GHSA BASEBALL CHAMPIONS

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2 GHSA02 I 2010 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS GREAT BASEBALL ACTION! Greetings, GHSA baseball fans! Welcome to the 2010 GHSA Championship Series for baseball. Four weeks ago, these teams began the journey through the playoffs and now they are poised for the final challenge competing for the state championship. The Georgia High School Association is proud of the commitment to quality that these players and coaches have demonstrated throughout the season. The quality of high school baseball in Georgia is very, very high. We hope that you, the faithful fans, will enjoy these games, and that you will demonstrate the highest levels of sportsmanship as you positively encourage your team toward victory. The GHSA is grateful for the generous contributions of our corporate partners who enable us to provide these events. As you see the list of these partners around the field, please support them at every opportunity. Ralph Swearngin GHSA Executive Director CHECK OUT ALL THE CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL SCORES ON SCOREATL.COM GHSA BASEBALL CHAMPIONS Year AAAA AAA AA A B C 1946 Lanier 1947 West Fulton 1948 Decatur Canton Meigs 1949 Marist Gainesville Effingham Co Bass R.E. Lee West Point 1951 Richmond Acad. Newnan Swainsboro Duluth 1952 Richmond Acad. Avondale Pepperell West Point 1953 Richmond Acad. Americus Pepperell Glenwood 1954 Richmond Acad. Americus Pepperell Colbert 1955 Richmond Acad. Americus Milton Mt. Zion 1956 Richmond Acad. Thomasville Tucker Shellman 1957 Richmond Acad. Miller Co. Pepperell Model Dade Co Griffin Campbell, Smyrna Pepperell Model Dade Co Griffin Rossville Model Hughes Twiggs Co Murphy West Rome Winder-Barrow Hughes Coosa 1961 Benedictine Crisp Co. Americus Perry Mt. Zion 1962 Griffin West Rome Carrollton Perry Twiggs Co Murphy East Rome Hughes Norcross Union Point 1964 Avondale Headland Americus Fayette Co. Plains 1965 Lanier Headland Americus Terrell Co. Union 1966 Dykes Tucker Americus West Point Mt. de Sales 1967 Tucker Wayne Co. Westminster Seminole Co. Putnam Co Therrell Walker Westminster Terrell Co. Mt. de Sales 1969 Willingham Headland Americus Terrell Co. Mt. de Sales 1970 Dykes Pepperell Americus Roswell Clay Co Jordan Lakeview Roswell Wheeler Co. Mt. de Sales 1972 Sequoyah Lakeview Hephzibah West Point Mt. de Sales 1973 Glynn Acad. Stephens Co. Irwin Co. Trion 1974 Henderson Calhoun Harlem West Point 1975 Wheeler Westminster Irwin Co. GAC 1976 Savannah Bradwell Institute Mt. de Sales GMI 1977 Kendrick Marist Pepperell Buford 1978 Valdosta Gainesville Harlem Mt. de Sales 1979 Newton Co. Winder-Barrow Harlem Gordon Lee 1980 Griffin Coffee Pepperell Mt. de Sales 1981 Lowndes Marist Harlem Brookstone 1982 Coffee NW Whitfield Harlem GAC 1983 Coffee Marist Harlem Trion 1984 Columbus Marist Darlington Gordon Lee 1985 Forest Park Marist Hancock Central Calhoun Co Brookwood Roswell Harlem Clinch Co McEachern Westside Shiloh Clinch Co Evans Westside Berrien Towns Co Evans Jones Co. Washington-Wilkes Clinch Co Evans Marist Lovett Bremen 1991 Newnan Columbus Perry Clinch Co Walton Columbus Cook Clinch Co Evans Marist Lovett Pace Acad Evans Columbus Lovett Pace Acad Sprayberry Columbus Vidalia Pace Acad Parkview Columbus Gainesville Toombs Co Colquitt Co. Greenbrier Gainesville Irwin Co Harrison Greenbrier Gainesville North Forsyth 1999 Lassiter Greenbrier Thomasville Lovett 2000 Lowndes Columbus Cook Calhoun Year AAAAA AAAA AAA AA A 2001 Parkview Shaw Gainesville Cartersville Walker 2002 Parkview Marist Gainesville Cartersville Walker 2003 Colquitt Co. Marist Cartersville Vidalia Clinch Co Milton Columbus LaGrange Bacon Co. Lakeview Acad Chattahoochee Henry Co. Columbus Calhoun Calvary Day 2006 Lassiter Greenbrier Blessed Trinity Lovett ELCA 2007 Walton Greenbrier Dunwoody Holy Innocents Calvary Day 2008 Brookwood Loganville Cartersville Wesleyan Pacelli 2009 Pope Northgate Cartersville Lovett Wesleyan

