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May 2008
Georgia High School Baseball Blog: Championship Friday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Feel free to post any updates, highlights and scores as they become available …
Class AAAAA
Game 1
Brookwood 3, Walton 2: Ross Heffley’s home run to right center field ended the first game. Buddy Jones’ two-run home run in the sixth broke a scoreless tie, but Walton’s Spencer Kieboom tied it in the top of the seventh with a two-run single.
Game 2
Brookwood 6, Walton 3: A six-run second inning propelled the Broncos to the championship. The big hit was Jordan Erisman’s bases-clearing triple. Alex Beebe threw six innings for Brookwood, which won its first state title since 1986, when the largest class was AAAA.
Class AAAA
Game 1
Loganville 7, Griffin 1: Blake McCullers hit a three-run home run to lead the Red Devils to victory in the first game. The Bears helped Loganville’s cause by committing five errors, leading to four unearned runs.
Game 2
Loganville 5, Griffin 4: Blake McCullers’ walk-off home run against Griffin’s Jeremy Holcomb gave the Red Devils (32-7) a sweep for the state title — the school’s first in baseball.
“We were down 4-0 and I was sitting over there at third with a good feeling,” said McCullers, a senior who said he’s bound for Georgia Perimeter College this fall. “I had kind of gotten down, but I knew something crazy was going to happen.”
Griffin shortstop Tim Beckham, a possible No. draft pick next week, had four hits and finished with a .677 playoff batting average, but the rest of the Bears managed just five hits in the two games.
Class AAA
Game 1
Cartersville 5, Stephens County 3: The Hurricanes pushed across two runs, breaking a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth, for the win. Ethan Martin’s wild pitch allowed Zach Richards to score the go-ahead run and catcher Matt Hill’s error allowed Donovan Tate to score an insurance run.
Game 2
Stephens County 5, Cartersville 2: Chan Cash threw a complete game, allowing four hits and striking out six. Bryan Whitfield’s RBI single gave the Indians the lead for good in the fourth inning. Game 3 is Saturday at 2 p.m. in Cartersville.
Game 3, Saturday
Cartersville 13, Stephens Co. 1 (five innings): The Purple Hurricanes’ 5-foot-6 pitcher, Chris “Huddy” Huth, and an awakened quick-strike offense ruled matters in a 13-1 victory that was ended after the top of the fifth due to the 10-run mercy rule. Cartersville wins series 2-1.
Class AA
Game 1
Wesleyan 12, Lovett 0: Grayson Garvin struck out 11 and allowed only two hits in a mercy rule-shortened five innings. James Ramsey had a three-run homer and Kevin Ruiz added a two-run shot.
Game 2
Wesleyan 12, Lovett 6: The Wolves won the state championship, hitting three consecutive home runs in one stretch. It is the first baseball title for the Norcross private school.
Class A
Game 1
Landmark Christian 6, Pacelli 3: Tanner Bryant hit a two-run homer to lead the War Eagles to the opening-game win.
Game 2
Pacelli 4, Landmark Christian 1: Charles Rossi threw a complete game, striking out seven, allowing five hits. Rossi (13-2) also had the game-winning hit, a two-run single in the fifth inning that broke a 1-1 tie. Game 3 is Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Fairburn.
Game 3, Saturday
Pacelli 10, Landmark Christian 5: In the deciding game of the Class A championship best-of-three series, freshman Matthew Rossi hit three home runs to help lead the Vikings to their first-ever baseball championship.
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Georgia High School Baseball Blog: State Finals Preview
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.
Finals Friday: Spotlight
• Georgia popping with MLB prospects
The final weekend of the 2008 baseball season has arrived, and the Hardball staff couldn’t be happier with the five matchups. Here’s a look at the final 10:
Class AAAAA
Walton at Brookwood, Friday, 5 p.m.
Game 3 (if needed), Saturday, 6 p.m.
A dandy of a Class AAAAA title series between Walton and Brookwood will take place at the Dave Hunter Complex. The Raiders are looking to win consecutive state titles with a virtual carbon copy of the 2007 team that took down Kennesaw Mountain in three games for the school’s second state championship. This year’s opponent is Brookwood, ranked No. 3 nationally, which has a lineup that includes seven hitters averaging better than .300.
Class AAAA
Loganville at Griffin, Friday 4:30 p.m.
Game 3 (if needed), Saturday 2 p.m.
Show us a single person who thought Loganville and Griffin would be playing for Class AAAA’s top prize and we’ll show you a genius. The Red Devils ended Greenbrier’s two-year state title run in the quarterfinals before winning consecutive one-run games against region foe Salem.
Everyone knows about Griffin shortstop Tim Beckham - he’s projected as one of the top two picks in the upcoming major league baseball draft - but the rest of the Bears can hit, too (nearly eight runs a game). The offense and underrated pitching staff helped the Region 4-AAAA school reach the state championship round for the first time since 1981.
Class AAA
Stephens County at Cartersville, Friday 4 p.m.
Game 3 (if needed), Saturday 2 p.m.
Call this series the “Battle of the Bats.” Both teams can score in a hurry and both benefit from the long ball. Stephens County has hit a school-record 57 home runs, and Cartersville had seven in its semifinal sweep of South Effingham. The Indians are making their first trip to the finals since 1973. Cartersville has been a regular this decade, winning three crowns from 2001-2003 and appearing in the 2004 championship series.
Class AA
Lovett at Wesleyan, Friday 4 p.m.
Game 3 (if needed), Saturday 2 p.m.
Lovett and Wesleyan not only will renew Region 6-AA acquaintances, but will be going head-to-head in the Class AA final for the second time in three seasons. The Lions swept the 2006 series but face a stiff challenge in a Wolves team that boasts Georgia Tech-bound Connor Winn, Vanderbilt signee Grayson Garvin and a blossoming Devin Stanton.
Class A
Pacelli at Landmark Christian, Friday 4:30 p.m.
Game 3 (if needed), Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Can anyone stop Landmark Christian? We’ll find out when the stout Pacelli pitching staff looks to stop the red-hot War Eagles, who are averaging nearly 12 runs a game in eight consecutive postseason victories. Landmark had never even reached the state semifinals before this season, and Pacelli last played for a state title in 1991.
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.
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Georgia high schools with the most NFL draftees since 1988
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I just learned that LaGrange has had more alumni taken in the NFL Draft since 1988 than any other Georgia high school.
Had I been guessing, I would’ve said Southwest DeKalb, Griffin or Westlake. Griffin has had the most players who actually played in the NFL (16), and Westlake had five active NFL players a couple of years ago. SWD is the school I think of sending the most players players to college ball through the years.
But for players drafted during the past two decades, it’s LaGrange with eight. The list includes Marty Carter, Walt Harris, Nate Hill, John Johnson, Quintin McCord, Tyrone Poole, Tony Stargell and Bruce Thornton.
Here are the schools with the most:
8 - LaGrange
7 - Southwest DeKalb
6 - Clarke Central, Warner Robins
5 - Douglass, Spencer
4 - Central Macon, Charlton County, East Coweta, Fulton, Griffin, Lowndes, Monroe, Parkview, Peach County, Sandy Creek, Tift County, Valdosta, Westlake
3 - Americus, Appling County, Beach, Butler, Cartersville, Colquitt County, Dunwoody, Laney, Marist, McEachern, Stephenson, Therrell, Tri-Cities, Westminster.
Schools that surprise me by not having any are Cairo, Habersham Central, Harrison, Hart County, Houston County, North Cobb, Oconee County, North Gwinnett, Rome, Thomson, Walton and Washington. No school in Cherokee County has had a player drafted.
I researched this using information compiled by USA Today in this article: NFL Draft - Finding The Talent
Here’s something interesting from the article: Long Beach Poly leads the nation with 16 NFL draft picks, the most in the nation. But Poly has more than twice the number of students (4,683) than some Class AAAAA schools in Georgia.
Here are the states with the most draft picks:
699 — California
568 — Texas
541 — Florida
281 — Georgia
231 — Ohio
225 — Louisiana
171 — Pennsylvania
165 — Virginia
164 — Alabama
160 — North Carolina
Kick off the debate: Why are some schools sending more talent to the NFL than others? Which schools are you surprised to NOT see on this list?
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Georgia High School Baseball Blog: State Finals
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.
Time to catch up on who’s facing off in finals (and how they got there). Tell us what you think about these items.
May 29 updates
• Complete state finals schedule
May 28 updates
• Walton tops Valdosta for AAAAA finals berth
• Gatorade names Stephens Co. pitcher Ga. Player of Year
• Stephens Co. bests Carrollton, makes AAA finals
May 27 updates
• Brookwood hammers North Cobb in semis sweep
• Griffin sweeps Sequoyah, meets Loganville in finals
• Wesleyan tops N. Oconee, faces Lovett in title round
• Landmark Christian headed to first state finals
• Semis roundup: Pacelli sweeps Providence
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.
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Georgia High School Baseball Blog - May 23, 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.
20 teams remain in the GHSA state high school baseball playoffs. We give you a glimpse of what’s already happened and what’s expected when the tournament resumes on Monday.
Class AAAAA
What we know: Walton isn’t going anywhere.
The Raiders have looked like they did during last season’s state-title run. The pitching has been stellar with Mark Pope almost guaranteeing first-game victories. Pope is 8-1 with a 0.76 ERA after a victory in each of the first three rounds. The offense has scored at least five runs in all seven playoff games.
