branch) Oconee County 3-11, Westminster 2-5 Shaw 12-6, Burke County 2-4 South Effingham 9-10, Henry County 3-0 Troup 7-17, Harlem 3-7
Class AA Cook 7-10, Savannah Christian 2-0 Holy Innocents’ 10-7, Adairsville 0-5 Lovett 11-13, Calhoun 10-3 North Oconee 5-7, Armuchee 3-3 Pierce County 6-10, Fitzgerald 5-0 Screven County 11-10, Appling County 7-5 Wesleyan 10-3, Callaway 0-1 Westside-Augusta 10-15, Bleckley County 0-0
Class A Aquinas 9-3, Gordon Lee 3-11 (Game 3: today at Aquinas) Brookstone 6-2, Calvary Day 3-1 ELCA 11-2, Jefferson 5-9 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at Jefferson) Landmark Christian 6-15, Athens Christian 3-1 Pacelli 6-15, Baconton 0-0 Providence Christian 7-4, Bremen 6-6 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at Bremen) Schley County 17-1, Lanier County 4-2 (Game 3: noon today at Lanier) Telfair County 14-11, Seminole County 1-1
By Kurt Aschermann Jr.
May 14, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this
Sorry it’s so jumbled, computers and I haven’t gotten along for quite some time now….
Here’s Thursday’s game 3 schedule:
NORCROSS AT BROOKWOOD 6:00; NEWNAN AT W.ROBINS 5:00; NORTH COBB AT LASSITER 6:00; S.FORSYTH AT KELL 5:00; WALTON AT MILL CREEK 5:00; LOGANVILLE AT ROME 5:00; SALEM AT EAST PAULDING 5:00; STEPHENS CTY AT FLOWERY BRANCH 5:30; GORDON LEE AT AQUINAS 2:00; ELCA AT JEFFERSON 5:00; PROV CHRISTIAN AT BREMEN 5:00; SCHLEY COUNTY AT LANIER COUNTY 12:00
Enjoy the games
By mistermak
May 14, 2008 11:50 PM | Link to this
who will we play next— Walton or Mill creek? who is the better team?
By Levi
May 15, 2008 12:36 AM | Link to this
Hey Kurt, what do you think of the Pierce-Wesleyan matchup for the quarters in AA. This will be a rematch of last years quarterfinal matchup between these same two teams.
By M. Young
May 15, 2008 12:56 AM | Link to this
About Cook High, all I can say is WOW. Is there a better one-two punch in AA? Kaleb Cowart and DJ Johnson are amazing, and their SOPHOMORES. Cowart had to hit mid 90’s, and Johnson was bringing it pretty fast too. This 1-2 tandom remind me of Smoker/Pullen during their 1-2 punch era at Calhoun. I’ve seen HI play, and saw Cook for the first time tonight down in Adel, and I was really impressed. I think they can beat HI. Folks, Cook is not overrated, they are the real deal. Found it amazing that the folks down there said they had only one senior on the team, and the rest are mainly sophomores and a few juniors. They’re 26-4 and just swept SAV Christian. Oh yeah, they can swing the sticks too, beat SC 7-2 and 10-0.
By SS
May 15, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Vince,
Any more words of wisdom? 5-13-08-“If North Cobb has a chance against Lassiter, they need to throw their #3 Pitcher in game one. No need to waste your best against Pallazone in the first. Start Dalton in game 2 and your number 2 in the third game, where Lasiter could be suspect”.