3 MAY 28-JUNE 1, STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS I 03GHSA Stellar players, dominant teams headline state championship series this weekend s the school year comes to a close, so does Athe season in Georgia high school sports. Baseball, as always, caps the year off and figures to do so in style this weekend. 10 programs are vying for five state crowns, only one of which could possibly be a repeat of last year's champions. CLASS A Aquinas vs. Wesleyan: Though Aquinas jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the second inning against Walker in the third game of the semifinals, the Fighting Irish will face a Wesleyan squad that has been to the state finals four of the last five years and taken home the last two state titles. The experience of the Wolves coupled with the bat of Daniel Cardwell and the arm of Kevin Staton will prove a challenge for Aquinas. But the Fighting Irish s Brendan Douglas was clutch in the semifinals along with Tyler Williamson, who went 3-for-4 in Game 3, and Sam Few, who rattled off two home runs in Game 1 of the semifinals. CLASS AA Calhoun vs. Cook County: Calhoun is riding a 33-game winning streak heading into the state championship series, and showed the ability fight back from deficits in both semifinal games against Lovett. The Yellow Jackets proved able to capitalize when their opponent s pitcher slowed down, as they cranked out six runs in the final two innings of Game 1 and strung together three-consecutive home runs in Game 2, securing its spot in the finals. But the Jackets will face an MLB prospect on the mound in Cook County s Kaleb Cowart. The senior boasts a 97 MPH fastball which helped him tally 10 strikeouts in six innings of work after accounting for the first five outs in Game 1 against Blessed Trinity. He also opened up his can of offensive firepower by crushing a tworun homer in Game 1. But Cook is not a oneman show, as D.J. Johnson pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts in Game 2. Let the battle between Cook s MLB-caliber pitching and Calhoun's comeback ability begin. CLASS AAA Columbus vs. Ringgold: Ringgold s pitching arsenal used only two weapons in a semifinal sweep of Oconee County. Pitchers Matthew Crownover and Colton Cross combined for 25 strikeouts in the doubleheader, each pitching a complete game. And, in between Crownover throwing strikes, he smacked a home run in Game 2, while teammates Adam Weldon and Austin Parrish each tallied two-run doubles in the sweep. Columbus scored 34 runs in a three-game semifinal series against Thomson, including a lopsided 21-2 victory in Game 2. The Blue Devils will vie for the program s 10th state title against Ringgold. Columbus will need solid offensive production to counter the strong pitching of the Tigers in order win the series and get that 10th title. CLASS AAAA Lakeside-Evans vs. Marist: The Panthers earned a berth in the Class 4A state championship series by producing 22 runs on the road against Wayne County in Monday s doubleheader. Lakeside-Evans managed to score six runs in the opening inning of both games, with shortstop Clayton Miller going 4-for-4 in Game 1 and three other Panthers tallying home runs in the series. Lakeside-Evans is set to take on Marist, who ended Whitewater s 10- game winning streak in two games in the semifinals. The War Eagles stood strong on the mound, as Brandon Leibrandt put in six innings of work in Game 1 giving up six hits and two earned runs. David Bourbonnais relieved Leibrandt and Game 2 starter Blake Stevens, accounting for two saves on the day. Marist s Brent Dolan poses as an offensive threat Lakeside-Evans needs to take note of after posting stellar semifinal performance, going 4-for-7 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. CLASS AAAAA Lassiter vs. Harrison: Cobb County has dominated Class 5A high school baseball. And Harrison squeezed out a 2-1 victory over North Gwinnett to earn a berth to the state championship series, making it yet another all-cobb County final. Harrison pitcher Devin Rentz did not allow a hit when North Gwinnett had runners in scoring position on his way to striking out six batters in Game 3. The Hoyas enjoyed homers from Christian Turnipseed, Matt Gonzalez and Jason Celler in Game 2 and will need the same production against Lassiter in the finals. The Trojans have not lost a playoff game yet this postseason, and pitcher Brandon Stephens tallied his 13th homerun of the season in the semifinals series against Redan. Lassiter was able to post 21 hits in the sweep of Redan and while Harrison battled North Gwinnett in a pivotal Game 3, the Trojans were able to rest. Though Harrison proved their mettle against North Gwinnett, that extra rest may come into play for Lassiter and its bullpen. Photo of Harrison is courtesy of David McGregor. Bowers can be reached at rachelgbowers@gmail.com.