Valdosta, with University of Georgia commitments Earl Daniels and Kyle Rowe, might be the first team with the starting pitching that can match Walton’s trio of Pope, T.J. Kerins and Kyle Putkonen.
Red-hot North Cobb, winners of 18 of 21 games, battles No. 1 Brookwood.
Class AAAA
What we know: Nothing.
Class AAAA has baffled us in each round. First, Salem shocked East Paulding in the second round, then Loganville ended Greenbrier’s two-year state title run in the quarterfinals with a Wednesday sweep after dropping Tuesday’s opener to Nolan Belcher (complete game, two hits, 13 strikeouts).
On the other side of the bracket, Sequoyah has run through two No. 1 seeds - Marist and Woodward Academy. In the deciding game against Woodward, a go-ahead grand slam by Tyler Adams and fantastic relief from Jojo Keller (three innings pitched, nine strikeouts, one earned run) were all the Chiefs needed to advance. Griffin eliminated Heritage behind a two-hitter from sophomore lefty Jeremy Holcomb. Amazing that two Region 8-AAAA teams reached the quarterfinals. Heritage, the region champ, didn’t.
Class AAA
What we know: Now that it has jumped the Columbus hurdle, Cartersville should win Class AAA.
Cartersville survived its toughest test, going to Columbus and knocking off the Region 2-AAA champions after failing to do so in the last two quarterfinal meetings.
Cartersville’s Region 6-AAA mate, Carrollton, will join the Purple Hurricanes in the semis. We’ve gotten used to seeing the Trojans still playing in the final week of the season: This is Carrollton’s third trip to the semifinals four years.
The other two participants, Stephens County and South Effingham, are legit. The Indians thumped Flowery Branch 16-0 in the second-round finale, then scored 18 runs in a sweep of Troup. South Effingham has run through three good teams in six games, and senior catcher John Roberts is always a home-run threat.
Class AA
What we know: Look out for Lovett.
There’s nothing surprising about Wesleyan reaching the Class AA semifinals, or even Region 8-AA champion North Oconee or Cook (20 consecutive victories) joining the favored Wolves. But Lovett, the No. 3 seed from Region 6-AA, may have shocked a few people. In consecutive sweeps of Calhoun and Westside-Augusta, the offense averaged 11.5 runs per game, led by senior first baseman Adam Whitlock, who is 11 for his last 11 with 12 RBIs.
Class A
What we know: Landmark Christian is for real.
The Region 5-A champs can hit, scoring more than 12 runs per game in six playoff games. But Landmark also has gotten great pitching (2.8 runs per game allowed in postseason) and will match wits with Brookstone’s staff (allowing two runs per game in playoffs).
Pacelli’s pitching also has been fantastic. The Vikings staff held powerful Jefferson to a single run in two games and has had three shutouts in their past four playoff games. Providence Christian comes to Columbus after knocking off two region champs - Bremen and Telfair County.
Semifinals schedule
Best-of-three series begin with a doubleheader on Monday.
Class AAAAA
Walton at Valdosta
North Cobb at Brookwood
Class AAAA
Salem at Loganville
Sequoyah at Griffin
Class AAA
Carrollton at Stephens County
South Effingham at Cartersville
Class AA
Lovett at Cook
Wesleyan at North Oconee
Class A
Brookstone at Landmark Christian
Providence Christian at Pacelli
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.
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Georgia High School Baseball Blog - May 22, 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.
Time to catch up on who’s advancing to semis and who’s going home. Tell us what you think about these results.
• Sequoyah ousts Woodward from quarterfinals
• North Cobb headed to first semifinal since ‘66
• Griffin’s Holcomb throws 2-hitter on no rest
• Wesleyan ousts Pierce County in Class AA quarters
• Quarterfinals scores from May 21
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.
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Georgia High School Baseball Blog - May 20, 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.
The second round of the GHSA state baseball playoffs provided two of the more stirring comeback victories in recent memory. Salem rallied from a six-run deficit to upset East Paulding 8-7, and Newnan used a seven-run seventh inning to defeat Warner Robins 13-12.
Otherwise …
Three out of four
Three regions put three of four playoff teams into the quarterfinals.
Region 8-AAAA
League champion Heritage surprised no one by reaching the quarters after sweeping North Springs and Dalton. Sophomore Tyler Austin hit home runs No. 17 and 18 in an 11-inning first-game victory against Dalton. His second home run won the game in the 11th. Austin has 30 career homers.
Second-seeded Loganville survived another three-game series, this time with Region 7-AAAA champion Rome, to reach the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2003.
Salem, which has won 12 of 13 games, shocked East Paulding on T.J. Cash’s three-run home run in the seventh inning.
Region 2-AAA
After a 5-4 victory against Spalding in the first round, Columbus (27-3) has averaged 12 runs per game in its last three, setting up a blockbuster quarterfinals matchup with Cartersville.
Shaw has won 11 consecutive games since losing to Columbus more than a month ago. The Raiders swept Burke County behind a 16-strikeout performance from Donte Williams in game two. Up next is Carrollton, which avenged a loss in last year’s Class AAA semifinals by knocking out defending state titlist Dunwoody.
Troup, having won 13 of its last 14 games, is one of only five 3-seeds still alive after sweeping 2-seed Perry and Region 3-AAA champ Harlem.
Region 6-AA
Region champion Wesleyan will take a 21-game winning streak into a quarterfinal series with Pierce County. Vanderbilt signee Grayson Garvin looks healthy after a two-hit, 15-strikeout performance against Callaway in the second round.
Defending Class AA champion Holy Innocents’ has righted its ship. The Golden Bears pitched three consecutive shutouts to the start the playoffs, then put away Adairsville in the second round to setup a showdown with red-hot Cook.
Lovett has won 11 consecutive games after a sweep of 2007 finalist Calhoun in the second round. The Lions will travel to Region 3-AA champion Westside-Augusta (22-2).
Worth a look
Four quarterfinal matchups worth the price of admission.
• Loganville at Greenbrier: Anyone noticed Nolan Belcher (11-0) and the two-time defending champion Wolfpack have allowed five runs in four games and are two victories from their third consecutive Class AAAA semifinals? Loganville (26-6) is coming off a mercy-rule thrashing of Rome to win its second-round series.
• Sequoyah at Woodward Academy: The Chiefs’ pitching (3.4 runs allowed per game) will go against the powerful bats of Woodward (18 games scoring 10 or more runs). Should be a fun Class AAAA series in College Park.
• Cartersville at Columbus: A classic battle between AAA powers. This is the third time in the last four seasons the Purple Hurricanes and Blue Devils will meet in the quarterfinals. Columbus won both previous meetings in 2005 and 2006.
• Holy Innocents’ at Cook: Not too many teams are hotter than the Hornets, who bullied Southeast Bulloch and Savannah Christian in consecutive sweeps to run their winning streak to 18 games. Now Cook (26-4) will try to get back to the Class AA semifinals for the first time since 2005, facing a Holy Innocents’ team that eliminated it in the 2006 quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals schedule
May 20 doubleheaders (best two of three; deciding game May 21, if necessary)
Class AAAAA
Kell at Valdosta, 5 p.m.
Walton at Camden Co., 4:30 p.m.
Newnan at North Cobb, 4:30 p.m.
Brookwood at East Coweta, 4 p.m.
Class AAAA
Salem at Lee Co., 5 p.m.
Loganville at Greenbrier, 5 p.m.
Sequoyah at Woodward Academy, 5 p.m.
Heritage at Griffin, 4:30 p.m.
Class AAA
Shaw at Carrollton, 4 p.m.
Troup at Stephens Co., 5 p.m.
Cartersville at Columbus, 2 p.m.
South Effingham at Oconee Co., 4 p.m.
Class AA
Holy Innocents’ at Cook, 4 p.m.
Lovett at Westside-Augusta, 4 p.m.
Wesleyan at Pierce Co., 4 p.m.
Screven Co. at North Oconee, 4 p.m.
Class A
Lanier Co. at Landmark Christian, 4 p.m.
Gordon Lee at Brookstone, 2 p.m.
Providence Christian at Telfair Co., 4 p.m.
Jefferson at Pacelli, 4 p.m.
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.
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Todd’s Top 50: Ranking Georgia’s hottest ‘right now’ football teams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For decades, Valdosta was Georgia’s premier high school football program and for history’s sake, it still is. But what about right now?
Which Georgia football program is the most respected and most widely known?
Below, I’ve ranked them 1 through 50. My rankings are based mostly on three factors - name recognition, marquee value and statewide respect. I also have a Top 5 that I will give you later on the teams that will be most incensed that they were not included.
