 | | | 5/20/2008 12:01:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Beebe, Adams step up for Broncos
By Will Hammock
Sports Editor
Chase Hawkins set the standard pretty high.
In Game 1 of Brookwood's Class AAAAA second-round baseball series with Norcross, the Georgia signee threw a one-hitter.
But as they have for most of the season, the Broncos No. 2 and No. 3 starters didn't let the pitching efforts drop off in the next two games. Both Alex Beebe and Matt Adams pitched superb as the state's top-ranked team advanced into today's quarterfinal rematch with East Coweta.
Beebe and Adams aren't always in the limelight behind an ace headed to an SEC school, but they've been nearly as effective for the 28-3 Broncos.
"Without a doubt (Beebe and Adams are overshadowed)," Brookwood coach Rick Howard said. "Alex's numbers have been right there with Chase. His ERA's not quite as low because Chase was under 1.00. But you can't argue with Alex's numbers. On most teams he would be the ace. And you look at Matt, he's 6-0."
Both pitchers have added an improved changeup to their fastball-breaking ball arsenal, which has aided their standout seasons.
Beebe is 8-1 with a 1.82 ERA, boosting his two-year record as a varsity pitcher to 13-1. The senior right-hander is headed to Piedmont College so he can play the field, but Howard said a number of schools wanted him as a pitcher.
Beebe was an outfield and third base regular last season, but he's excelled in his role this year, which has been predominantly on the mound.
He has a number of nice pitching efforts this season, most notably against Kennesaw Mountain and Parkview, but his biggest game still may be a Game 3 no-hitter against Kell in the 2007 second round. Even in losing his first varsity start last week, Beebe was strong in a
1-0 loss to Norcross in Game 2.
Adams delivered in a 7-2 victory in Game 3 against Norcross. He struck out eight, including four of the first five batters he faced, and gave up four hits. Norcross' two runs were unearned thanks to four Bronco errors.
Aside from a rough outing against McEachern, the junior left-hander has been solid, with his best two outings coming in the playoffs. He's 6-0 with a 1.15 ERA.
"What he's done in the last three or four weeks for us has been huge," Howard said of Adams.
Brookwood faces a rematch from the 2007 quarterfinals against East Coweta, which the Broncos won in three games after a Game 1 loss. They were on the brink of elimination in Game 2 last year, before rallying for back-to-back 4-3 wins.
East Coweta started this season 0-9, but enters today at 16-14.
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Saturday, August 02, 2008 