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5 MAY 28-JUNE 1, STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS I 05GHSA CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL ROSTERS GAME TIMES Class AAAAA Harrison at Lassiter, 5 p.m. Friday DH (Game 3, 1 p.m. on Sat.) Class AAAA Marist at Lakeside-Evans, 4 p.m. Friday DH (Game 3, TBA) Class AAA Columbus vs. Ringgold, 2 p.m. Saturday DH (Game 3, at 4:30 p.m. on Mon.) Class AA Calhoun at Cook, 4 p.m. Monday DH (Game 3, at 5 p.m. on Tues.) Class A Wesleyan at Aquinas, 2 p.m. Friday DH (Game 3, at noon on Sat.) CLASS AAAAA LASSITER TROJANS Head Coach: Scott Kelly 2 Chris Fusco SS 12 3 Morgan McClung OF 12 4 Stephen Janas RHP 12 5 Alec Youngblood 2B 11 6 Brent Nelson SS 12 7 Beau Welborn 3B/SS 12 8 Jared Aarons OF 10 9 Ross Ripple RHP Brandon Stephens C/1B/RHP Eli Long OF Jeffrey Johnson RHP Parker Shank RHP Mitch Shelby RHP Andrew Gordon OF Wes Blakey C/OF Cody Johnson 3B/RHP Andy Rief OF/RHP Andrew McLarnon RHP Jimmy Mayer OF Nelson Ward 2B Wes Burns 1B Reed Anthes 3B/C 11 HARRISON HOYAS Head Coach: Mark Elkins 2 Connor Hughes 2B/P 11 3 Ryan Penge 3B/2B 12 5 Zack Bowers 3B/C 10 7 Taylor Bowles OF 11 8 Austin Neely 2B/3B 12 9 Preston Neely SS/3B Adam Martin C/1B Michael Hodorowski OF Christian Turnipseed OF/P Alex Dauby 2B/P Matt Gonzalez SS/P Nick Galeotti C/P Ben Eidson 1B/P Jason Celler 1B/P John Skubina P Jake Adams P Matthew Allen OF Devin Rentz P 12 CLASS AAAA MARIST WAR EAGLES Head Coach: Mike Strickland 2 David Bourbonnais INF/P 11 3 Trey Cotney OF 12 4 Chesny Young INF 11 5 Anthony Sherlag C 9 6 Patrick Sullivan OF 12 7 Evan Geist P 12 8 Cole Sutter C 11 9 Brett Dolan INF Andy Perez INF Jack Mohan OF Daniel Spingola OF/P Brandon Leibrandt P/INF Blake Stevens P/INF Cole Truxillo P Charlie Mathes C Kevin Gale OF Georges Durot OF Kash Manzelli INF Jack Southers P Luke Bell P Mitchell Anderson P/INF 11 LAKESIDE-EVANS PANTHERS Head Coach: T.J. Davis 1 Spencer Starnes 2B 12 2 Ben Black 3B 12 3 Derek Russo 1B 12 5 Clayton Miller SS 12 7 Cade Hardin P 11 8 Kody Belcher OF 11 9 Ben Slaton C Jeffrey Stroner P Zach Hornsby 2B Jon Zumbro 3B Zach Hayden OF Stephen Crawford C Andy Pringle OF Heath Durand P Daniel Anderson 2B T.J. Hester C Daniel Henry P Jacob Wright 3B Will Hogan P 10 CLASS AAA RINGGOLD TIGERS Head Coach: Brent Tucker 2 Wright Hackett 2B 10 3 Zach Lance SS 11 5 Tyler Proctor 2B 12 7 Reed Walden OF 10 9 Austin Parrish OF/P 9 10 Tyler Bass 2B Hunter Heath OF Colton Cross P/3B Mark Fairbanks OF Eric Hull C/P Matthew Crownover P Adam Weldon 1B/P Barrett Fontana 1B Josh Riley OF Corey Kafka C/P Caleb Jones C Mark Gray P/3B 10 COLUMBUS BLUE DEVILS Head Coach: Bobby Howard 2 Charles Sheffiled INF/P 11 3 Curtis Jefferson OF 12 4 Hunter Brocato INF/P Bobby Andrews INF/OF Zach Effinger INF/P Jordan Weems C Josh Lester INF Tyler Mathis INF/P Cody Walker C J.T. Phillips INF/P Brad Barto INF Parker Cliatt INF McLendon Hill INF Caleb Klobe OF Tate Hutwanger P/INF Spencer Draws INF Will Solomon P/OF Brendan Fox P Luke Sheffield OF/P Pierce Ressmeyer C Avery Seckinger P/INF Troy Darr OF/P Tyler Condrey P Kyle Carter OF/P Keith Sims OF Josh Bricker P Anthony Padron OF/P Greg Lewis P/OF 10 CLASS AA COOK HORNETS Head Coach: Bob Owsley 1 Ross Pickle 2B/C 9 2 Blake Garrett 3B/P 10 4 Stanton Moore 1B/P 9 5 D.J Johnson SS/P 12 6 Turner Boone 3B/P 11 7 Palmer Betts OF/P 10 8 Tyler Quick 1B/P 10 9 Zack Folsom 2B/P Kaleb Cowart SS/ P Skyler Lindsey OF/P Cody Harris OF/P Parker Nix OF/1B Brandon Hilliard OF/C Hunter Dunn 1B/DH Tyler Norton C Justin Watson 1B Stephen Tucker OF/P 12 CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS Head Coach: Chip Henderson 2 Landon Curtis INF/P 11 3 Corey Greeson INF/P 10 4 Trent Frix OF 10 6 Mott Hyde INF 12 7 Josh Schubert OF 10 8 Austin Norrell P/C Jeremy Wyatt INF Carter Harrison INF/P Zach Bradley OF Tyler King INF Jordan Poole INF Michael Johnson INF Blain Steely