OK, to the Top 50:
1. Lowndes
2. Northside-Warner Robins
3. Buford
4. Lincoln Co.
5. Charlton Co.
6. Valdosta
7. Camden Co.
8. Parkview
9. Brookwood
10. Stephenson
11. Warner Robins
12. Marist
13. LaGrange
14. Thomas Co. Central
15. Peach Co.
16. Tucker
17. ECI
18. Carver-Columbus
19. Roswell
20. Peachtree Ridge
21. Shaw
22. Griffin
23. Norcross
24. Washington Co.
25. Tift Co.
26. M.L. King
27. Walton
28. Statesboro
29. Dublin
30. Stephens Co.
31. North Gwinnett
32. Carrollton
33. Clinch Co.
34. Rome
35. Thomasville
36. Calhoun
37. Harrison
38. Westside-Macon
39. GAC
40. Hawkinsville
41. Thomson
42. Colquitt Co.
43. Lovett
44. Mays
45. Laney
46. North Hall
47. Dalton
48. Ware Co.
49. Fitzgerald
50. Gainesville
Kick off the debate: What’s your take on Todd’s Top 50? Tell us who tops your list of Georgia’s “Right Now” football greats. Who did Todd miss on the list and who shouldn’t be there at all?
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Georgia High School Baseball Playoffs: May 15, 2008, second-round games
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
Newnan wins game of dueling 7-run innings
Rain across North Georgia postponed 10 decisive second-round games Thursday in the state high school baseball playoffs but Newnan stayed dry enough to advance.
The Cougars erased a six-run deficit by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, defeating Warner Robins 13-12 to win their Class AAAAA best-of-three second-round series.
Down 6-5 with two outs in the top of the seventh, Warner Robins (20-10) scored seven runs to grab a 12-6 lead.
But Newnan (16-16) scored runs on a bases-loaded walk and a hit batsman before Kevin Dunn launched a grand slam to tie it 12-12. Colson McMichael, 2-for-3 before his final at-bat, followed two batters later with an RBI double to clinch the series.
“We give up a 7-spot but we hung in there and put up a 7-spot,” Newnan coach Kenny Morris said. “That was the biggest thing; we didn’t roll over.” - Kurt Aschermann Jr.
Lanier Co. 21, Schley Co. 5: The Bulldogs’ 19-hit attack included grand slams by Ethan McCray and Ryan White and earned the Wildcats a Class A quarterfinal series against Landmark Christian.
Gordon Lee 8, Aquinas 6: Taylor Eberhardt’s two-run single with two out in the seventh inning helped the Trojans win their Class A series in three games. “It was our fourth Game 3 in the last three years and now we’re 4-0 in those Game 3s,” Gordon Lee coach Greg Payne said.
SECOND-ROUND SCHEDULE: METRO
Friday’s games
Class AAAAA
North Cobb at Lassiter, 6 p.m.
Norcross at Brookwood, 7 p.m.
South Forsyth at Kell, 6 p.m.
Walton at Mill Creek, 5:30 p.m.
Class AAAA
Loganville at Rome, 5 p.m.
Salem at East Paulding, 6 p.m.
Class AAA
Stephens County at Flowery Branch, 5:30 p.m.
Class A
ELCA at Jefferson, 2 p.m.
Providence Christian at Bremen, 5 p.m.
Saturday’s game
Class AAA
Carrollton at Dunwoody, 1:30 p.m.
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.
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Georgia High School Baseball Playoffs: May 14, 2008, second-round games
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
Class AAAAA
It’s safe to say Johnny Knight is having a good time at the plate these days. The Mill Creek center fielder hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth inning of Game 2, his second long ball of the day, to lead the Hawks to a 7-5 victory over Walton and a split of their Class AAAAA second-round doubleheader.
The teams will meet in the rubber game today at Mill Creek at 5 p.m.
With the score tied and one out, Knight hit losing pitcher Alex Sherrod’s 0-1 fastball over the right-center field wall for his 11th home run of the season and ninth in the past two weeks.
“At one point late [in the season, Knight] had two home runs, and all of a sudden he’s just gone nuts,” Mill Creek coach Doug Jones said.
The pitch that resulted in a home run failed to fool Knight.
“I’m thinking curve,” he said. “I guessed they tried to sneak a fastball by.”
Walton won the opener 5-2 as Mark Pope struck out 10.
- Kurt Aschermann Jr.
More Class AAAAA
Brookwood 9-0, Norcross 0-1: Needing a gritty effort after a Game 1 shellacking, Norcross pitcher Taylor Rakes delivered Wednesday at Brookwood.
Against the vaunted Broncos (27-3), Rakes spun a three-hit gem in a 1-0 Norcross victory that forced a decisive Game 3 today.
After Brookwood rolled to a 9-0 win in Game 1, the prospects for Norcross (21-8) looked bleak. But Rakes - with a cunning mixture of power pitches and off-speed stuff - shut out USA Today No. 1 Brookwood for the first time all season. - Curtis Bunn
Camden County 4-4, Mundy’s Mill 2-1: Nick Schuepach struck out 10 in the second game, helping the Wildcats complete the second-round sweep.
Class AAAA
Rome 3-1, Loganville 2-4: Loganville rebounded for a split after a first game in which Rome’s Jake Williams scored the game-winning run on an error. Rome led the first game 2-0 with one out to go when Loganville’s Blake McCullers tied it with a two-run homer.
Class AA
Wesleyan 10-3, Callaway 0-1: With dominant pitching and towering home runs, Wesleyan swept Callaway on Wednesday to reach the Class AA quarterfinals.
The Wolves won the opener 10-0 in six innings as ace Grayson Garvin struck out 15 and allowed two hits. Of his 98 pitches, 71 were strikes. Shortstop Connor Winn hit a majestic 400-foot, three-run homer to left-center.
Wesleyan won the nightcap 3-1, passing its first real postseason test.
With the game tied 1-1 in the sixth, right fielder Kevin Ruiz belted a two-run homer to center. Starter Devin Stanton pitched brilliantly until the seventh, when he walked two.
Reliever Drew Fithian was summoned to get the final two outs. After falling behind 3-0, he worked the count full, then induced a series-ending double play started by third baseman James Ramsey.
- Larry Hartstein
Lovett 11-13, Calhoun 10-3: Gary O’Meara hit a three-run homer in the opening-game victory, and the Lions rode the momentum to a sweep.
Holy Innocents’ 10-7, Adairsville 0-5: With Andrew McGonnigle’s three-run homer supporting him, Mark Grimm shut out the Tigers in the first game, and the Golden Bears swept into the quarterfinals with the second-game win.
Class A
Eagle’s Landing Christian 11-2, Jefferson 5-9: Jake Davies struck out 14 to lead the Chargers in the first game. Jefferson’s Jed Gurley went 3-for-4 with two homers in the loss.
Brookstone 6-2, Calvary Day 3-1:Jake Howard hit a walk-off home run in the eighth inning, ending the series with a sweep.
Second-round scores: May 14, 2008
Class AAAAA
Brookwood 9-0, Norcross 0-1 (Game 3, 6 p.m. today at Bkwd.)
Camden 4-4, Mundy’s Mill 3-1
East Coweta 9-10, Coffee Co. 1-2
Newnan 5-2, Warner Robins 3-12 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at WR)
North Cobb 4-1, Lassiter 2-8 (Game 3: 6 p.m. today at Lass.)
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)
Class AAAA
Greenbrier 15-10, Jones Co. 0-3
Griffin 4-14, Statesboro 2-2
Heritage 6-6, Dalton 5-2
Lee Co. 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 E.Paul.)
Sequoyah 8-2, Marist 3-0
Woodward Acad. 6-14, Thomas Co. Central 3-8
Class AAA
Carrollton 1-6, Dunwoody 7-5 (Game 3: 5:55 p.m. today at Dunw.)
Cartersville 5-9, Blessed Trinity 1-1
Columbus 13-10, Crisp Co. 0-1
Flowery Branch 4-7, Stephens Co. 1-8 (Game 3: 5:30 p.m. today at FB)
Oconee Co. 3-11, Westminster 2-5
Shaw 12-6, Burke Co. 2-4
South Effingham 9-10, Henry Co. 3-0
Troup 7-17, Harlem 3-7
Class AA
Cook 7-10, Savannah Chr. 2-0
Holy Innocents’ 10-7, Adairsville 0-5
Lovett 11-13, Calhoun 10-3
North Oconee 5-7, Armuchee 3-3
Pierce Co. 6-10, Fitzgerald 5-0
Screven Co. 11-10, Appling Co. 7-5
Wesleyan 10-3, Callaway 0-1
Westside-Augusta 10-15, Bleckley Co. 0-0
Class A
Aquinas 9-3, Gordon Lee 3-11 (Game 3: today at Aqui.)
Brookstone 6-2, Calvary Day 3-1
ELCA 11-2, Jefferson 5-9 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at Jeff.)
Landmark Chr. 6-15, Athens Chr. 3-1
Pacelli 6-15, Baconton 0-0
Providence Chr. 7-4, Bremen 6-6 (Game 3: 5 p.m. today at Brem.)
Schley Co. 17-1, Lanier Co. 4-2 (Game 3: noon today at LanCo.)
Telfair Co. 14-11, Seminole Co. 1-1
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.
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Georgia 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.
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Georgia’s greatest gridiron stars grace all-state football teams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In 1987, AJC high school editor Steve Figueroa (now with the GHSA) selected an all-Georgia team from the era of integration, which he defined as beginning in 1967. It was a 20-year team. It has been about 20 years since then, so who would be on the all-Georgia team since 1987? Let’s take a stab at it.
Here is Figueroa’s 1967-86 team. (The years note when the player graduated, not his final season).
Offense - Team Fig
QB Buck Belue, Valdosta, 1978: Accounted for 6,700 yards and 87 TDs.
RB Herschel Walker, Johnson County, 1980: Rushed for 3,167 yards as senior.
RB William Andrews, Thomasville, 1975: Led team to two AAAA state titles.
RB George Rogers, Duluth, 1977: Back of year as junior with 2,300 yards.
WR Danny Buggs, Avondale, 1970: All-American in high school and college.
TE Stan Rome, Valdosta, 1974: Holds national receiving mark with 4,477 yards.
OL Joel Parrish, Coffee, 1973: “Cowboy” later led Georgia to SEC title.
OL Lee North, Shamrock, 1978: Two-time all-SEC at Tennessee.
OL Bill Mayo, Dalton, 1981: Two-time all-state and AAA lineman of year
OL John Davis, Gilmer, 1983: Later became “the refrigerator mover.”
OL Winford Hood, Therrell, 1980: Two-time AAAA all-state selection.
K Kevin Butler, Redan, 1981: Two-time All-American at Georgia.
Defense - Team Fig
DL Freddie Gilbert, Griffin, 1980: The best pass rusher in state history?
DL Jimmy Payne, Cedar Shoals, 1978: Later an All-American at Georgia.
DL Ronald Simmons, Warner Robins, 1977: Led Demons to, 1976 national title.
DL Larry Kinnebrew, East Rome, 1978: Remember “Big Brew’s Wrecking Crew?”
LB Mackel Harris, Americus, 1976: Led team to 13 shutouts in 1975.
LB Lucius Sanford, West Fulton, 1974: Four-year starter and All-American at Tech.
LB Ben Zambiasi, Mt. de Sales, 1974: Leading tackler for ‘73 state champs.
LB Chip Banks, Laney, 1978: Two-time AAAA all-state selection.
DB Scott Woerner, Jonesboro, 1977: Defensive star of Georgia’s national champs.
DB Jim Bob Harris, Clarke Central, 1978: Led team to Class AAAA state title as senior.
DB Buz Rosenburg, Northside, 1969: Two-time All-SEC at Georgia.
P Ray Guy, Thomson, 1969: Perhaps the NFL’s best all-time punter.
Here’s my 1987-2007 team…
Offense - Team Todd
QB Eric Zeier, Marietta, 1991
RB Garrison Hearst, Lincoln County, 1990
RB Monte Williams, Commerce, 2001
WR Andre Hastings, Morrow, 1990
WR Calvin Johnson, Sandy Creek, 2004
TE Leonard Pope, Americus, 2002
OL Jeff Backus, Norcross, 1998
OL Zeb McKenzey, Parkview, 2003
OL Marcus McNeil, Cedar Grove, 2002
OL Clay Shiver, Tift County, 1991
OL Matt Stinchcomb, Parkview, 1995
K Chris Gardocki, Redan, 1988
Defense - Team Todd
DL Travis Stroud, Dunwoody, 1994
DL Marcus Stroud, Brooks County, 1996
DL Jonathan Sullivan, Griffin, 1999
DL Curt McGill, Brookwood, 1997
LB Trey Blackmon, LaGrange, 2005
LB Takeo Spikes, Washington County, 1995
LB Curt Douglas, Lincoln County, 1988
DB Champ Bailey, Charlton County, 1996
DB Jeff Francoeur, Parkview, 2002
DB Deon Grant, Josey, 1997
DB Walt Harris, LaGrange, 1992
P Rodney Williams, SW DeKalb, 1995
Kick off the debate: In a battle of Team Fig vs. Team Todd, who would win? Who did Fig miss from his ‘67-‘86 all-state squad and who’s Todd overlooking? Of course, we’re looking for YOUR favorites to fill in the Team Fig and Team Todd rosters.
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Spring Football Fling: Dacula faces fight in always-tough 8-AAAAA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
Dacula Falcons
Region 8-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: May 1 to 14
Last year’s record: 5-5
Reclassification challenge: Back in Class AAAAA after a two-year stint in AAAA, Dacula will face some familiar region opponents and a few new ones in 2008. The Falcons will be fighting for a playoff spot with Grayson, Brookwood and South Gwinnett, among others.
Working on: Preparing quarterback Hunter Watts to start in the fall. There are no other serious candidates at this point, so the job is his to lose. Also, Dacula didn’t have great team chemistry last year, so coach Kevin Maloof will look for that to improve this spring.
Key starters lost: RB Khiry Battle, OL Ari Tatum, OL Calvin Cantrell and RB Cisco Barry.
Key starters returning: DB Malcolm Young, DB Cody Davis, OL Cody Ames, OL Kyle Wright, DB Darien Lane and OL Antonio Yunker.
2008 strengths: Pass defense. The Falcons will have an experienced secondary and linebackers who can create havoc. Ames, Wright and Yunker also will make Dacula strong up front on offense.
2008 weaknesses: A question mark at the quarterback position makes Dacula’s passing game suspect. The Falcons also will need unproven players to step up and fill holes at running back and on the defensive line.
This season’s projection: The fact that Dacula struggled in Class AAAA last year makes it hard to pick them as a title contender in Region 8-AAAAA in 2008. But the Falcons have a history of success at the AAAAA level and a strong crop of rising juniors. If Watts can lead the offense effectively, Dacula could be in the playoff hunt.
Comment: “We’re not going to be afraid of anybody,” Maloof said. “We know that anybody can beat us. The region we’re going into is one of the most respected in state. We’ll hopefully respect everybody but not be afraid of anybody.”
Week Four Lineup
• 5/5: Chamblee • 5/6: Grayson • 5/7: N. Gwinnett • 5/8: Douglass
Week Three Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-WR • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
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Spring Football Fling: Uncertain coaching situation dogs Douglass
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 5/5: Chamblee • 5/6: Grayson • 5/7: N. Gwinnett • 5/8: Douglass
Photos: A look at Douglass
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Douglass in ‘08? Can the ‘Stros overcome so much change? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Terming a season as a transition year shakes fans and players to the bone. But that is what the Douglass Astros face this fall.
A replacement for six-year head coach Gary Cantrell still has not been found. As a result, Cantrell will run spring practice before leaving the sideline to become an assistant principal at the school this fall.
Under the guidance of Cantrell, the Astros won 45 games and made the state playoffs three of the past four seasons. Talent always has been at the school, but the new coach must replace six starters on defense and offense, including the quarterback position. Rising junior Braylon Williams seems to be the favorite.
Tight end Jonathan Atkinson has been offered by Ole Miss and Central Florida, among several others. And senior running backs Timothy Burrell and Michael Patrick have star potential.
“One of our strengths is athleticism,” Cantrell said. “The one thing I am concerned about is our strength. We are going to match up well against most anybody athletically, but I feel we have not been as strong as some of the other top teams. For us, that has been the difference in the playoffs against the South Georgia teams.”
Douglass Astros
Region 2-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: May 12-22.
Last year’s record: 8-4, lost 31-12 in the second round of the state playoffs to eventual state champion Lowndes.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: Tackling and blocking. Without a new coach in place, practices will be vanilla since implementing offensive and defensive schemes serve little purpose.
Key starters lost: DB Jaquon Robinson (Air Force); QB Ronald Holiday (South Carolina State); OL Joshua Durden (Morgan State); WR Terry Dawson (Stillman); DE Adrian Drane (Stillman); OL Jamison Reeves (St. Augustine); DB Rodney Wright (Fork Union Prep).
Key starters returning: OLB-TE — Jonathan Atkinson, Sr., (6-3, 205); DL-OL — Garrison Smith, Jr., (6-2, 275); OL-DL Jeremy Adams, Sr., (6-0, 260); RB — Michael Patrick, Sr., (5-8, 175); RB — Timothy Burrell, Sr., (5-11, 195): QB — Braylon Williams, Jr., (6-1, 180).
2008 strengths: Speed and quickness. The interior combo of Adams and Smith could be formidable, and Burrell and Patrick can be game-breakers offensively.
2008 weaknesses: Experience. That not only applies to the players who lost 33 seniors but the coaching staff. The new head coach faces the huge challenge of implementing his philosophy and schemes in a short time period.
This season’s projection: Another playoff appearance is still a possibility, despite the uncertain coaching situation.
Comment: “In terms of turning over the program, I will say that person is going to have a lot of young talent, but we did lose a lot of seniors,” Cantrell said. “The good thing is these kids are used to winning here so I know we have left a good platform to develop.”
Photos: A look at Douglass
Week Three Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-WR • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Douglass in ‘08? Can the ‘Stros overcome so much change? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Spring Football Fling: N. Gwinnett faces ‘rebuilding mode, if there ever was one’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 5/5: Chamblee • 5/6: Grayson • 5/7: N. Gwinnett • 5/8: Douglass
Photos: A look at North
You make the call: What’s the buzz on North in ‘08? Can the Dogs overcome losing so many seniors? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
When a program sends 10 seniors to play college football, there’s bound to be a dropoff.
That’s the case at North Gwinnett, which made the Class AAAAA championship game last year.
The Bulldogs were hit especially hard on defense. Strong safety Zach Humphrey is the only returning starter.
“We may have to score 100 to start the season,” coach Bob Sphire said. “Being the head coach and the offensive coordinator, it’s not so bad for me, but [defensive coordinator] Mo Dixon may not be able to sleep much.”
While the defense will be smaller and less experienced, the offense will be potent.