OF Christian Holden C/P 12 CLASS A AQUINAS FIGHTING IRISH Head Coach: Mike Laney 2 Gray Klosinski SS 9 3 Tyler Williamson 2B 10 4 Erin Hawk INF/P 11 5 Bowen Klosinski C/P 12 7 Matt Foushee OF 12 8 Olegs Garner OF 9 9 Dennis Douglas OF Chris Elam 3B 9 11 Will Few C/1B Dane Anderson OF Jim Riley INF/P 9 20 Rhett Mills 2B 9 21 Seddrick Dixon 1B/P Sam Few 1B/P CJ Washington OF/P Palmer Douglas 3B/P Luke Fisher 1B 9 44 Brendan Douglas CF/P 9 WESLEYAN WOLVES Head Coach: Mike Shaheen 2 Kevin O Leary 2B/SS 12 5 Josh Tolman 2B/OF Brooks Colquitt P/1B Conor Welton OF Strother White P/3B Daniel Cardwell P/OF Mason Colquitt P/1B Will Schnupp 2B/3B Devin Stanton P/1B Merritt Hall C/DH Cater Garrison OF/DH Adam Workman C/DH 12 The 2010 High School State Championship Baseball Guide is published by Score Prep, a division of Score Atlanta, in conjunction with the GHSA. Photos on the cover are courtesy of David McGregor. The brackets were provided by GHSA.net. For more information on Score Prep, go to scoreatl.com or call

6 GHSA06 I 2010 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Get In The Game! Lassiter sweeps into state finals, looking for third state championship Not many schools in the state can boast a more illustrious baseball history than the Lassiter Trojans. Nestled in one of the most fertile baseball recruiting grounds in the country, just a few miles from the prestigious East Cobb baseball complex, Lassiter has become a state powerhouse. Over the last 15 years, Lassiter has won the state championship twice. The school s 1999 squad was voted the national champions after a 35-2 campaign. The Trojans have been state runner-up five times, and 16 different former Trojans have signed with professional organizations since Four of the last 11 Class 5A Players of the Year have come from Lassiter. Perhaps the most impressive Lassiter stat is that since 1999, the Trojans have made the state playoffs in every season but one. NEW LEADERSHIP For the first time in 18 years, Lassiter came into 2010 without Micky McMurtry in the dugout. The legendary head coach led the Trojans to all of the above accomplishments and was the man who made Lassiter the powerhouse it has become. Taking over for McMurtry was Scott Kelly, a Lassiter alum and a protégé of McMurtry s who served as his assistant for 10 seasons. Kelly became a player favorite during his tenure as an assistant and was well suited to take over the job. It s never easy replacing a legend, but Kelly and staff have done an amazing job in his first year post-mcmurtry. We came in wanting to continue what Coach Mick had built here, Kelly said. We didn t want people to look at the program any differently than they had under Coach Mick. After a 22-9 campaign in 2009, Lassiter came into the 2010 season with hopes of making a run at the school s third state championship. The Trojans got off to a bit of a troubling start, though, going just 6-6 in the first 12 games. The pitching staff was struggling. Lassiter lost 85 percent of its innings pitched from 2009, and the inexperience was showing early. The pitching staff was yielding over five runs per game to the opposition. The offense was scoring over seven runs per game, but it often wasn t enough. The team did not panic, though. The Trojans had played a very difficult schedule, with eight of their first 12 games being against teams that would go on to make the state playoffs. After a 2-1 loss to the school s biggest rival, Kell, the team had a meeting to focus on how to turn things around. And the Trojans did. Lassiter reeled off 12-straight wins to go from a.500 ball club to 18-6 and one of the top teams in the state. The biggest difference between the first 12 games and the next 12 was undoubtedly pitching. As the young pitchers settled into their roles, winning followed. During the 12-game win streak, the pitching staff s ERA was 3.42, nearly two runs per game better than they