Quarterback Michael Tamburo (2,311 passing yards, 19 touchdowns; 594 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) is entering his third year as a starter and he has most of his key players returning - running back Tyler Jarry, wideout Cordero Dixon and tight end Kenny Barnes.
Sphire said Tamburo and Jarry will have a whole lot oto carry. “But at the same time, I don’t think our offense is successful being one-dimensional. We’re working to develop guys and have a bunch of people step up.”
After going 24-4 in Sphire’s first two seasons, North Gwinnett might take a step back. The Bulldogs lost more than 30 seniors.
“We look like a JV team right now,” Sphire said. “There are so many things we’ve got to find out, it’s unbelievable. I hardly know where to start.
“I swear, I feel like we’re almost back at square one,” he added. “We’ve got some great kids coming back, but it’s really a rebuilding mode, if there ever was one.”
North Gwinnett Bulldogs
Region 7-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: May 5-17.
Last year’s record: 13-2, lost to Lowndes in state championship game.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: The Bulldogs must rebuild their defense after losing every starter except strong safety Zach Humphrey. “We’ve got a whole lot of kids who look like linebackers,” coach Bob Sphire said. “Some of these guys are going to have to become linemen, and some will have to become more skilled, defensive back types.”
Key starters lost: DE Eric Eberhardt; DB Marquese Quiles; LB Eloka Anyaorah; DE Robert Pritchard; DT Steve Buffington; OL Clint Duggan.
Key starters returning: QB Michael Tamburo (6-1, 185, Sr.); RB Tyler Jarry (5-11, 180, Sr.); C Jake Thomas (6-2, 240, Sr.); WR Cordero Dixon (6-0, 170, Jr.); OL Austin Shepherd (6-4, 310, Jr.); TE Kenny Barnes (6-3, 220, Sr.).
2008 strengths: If they can get any blocking, the Bulldogs will score points because of Tamburo, Jarry, Dixon and Barnes. No team has a better offensive conductor than Tamburo, who is entering his third year as a starter.
2008 weaknesses: The Bulldogs will be small and inexperienced on the defensive front. With only one returning defensive starter, North Gwinnett could play a lot of close games.
This season’s projection: The Bulldogs, who open against South Carolina power Byrnes and Brookwood, will be hard-pressed to duplicate last season’s run to the state final. But Sphire will find a way to get them to the playoffs.
Comment: “We’ve got a small upcoming senior class,” Sphire said of his 17 seniors. “There are going to be a lot of juniors and sophomores vying for playing time.”
Photos: A look at North
Week Three Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-WR • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on North in ‘08? Can the Dogs overcome losing so many seniors? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Spring Football Fling: Mill Creek now ready to reload, not to rebuild
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for several of the top teams in the metro and state.
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Creek in ‘08? Are the Hawks headed back to the playoffs? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Mill Creek Hawks
Region 7-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: May 6-May 17
Last year’s record: 7-4, lost in first round of state playoffs
Working on: The Hawks return just one starting offensive lineman and one starting linebacker, so competition will be fierce at those positions. “Those are two fairly critical spots,” coach Shannon Jarvis said. “It’s not like I’m saying we need another wide receiver.”
Key starters lost: TE Austin Wilson, FS Sam Davis, LB Collin Stuart, OL Darius Jackson
Key starters returning: QB Zach Landis, RB Lenny Brooks, WR/QB Ed Russ, DE Ryan Robinson, DB Chris Boggs, LB Scott Ooley
2008 strengths: The Hawks return nearly all their playmakers, including quarterback Zach Landis, tailback Lenny Brooks and Ed Russ, who will split time between receiver and quarterback. Coaches are high on tight end Kevin Darley, who is trying to replace standout Austin Wilson. The defensive front, led by explosive end Ryan Robinson, should cause lots of problems for opposing quarterbacks.
2008 weaknesses: Mill Creek made the playoffs for the first time in school history behind a rock-solid offensive line. But four starters and tight end Austin Wilson are graduating, leaving big holes to fill.
This season’s projection: The Hawks, who open against Dacula and Central Gwinnett before starting region play, need to mesh quickly. Three of their first four region games are against Norcross, North Gwinnett and Peachtree Ridge. If the inexperienced offensive line jells, Mill Creek could make the playoffs again.
Comment: Jarvis believes the program has matured to the point where the Hawks can reload, not rebuild, with up-and-coming players. “There’s not one person in our program who is satisfied with what happened last year,” Jarvis said, referring to the school’s first winning season and playoff berth. “The good thing is they barely got a taste of it. We’ve got some goals in place and we want to take the next step.”
Week Three Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-WR • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Creek in ‘08? Are the Hawks headed back to the playoffs? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Spring Football Fling: GAC expects winning ways to continue as usual
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for several of the top teams in the metro and state.
You make the call: What’s the buzz on GAC in ‘08? Will change affect the Spartans’ winning ways? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans
Region 6-AA
Spring practice dates: May 6-May 16
Last year’s record: 9-4, lost in state quarterfinals
Working on: The Spartans lost their top two tailbacks from 2007, Ben Donald to graduation and Bobby Petrino to Arkansas. Fullbacks Matt Cape and Blake Southerland will get some carries, but new coach Ken Robinson is looking for tailbacks. “We’ve got some consistent guys who have been in our program for a while,” he said. “It will probably have to be more by committee. That’s one of the questions that hopefully will get answered this spring and summer.”
Key starters lost: TE/LB Christian Robinson, OL/DL Justin Lumsden, TE/LB Michael Carothers, RB/LB Ben Donald
Key starters returning: QB Colton Chapple, FB/LB Blake Southerland, OL/DL Luke Davis, OL/DL Patrick Hartman, WR/DB Julian Horton, DB Stephen Atwater
Strengths: The Spartans are experienced on both lines. On offense, four projected starters played a lot of snaps last year. Quarterback Colton Chapple and wideout Julian Horton have developed great chemistry and should continue to burn defenses for long pass plays.
Weaknesses: There are no Caleb King or Micah Andrews-type talents at running back, and the top two tailbacks from last season are gone. Look for the Spartans to divide carries among several runners. Linebacker is another question mark due to the departure of Georgia-bound Christian Robinson.
Projection: The Spartans are adjusting to a new head coach, Robinson, and a new defensive coordinator in Felix Curry, formerly of South Gwinnett. But Robinson, a GAC assistant for six years, isn’t planning major scheme changes, so it should be a smooth transition. GAC has the talent to go deep in the playoffs.
Comment: “There’s nothing wrong with our system,” said Robinson, referring to GAC’s success under predecessors Jimmy Chupp and Jim Lofton. “We’re hoping to build a special team, which is separated by those intangibles. The way you build it is to get a bunch of guys paying the price together, making an investment and caring so much that they’re not willing to let one another down.”
Week Three Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-WR • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on GAC in ‘08? Will change affect the Spartans’ winning ways? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Georgia High School Baseball Blog - May 6, 2008
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Step up to the plate: Pitch YOUR all-class Top 10 Kurt’s way. 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.
UPDATE May 7
Scroll below the rankings and Kurt’s playoff picks to see the May 9 playoff pairings.
AJC All-Class Top 10 Rankings
1. Brookwood (1): Broncos are 13-0 against 2008 playoff teams.
2. Harrison (2): Extra-inning victory against Etowah caps 25-1 regular season for Region 5-AAAAA champion Hoyas.
3. East Paulding (3): Raiders last lost to Georgia team on March 21.
4. Columbus (4): Junior lefties Taylor Wolf and Matt Taylor leading 23-3 Blue Devils.
5. Wesleyan (NR): Wolves roll to Region 6-AA crown behind seven-homer barrage.
6. Cartersville (10): All five of Canes losses to Class AAAAA teams; finished 14-0 in Region 6-AAA.
7. Marist (7): War Eagles’ 17-game winning streak snapped by Columbus.
8. Greenbrier (8): Region 3-AAAA champs begin quest for three-peat, Friday against Americus-Sumter.
9. Heritage (9): Patriots’ pitching staff had 10 shutouts during regular season.
10. Holy Innocents’ (5): Lost last two games to Walker and Wesleyan by a combined 28-6; finished regular season 21-4.
* Last week’s rankings in parenthesis
Hardball picks the playoffs
A long baseball season has come down to three exciting weeks of playoff competition. Hardball will be blogging after each round, but first we give you our picks on which teams will be lifting state championship trophies.
Class AAAAA
It’s tough to pick against a 24-1 team that is 13-0 against 2008 playoff teams. So we won’t. The Brookwood Broncos’ three-man rotation of Chase Hawkins (10-0, 1.02 ERA), Alex Beebe (7-0, 1.53 ERA) and Matt Adams (5-0, 1.56 ERA) is as good as any in the state, and six different players have 18 RBIs or more. We’d be shocked to see a team other than Rick Howard’s Broncos claim the Class AAAAA title in three weeks.
Look out for: Harrison, Lassiter, Walton, Valdosta, Kell.
Class AAAA
A number of teams could claim to be the Class AAAA favorite, including two-time defending champion Greenbrier, Heritage and Marist. But something tells us it’s the year of the Raiders, namely Tony Boyd’s 23-3 East Paulding Raiders, which boasts a lineup that can score in a hurry and a Zack Wheeler-led pitching staff that is unheralded.
Look out for: Heritage, Greenbrier, Marist.
Class AAA
Quick, name the Class AAA favorite. … It’s not an easy thing to do. So, we’ll go with the team that has been in our top 5 all season: The Columbus Blue Devils, last year’s runner-up, finished the 2008 season 23-3. With left-handed starters Taylor Wolf (7-0), Matt Taylor (7-2) and a solid bullpen, Columbus is primed to take the next step to a state title.
Look out for: Cartersville, Dunwoody, Flowery Branch, South Effingham.
Class AA
While we sat behind home plate at Holy Innocents’ during last Friday’s Region 6-AA championship game, one thought crossed our minds: Wesleyan is the best team in Class AA. The Wolves have the pitching, led by Vanderbilt commitment Grayson Garvin, and they have .500 hitters Connor Winn and Kevin Ruiz, who lead a potent offense that hit seven home runs during the 6-AA title-game rout. Coach Michael Shaheen’s team hasn’t lost since March 22. After bowing out in the state title series in 2006 (Lovett) and the semifinals last season (Calhoun), we think this is the year Wesleyan gets over the hump.
Look out for: Cook; Pierce County; Holy Innocents’.
Class A
Region 8-A champion Jefferson has won 17 of 18 games since a 1-3 start. The Dragons are led by sophomore outfielders Jake Fields (13 home runs, 38 RBIs) and Lucas Redd (.446 average, .492 on-base percentage) and junior pitcher Chris Beck (7-0, 1.62 ERA, 77 strikeouts in 43 1/3 IP) and senior pitcher Cameron Blinn (5-0, 1.24 ERA). Jefferson advanced to the semifinals last season. Tommy Knight’s team can win it all this year.
Look out for: Landmark Christian, Calvary Day, Aquinas, Claxton, Bowdon.
UPDATE
May 9, 2008 Baseball Playoffs — (Best two of three)
Class AAAAA
Bradwell Institute at Valdosta, 4 p.m.
Hiram at Luella, 4:30 p.m.
South Forsyth at Harrison, 5 p.m.
South Gwinnett at Kell, 5 p.m.
Tift Co. at Camden Co.
Union Grove at Mundy’s Mill
Kennesaw Mountain at Mill Creek, 4 p.m.
Walton at Parkview, 4 p.m.
Grayson at Lassiter, 5 p.m.
North Gwinnett at North Cobb, 5 p.m.
Newnan at Redan
Groves at Warner Robins, 4 p.m.
Alpharetta at Brookwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstock at Norcross, 5 p.m.
M.L. King at East Coweta, 4 p.m.
Coffee at Jenkins, 1 p.m.
Class AAAA
Evans at Lee Co.
Northside-Warner Robins at Starr’s Mill, 4:30 p.m.
Ridgeland at East Paulding, 4 p.m.
Salem at Lakeside-DeKalb, 2 p.m.
Americus-Sumter at Greenbrier, 4 p.m.
McIntosh at Jones Co., 4:30 p.m.
Cherokee at Rome, 5 p.m.
St. Pius at Loganville, 1 p.m.
Madison Co. at Marist, 3 p.m.
Ringgold at Sequoyah, 5 p.m.
Dutchtown at Woodward Academy, 5 p.m.
Effingham Co. at Thomas Co. Central, 4 p.m.
North Springs at Heritage, 4 p.m.
Alexander at Dalton, 5:30 p.m.
Northgate at Griffin
Bainbridge at Statesboro, 4 p.m.
Class AAA
Burke Co. at Cairo, 4 p.m.
Ola at Shaw
White Co. at Dunwoody, 4:30 p.m.
Franklin Co. at Carrollton, 4 p.m.
Worth Co. at Harlem, 4 p.m.
Troup at Perry, 4 p.m.
Riverwood at Flowery Branch, 3:30 p.m.
Sandy Creek at Stephens Co., 5 p.m.
Elbert Co. at Cartersville, 4 p.m.
Gilmer Co. at Blessed Trinity
Spalding at Columbus
Liberty Co. at Crisp Co., 2 p.m.
Cass at Oconee Co., 4 p.m.
Westminster at Gainesville, 3:30 p.m.
Northside-Columbus at Henry Co.
Westover at South Effingham, 5 p.m.
Class AA
Southeast Bulloch at Cook, 3 p.m.
Vidalia at Savannah Christian
Adairsville at Pike Co., 3:30 p.m.
Banks Co. at Holy Innocents’, 2:30 p.m.
Early Co. at Westside-Augusta
Jeff Davis at Bleckley Co., 4 p.m.
Heard Co. at Calhoun, 5 p.m.
Lovett at Fannin Co., 3 p.m.
Washington-Wilkes at Wesleyan, 4 p.m.
Rockmart at Callaway
Dodge Co. at Pierce Co.
Swainsboro at Fitzgerald
Greater Atlanta Christian at North Oconee, 4:30 p.m.
Rutland at Armuchee
Appling Co. at Dublin, 4 p.m.
Berrien at Screven Co., 3 p.m.
Class A
Jenkins Co. at Lanier Co., 3 p.m.
Schley Co. at Wilcox Co.
Wilkinson Co. at Landmark Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Athens Christian at Bowdon, 2 p.m.
Bacon Co. at Calvary Day, 1 p.m.
Montgomery Co. at Brookstone, 2 p.m.
Mt. Paran at Aquinas
Gordon Lee at Lakeview Academy, 2 p.m.
Athens Academy at Bremen
Monticello at Providence Christian, 2 p.m.
Taylor Co. at Telfair Co., 4 p.m.
Savannah Country Day at Seminole Co., 4 p.m.
Trion at Jefferson, 4:30 p.m.
Eagle’s Landing Christian at Georgia Military
Turner Co. at Pacelli, 5 p.m.
Baconton at Claxton, 2 p.m.
Step up to the plate: Pitch YOUR all-class Top 10 Kurt’s way. 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.
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Spring Football Fling: Grayson counting on chemistry to key ‘08 success
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 5/5: Chamblee • 5/6: Grayson • 5/7: N. Gwinnett • 5/8: Douglass
Photos: A look at Grayson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Grayson in ‘08? Can the Rams top 2007’s success? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
The way Grayson coach Mickey Conn sees it, the unity within a team is just as significant as the talent.
“That’s the key,” he said. “How your team comes together as a team, wanting to work hard for one another, fight for one another. Our team had great chemistry last year.
“We’re working on that the most.”
If they are successful at becoming unified, the Rams have a chance to again make some noise. Grayson was 10-3 last season.
“I’m really excited to have my quarterback [Tyler Horne] returning. Really excited,” Conn said. “And we have our leading rusher [Ean Pemberton] back. We lost some key players; we have a few pieces to fill.
“But we have some players returning, too. And the players have worked really hard. Winning breeds winning. The success we had last year gives them hope and encouragement to try to match what the guys did last year. It sets the tone on where we want to be. In my mind, we can build on that success.”
Part of the Rams’ emergence occurred because of linebackers Terry Williams and Jonathan Langston. Grayson went into the season concerned about the position. Williams and Langston played great football.
“Now we need some players to step in on the lines,” Conn said. “We need to find a center. We need another offensive lineman and two on the defensive line. So if we find players like we did last year, we’ll be all right.”
Grayson Rams
Region 8-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: Through May 16.
Last year’s record: 10-3, lost in the third round of the state playoffs.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: The Rams are riding the confidence of an outstanding 2007. Their coaching staff did a commendable job in game-planning and preparation, but also in building a unified group. It will take another cohesive unit to grow into a contender.
Key starters lost: LB Tristan Strong; G Nick Amon; C Stephen Bolt; S Denzell Guerra.
Key starters returning: QB Tyler Horne; LB Terry Williams; RB Ean Pemberton; LB Jonathan Langston.
2008 strengths: The Rams are riding the confidence of their best season. They are well-coached and believe a standard of excellence has been set. Horne and Pemberton are experienced in two key offensive positions.
2008 weaknesses: Grayson needs strong players to emerge on the offensive line and defensive front. The Rams were able to run the ball and stop the run because of their size and strength on both lines.
This season’s projection: It is likely Grayson again will be a force in the region and beyond. If the Rams get a few players to emerge on the offensive and defensive lines, they could be the premier team in the region.
Photos: A look at Grayson
Week Three Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-WR • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Grayson in ‘08? Can the Rams top 2007’s success? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Georgia football coaches must choose wisely in job sweepstakes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Randolph-Clay’s Richard Lawson resigned last week, making a total of 96 schools that have (or will have) searched for new coaches this offseason.
With the number so high, I began to wonder which programs offer the best hope of a turnaround and which programs are the career-killers. Using some figures provided by the GHSFHA, I have a list of schools that improved the most and the least from the 1990s to the current decade.
The only established programs in metro Atlanta that rank among the top 20 “most improved” are Chamblee and Cherokee. Fayette Co. and Carver-Atlanta might be headed in that direction, but they need to sustain it.
That’s why I’d say the best career path in Atlanta is to win the sweepstakes to take over a new program.
Just choose wisely. Not everybody can be M.L. King, Stephenson, Grayson or Peachtree Ridge. Several new schools have struggled. The toughest jobs are those at schools with a lot of community and student turnover.
Outside metro Atlanta, I think it’s more about getting the right coach in the right spot. I don’t how else to explain why Fitzgerald, Calhoun, Laney and Hawkinsville have re-emerged as state powers after long slumps.