d been over the first 12 games. The Trojans bats continued to produce over seven runs per game and the team looked just about unbeatable. Georgia signee and MLB draft prospect Brandon Stephens led the team, hitting.480 with 13 home runs and 46 RBIs on the season. Stephens, along with Kennesaw State signee Steven Janas and Ross Ripple anchored the pitching staff that turned things around. Everything was going right for the Trojans, and with two games left in the regular season, the Trojans looked poised to claim a region title. DOWNHILL SLIDE Just as it looked as if Lassiter was unbeatable, things turned in the wrong direction quickly. Milton handed the Trojans a mercy rule-shortened 10-0 defeat. Two days later, Lassiter lost to rival Pope 8-5. The Trojans dreams of the school s eighth region title disappeared. All of a sudden a pitching staff that had been excellent gave up 18 runs in 12 innings. A lineup that had averaged more than seven runs per game all season managed just five in two games. But once again, the team did not panic. Our team has just been so resilient all year long, Kelly said, talking about losing the final two games of the regular season. We were upset we couldn t capture one of our goals (a region title), but that didn t affect our confidence heading to the playoffs. SUDDEN TURNAROUND Lassiter entered the playoffs as a twoseed, and all was well again when the team pounded South Forsyth in a two-game sweep to begin the state playoffs. But everyone knew the true test wouldn t come until Round 2, against a familiar foe. The Trojans would have to travel to Parkview, the topranked team in the state. Lassiter had beaten Parkview earlier in the season 13-5, but this was not the same Panther team. Parkview came into the series riding a nine-game win streak and had won 17 of its last 18 games. That didn t phase the Trojans though, as Ripple and Stevens each tossed complete games and held a powerful Parkview offense to just a single run in two games. The Trojan offense got the job done, and Lassiter won 7-0 and 4-1. With all eight region champions eliminated before the quarterfinals, Lassiter emerged as the new team to beat in the state. The quarterfinals brought Lassiter back home to take on Luella. The Trojans got their first true scare of the playoffs in Game 1, when they headed to the ninth trailing The Lassiter offense provided some late heroics, though, as Cody Johnson and Reed Anthes drove in runs to tie the game Stephens then came to the plate and hit a walk-off tworun homer to give the Trojans a comeback victory. Lassiter rolled in Game 2, 14-4, and swept Redan in the semifinals to advance to its eighth state championship series. The Trojans will play host to Harrison Friday for their third state championship and first since Lassiter is the favorite with the way the Trojans have pummeled teams through the first four rounds. The offense has been so good that Janas has not even had to start yet, as Kelly s been saving him for Game 3s, which the Trojans have yet to face. Winning a state championship in his first year at the helm would cap an incredible first year for Kelly, but he gave all the credit to his players for the team s success. For me personally (winning a state title) would certainly be special, said Kelly. But we ve got a great group of kids and no manager can win anything without talented players. Lassiter vs. Harrison will be available by Wed., June 2, on GHSA On Demand (Comcast Cable) and GHSA.tv (Web). To watch GHSA On Demand, select the ON DEMAND button on your Comcast remote or go to Channel 1, choose Get Local, select Top Picks and then GHSA On Demand. Photos courtesy of Brian Penter. Penter can be reached at bpenter@scoreatl.com.

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8 GHSA08 I 2010 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Get In The Game!

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