Shaw has become a force for the first time. Perhaps Carver-Columbus is poised to become a lasting force. In the 1990s, Charlton Co. and Washington Co. did the same.
Which school will be the next Charlton Co. or Peachtree Ridge or Calhoun over the next decade? If you were a football coach, where would you want to be?
Programs that have improved the most this decade:
1. Laney
2. Salem
3. Fitzgerald
4. Calhoun
5. Cherokee
6. Madison Co.
7. Shaw
8. Cook
9. Pike Co.
10. McIntosh Co. Academy
Honorable mention: Chamblee, Vidalia, Pacelli, Gainesville, Coosa, Hawkinsville, Rome
Schools that have declined the most this decade:
1. Josey
2. Armuchee
3. Wheeler
4. Forest Park
5. Lakeside-DeKalb
6. Alexander
7. Banks Co.
8. Central Talbotton
9. Jeff Davis
10. Morrow
Dishonorable mention: Cedar Grove, Dunwoody, Tattnall Co., Worth Co., Fayette Co. (until last year), Monticello, Savannah
Note: Numbers based on winning percentage changes from 1990-99 to 2000-06. The 2007 season was not added to the totals.
Kick off the debate: Which programs do you think have shown the most improvement in the past decade? Which have fallen the farthest? What’s the key to turning a program around? Who’s ripe for an upswing? Tell us.
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Spring Football Fling: Chamblee set to succeed at next level in AAAA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 5/5: Chamblee • 5/6: Grayson • 5/7: N. Gwinnett • 5/8: Douglass
Photos: A look at Chamblee
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Chamblee in ‘08? Is it title time for the ‘Dogs? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
After experiencing three consecutive winning seasons and a long playoff run last fall, Chamblee is facing a bigger challenge for the upcoming season.
The Bulldogs will move from Class AAA to Class AAAA and has been placed in traditionally tough Region 6-AAAA.
Jim Showfety, the AJC Class AAA coach of the year, also moved on. After leading the Bulldogs to the AAA semifinals, he took over at Northview.
Mike Collins was hired to continue the success at the North DeKalb County school, after three years at Pebblebrook.
“They have had some success in the program the last few years,” Collins said. “It is definitely a program on the rise. We were fortunate to get things back rolling at Pebblebrook; hopefully we can go to a new level of success here.”
Collins will have six starters returing on offense, six on defense. Although three offensive linemen graduated, the Bulldogs return a backfield that averaged 308 yards rushing per game. Running backs Norman Warren and Darrius Jones and quarterback Garrett Williams return.
“We are really excited about what we have seen of Garrett on film,” Collins said.
Chamblee Bulldogs
Region 6-AAAA
Spring practice dates: May 5-16.
Last season: 12-2, lost 26-24 to Carver-Columbus in Class AAA semifinals.
Reclassification: Moves up in class and will play in Region 6-AAAA with Marist, Tucker and Southwest DeKalb.
Working on: After weeks of watching the players on film and during conditioning drills, Collins finally will get a chance to evaluate his talent on the field.
Key starters lost: OL Omoregie Uzzi (Georgia Tech); Taylor Loftley (Vanderbilt); Malcolm Beyah (Middle Tennessee State); Ryan Smith (Valdosta State).
Key starters returning: RB Norman Warren; RB Darrius Jones; QB Garrett Williams; OL John Napier; CB Dakaral Penn.
2008 strengths: The Bulldogs will have a strong backfield with Norman, who rushed for 1,558 yards and 27 touchdowns. Jones is also back after rushing for 788 yards and 13 touchdowns. Williams has experience running the offense.
2008 weakness: The Bulldogs graduated both offensive guards and all-state tackle Uzzi. Speedster Beyah also graduated. Finding some help in the secondary and at linebacker will be key. Collins is looking to add some depth.
This season’s projection: Chamblee has made steady improvement the last two seasons, but the team will be under its third coach in as many seasons. Moving up to tough Region 6-AAAA will be a challenge, but the team has enough skill players to compete. If the team can find some linemen and depth, it should again be a playoff contender.
Comment: “I’m very excited about getting started,” Collins said. “I think the region is a good fit for us, but it will be tough with Tucker, Marist, Southwest DeKalb and Miller Grove. You just got to come out each week and bring your best game.”
Photos: A look at Chamblee
Week Three Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-WR • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Chamblee in ‘08? Is it title time for the ‘Dogs? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Spring Football Fling: After ‘07 title run, Lovett looks to rebuild
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Photos: A look at Lovett
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Lovett in ‘08? Is this strictly a Lions rebuilding year? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Lovett built a near-championship season in 2007. But by the end of the year, the Lions may as well have been sacrificial lambs.
Lovett rumbled to a 12-3 finish after a strong push in the playoffs got Mike Muschamp’s team all the way to the state title game in just his third season. And then Lovett had to play Buford.
The end result was a 50-0 trashing and a just-happy-to-be-here look for the Lions. The runner-up finish was the end of a remarkable two-year run for Lovett, but it may still pay dividends this fall.
“The good thing about going into playoffs as deep as we’ve been, for those younger guys, that’s like an extra month of practice,” Muschamp said. “That’s important to maintain to get that extra practice in. There’s a lot of carryover from that.”
The Lions will need all the extra experience they can get. Muschamp’s team lost a big senior class each of the last two seasons. The roster size for spring practice, which begins Monday, is down 15 players from the end of Muschamp’s first season.
“It kind of puts you behind the eight ball, so to speak,” Muschamp said. “But when that happens it presents an opportunity for others to step up. The past few years we’ve had very few kids go both ways. That may change with our numbers being what they are.”
Players may be missing, but talent certainly isn’t. Lovett returns an experienced quarterback for the first time in Muschamp’s tenure, and the offense could find multiple weapons to replace the talented Andre Hicks.
Muschamp doesn’t want to say whether or not his team can duplicate the efforts of the past two seasons. But he can guarantee one thing.
“Improving is a constant motto around here,” Muschamp said. “We’re going to improve. We’re trying to get our kids to understand and buy into that. For the most part we have.”
Lovett Lions
Region 6-AA
Spring practice dates: May 5-May 16.
Last year’s record: 12-3, lost in the state championship game.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: Building depth. Lovett has lost 47 seniors the last two seasons, 25 from last year’s state runner-up team. Muschamp will look to reload various positions, including most of the defense, which lost seven starters. The offensive line only returns one player with starting experience, and playmakers will need to step forward to fill the void by Hicks. Said Muschamp: “We’re just going to try to tweak what we do to fit what our kids can do. Our strength last year was getting the ball to Andre. You never knew what was going to happen. It was going to be something good, but you just never knew how good it was going to be.”
Key starters lost: RB Andre Hicks; K Jack Hall; LB Adam Whitlock; DB Ricco Braxton; OL Elliott Henigan.
Key starters returning: QB Jonathan Carkhuff; TE Michael Steele; NG Jameel Stokes; DE Ross Pope; WR Max Williams; WR Drew Stockton; OLB Clay Cooledge; OLD Campbell Wilson.
2008 strengths: Muschamp is an offensive-minded coach who has mostly relied on defense to carry his team the past two seasons. He’ll finally get to lean on his side of the ball. Carkhuff is the first returning quarterback in Muschamp’s tenure. With two experienced junior wideouts in Williams and Stockton, expect the Lions to have a balanced attack. Steele, a senior, should be a good threat at tight end. Tailback should also be a strength behind junior Taylor Mack, who replaces Hicks.
2008 weaknesses: Depth should be a problem. The offensive line should be the biggest concern, however, with the Lions looking for five new starters. Said Muschamp: “I can’t wait to see what happens down there. We’ve got about seven or eight kids who are battling for five spots. We’ve got to find ourselves a center.” The entire secondary needs to be replaced, as well as the inside linebacker spots.
This season’s projection: It would be difficult to match the success of the past two seasons. Back-to-back trips to the Georgia Dome and a state championship game appearance are high marks for Muschamp’s team. Don’t expect that destiny this year as the Lions will rely on several underclassmen and look to rebuild. Muschamp still expects good things for his young squad. “Each year and each team is different,” Muschamp said. “To put a number or anything on it like that it impossible. Our job is to make the best possible football team that we can out of the kids that we have. We’ve set the bar high.”
Photos: A look at Lovett
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Lovett in ‘08? Is this strictly a Lions rebuilding year? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Spring Football Fling: Young St. Pius squad finds itself on new, unfamiliar turf
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-Warner Robins • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Photos: A look at St. Pius
You make the call: What’s the buzz on St. Pius in ‘08? Will transition affect the young Lions? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
After eight years in Class AAAA - the past two in what was arguably the toughest region in any classification - St. Pius will be dropping down to Region 5-AAA to compete against unfamiliar foes.
Washington is the only region opponent that returns to the Lions’ 2008 schedule, while the annual Fish Bowl matchup with Marist shifts from the end of the season to the beginning, this time without region title implications.
The changes on the schedule will be major, but coach Paul Standard says there are similarities.
“For the most part, it’s a totally new region, but I do believe it’s going to have the same characteristics as the last region we were in with a lot of great athletes and speed,” Standard said. “We have some knowledge of these teams, but for the most part, we haven’t competed with Grady, North Atlanta and the others. I feel like this is going to be a tough region, but it remains to be seen.”
St. Pius will make the transition while trying to fill major holes, most notably on the offensive line, where five starters graduated.
St. Pius conducted spring practice in January.
“Some of these kids did start for us on junior varsity, and they have played in varsity games, so we know they can play,” Standard said. “I thought we made good strides. We feel like we came away with what we think is a good two-deep lineup. We’re actually going to have a senior-oriented offensive line.”
St. Pius X Golden Lions
Region 5-AAA
Spring practice dates: January.
Last year’s record: 8-4, lost in the second round.
Reclassification challenge: The Lions move from Region 6-AAAA to 5-AAA and will face unfamiliar opponents.
Worked on: St. Pius must replace its entire offensive line, so much of January’s work was spent on previous backups and fostering communication within that unit.
Key starters lost: QB Dylan Knight; LB Greg Foster; K/DB Chris Philpott; OL Kent Cleveland; OL/DE Jonathan Roberts; WB/LB Michael Kolshak.
Key starters returning: DT Jamie Slaughter; DE Andrew Butler; LB Robert Lucisano; QB/CB P.G. Standard; RB J.C. Carter; FB Cole Moon.
2008 strengths: Linebackers, secondary, offensive backfield.
2008 weaknesses: Offensive line experience, defensive end, defensive line.
This year’s projection: If the offensive and defensive lines can make a smooth transition to varsity play, the Lions could be one of the teams to beat in Class AAA. Pius has won eight or more games four of the past five years.
Comment: “We had a good number of juniors who played last season because of some injuries to our senior class,” coach Paul Standard said. “Who was going to be ready to step in and play for us as juniors? I think we found a number of kids who are ready.”
Photos: A look at St. Pius
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on St. Pius in ‘08? Will transition affect the young Lions? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Spring Football Fling: Northside-WR should contend in Region 1-AAAAA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-Warner Robins • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Photos: A look at Northside
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Northside in ‘08? How will the Eagles fare in 1-AAAAA? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
There hasn’t been a team to move to the highest classification and win a state title since Decatur in 1950. But there’s rarely been a team better suited for the job than Northside, the champion the past two seasons in Class AAAA.
Northside won 54 of 57 games the past four seasons and became only the seventh Georgia school in history to put consecutive 15-0 seasons together.
Graduated are a trio of legendary figures in Warner Robins - quarterback Marques Ivory, tailback Tijuan Green, receiver Nick Bass, all members of the first-team AAAA all-state team.
But Northside won’t enter the season unarmed. Most of the defensive starters return, and defensive tackle Abry Jones (committed to Georgia) and defensive end/linebacker Eric Fields (leaning toward Clemson) are the best pair of front-seven defenders in the state.
“We’re certainly projecting and hoping those guys [on defense] will be the catalyst or really the part of the team that does good until everybody else gets experience,” Northside coach Conrad Nix said.
Northside’s schedule will include three reigning state champions: Booker T. Washington of Florida (Sept. 5 or 6), Carver of Columbus (Sept. 12) and Lowndes (Oct. 3).
Northside-Warner Robins Eagles
Region 1-AAAAA
Spring practice dates: May 12-21.
Last year’s record: 15-0, won the Class AAAA title for the second straight year.
Reclassification challenge: Moving up to Class AAAAA and into the state’s toughest region. Northside played in the highest classification through 2003 and was a perennial state contender, but it was not until dropping into Class AAAA that Northside won its first state title. And Northside has never been in the region with Valdosta and Lowndes.
Working on: Joe Scott will settle in as the new quarterback. The senior started seven games last season when Ivory was injured and was 56-of-114 for 797 yards. He’s a drop-back passer who won’t run much. Northside also must replace both wide receivers, the starting backfield and four of five starting linemen on offense. The most intriguing competition will be at tailback. The top candidates to replace Green are seniors Xavier Hawkins, Xavier Bacon and Reshaud Young and junior Renis Perry. Hawkins is a slashing runner, the most similar in style to Green. “Not quite as strong at the point of attack but does a good job recognizing daylight,” Nix said. Bacon is more about strength and speed. Young is athletic, but raw. Perry is “a tough kid, not real big, but pretty good speed,” Nix said.
Key starters lost: QB Marques Ivory (Jacksonville State); RB Tijuan Green (NW Mississippi JC); WR Kevyn Cooper (Jacksonville State); WR Nick Bass (Georgia Southern); RT Jerome Bibbins (Georgia Southern).
Key starters returning: DE Eric Fields; LB Darius Ivey; DT Abry Jones; S Randal McBride; TE/P Evan Arthur; DB K.J. Morton; DT Anton Williams; PK Devon Pike; G Shedrick Jones.
2008 strengths: Defense, talent supply, tradition. Fields and Jones.
2008 weaknesses: Northside doesn’t have the playmakers at quarterback, tailback and receiver that elevated this program from very good to extraordinary the past two seasons. There are also a number of new starters who are talented but unproven. “Guys like Eric Fields and Abry Jones have to live up to expectations, and other guys have got to fill in,” Nix said. “Abry didn’t start his sophomore year but stepped up [last season as a junior]. We’re going to have to have guys step up like that.”
This season’s projection: Northside should contend for a state title, but the team to beat in Class AAAAA will be new region rival Lowndes, the defending champ. Region 1-AAAAA is so deep that even a playoff berth isn’t assured for Northside, but expect the Eagles to be a Top 10 team with a realistic shot at a third straight title.
Photos: A look at Northside
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Northside in ‘08? How will the Eagles fare in 1-AAAAA? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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Spring Football Fling: Marist’s lines strong, ‘weaknesses everywhere else’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING
In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
• 4/28: Lowndes • 4/29: Parkview • 4/30: Mays • 5/1: Marist • 5/2: Northside-Warner Robins • 5/3: Lovett • 5/4: St. Pius
Photos: A look at Marist
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Marist in ‘08? Will the War Eagles re-energize? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
For most teams, an 8-3 season and a trip to the playoffs would be deemed a success.
Not so at Marist.
It was only the fourth time since coach Alan Chadwick took over the program in 1985 that the War Eagles lost out of the playoffs in the first round, and it was the lowest victory total at Marist since 1993.
So the pressure is on as spring practice begins next week to build a team that will live up to Marist’s high expectations.
“It was disappointing to go out in the first round because we felt like we had a team that could have gone a little further,” said Chadwick, who has a 259-43 record in 23 seasons. “[Tradition] helps to challenge them more to reach their potential. It is a constant struggle because you have to have a chip on your shoulder, and people are looking to knock it off. You can’t let down, and everyone is going to bring their A-game at you. When you don’t respect that, that is when you are going to get in trouble.”
The War Eagles lost quarterback Cooper Taylor and halfbacks Derek Heyden, Kevin Lanier and Neil Schuster. Vying for the quarterback position are senior Kyle Farmer and junior Sam McNearny. But Farmer, who also pitches for the War Eagles baseball team, likely will miss all of the spring workouts.
The quarterback battle should carry on through the beginning of fall practice, and Chadwick said that the two could make a tough package for opposing teams to prepare for, if both are used.
Marist War Eagles
Region 6-AAAA
Spring practice dates: May 7-20.
Last year’s record: 8-3, lost 24-7 to Habersham Central in the first round of the playoffs.
Reclassification challenge: St. Pius, Washington and Mays are no longer in Marist’s region, but that doesn’t make Region 6-AAAA any less difficult. But instead of playing rival St. Pius deeper in the season, the two teams will meet each other in the season-opener in a game that could set the tone for the rest of the year.
Working on: The top priority is in the offensive backfield, where fullback Matt Connors (5-10, 185) is the only returner from a team that averaged 28.9 points per game last season. The offensive and defensive lines are solid, but as coach Alan Chadwick said, the skill level and experience of his offensive backfield is “nonexistent.”
Key starters lost: Cooper Taylor QB; Derek Heyden HB; Kevin Lanier HB; Neil Schuster HB; Joseph Bailey OL; Jordan Phillips DE; Jeff Rummel OL; Kyle Betz OL.
Key starters returning: Jeff Ervin (6-2, 210) DE; Spencer Mitchell (5-10, 175) LB; Matt Connors (5-10, 185) FB; Joe Pfeffer (6-1, 210) C; Jeff Ducote (5-10, 190) DL; Philip Wood (5-10, 200) DL; Brady Herman (6-1, 210) LB; Kevin Allman (6-2, 180) DB.
2008 strengths: The strengths will be in the lines. The defense should be strong with six of the front seven starters returning. The offensive line should also be improved with Joe Pfeffer anchoring the team at center.
2008 weaknesses: “Our weaknesses are everywhere else,” said Chadwick after praising his lines. None of the halfbacks who will run the ball in the spring have started a game, and for the second year in a row, Marist is searching for a new quarterback.
This season’s projection: There is no reason to think that Marist will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
Photos: A look at Marist
Week Two Lineup
• 4/21: ML King • 4/22: Valdosta • 4/23: Buford • 4/24: P-Ridge • 4/25: Tucker • 4/26: Fayette • 4/27: Brookwood
Week One Lineup
• 4/14: Roswell • 4/15: Norcross • 4/16: Walton • 4/17: Harrison • 4/18: Camden • 4/19: Newnan • 4/20: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Marist in ‘08? Will the War Eagles re-energize? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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