 | | | 5/27/2008 12:01:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |  | Staff Photo: Jason Braverman
Brookwood’s Ross Heffley celebrates a home run in the sixth inning of the second game against North Cobb with his teammates, including Jordan Erisman (1) on Monday night. Brookwood swept its state semifinal series against North Cobb. |  |  | Staff Photo: Jason Braverman
Brookwood’s Jordan Erisman (1) turns a double play over North Cobb’s Johnathan Taylor (2) during the first game of Monday’s state playoff double-header at Brookwood High School. |
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Brookwood back in championship for first time since '99
By David Friedlander
Staff Writer
SNELLVILLE - By setting a new single-season record for team home runs, Brookwood's baseball team has earned a reputation as a power-hitting team.
However, the top-ranked Broncos demonstrated singles can be just as effective in their Class AAAAA state semifinal series against North Cobb.
Brookwood pounded out 22 hits on the day, and only four of them went for extra bases, as the Broncos beat the Warriors 6-1 and 13-5 to sweep the best-of-three series Monday at the Dave Hunter Complex.
The wins put Brookwood (32-3) into its first state final series since 1999, though the Broncos will have to wait to find out their opponent.
Valdosta and defending champion Walton split the other semifinal series, and must play a decisive third game today in Valdosta.
"It's special," Brookwood coach Rick Howard said of his team's chance to play for the title.
The Broncos got a special effort Monday with the ball not carrying on a calm day.
So rather than depend on the longball, Brookwood used the single to its advantage, especially in Game 1 as the Broncos put nine singles together.
"That's our ballpark," Howard said. "If the wind isn't blowing, the ball doesn't carry. ... We tried to cut down on the big hacks and put the ball in play."
And ace Chase Hawkins made that strategy pay off.
While Hawkins (13-1) retired North Cobb in order just once in the opener, he was in control most of the way, scattering six hits and giving up just one unearned run while striking out six in the complete-game victory.
He also got help from his defense, which made just one error and turned two double plays behind him.
"I was nervous at first, so I kind of pressed a little," the Georgia-bound left-hander said. "I just was able to bear down and realized my defense was there."
Meanwhile, Brookwood gave Hawkins the support he needed by playing small ball.
The Broncos strung together four singles in the bottom of the second, two of which were legged out as infield hits after not leaving the infield.
When the dust settled, Hawkins, Jonathan Robinson and Jordan Erisman each had RBIs in the inning, and Brookwood took advantage of two of North Cobb's three errors for the game to take a 4-0 lead.
The lead was 6-0 when Hawkins encountered his only real serious trouble in North Cobb's half of the seventh.
An error on Ryan O'Hora's infield pop-up was followed by a double by Jordan Johnston, and Jonathan McWhorter was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out.
The Warriors (23-12) eventually got on the board with Michael White's RBI ground out to second, and Hawkins dug down and struck out Lamar Bridges and got Johnathan Taylor to ground out to second to end the threat and the game.
Brookwood was able to gain a 3-2 lead in the nightcap with a two-out RBI by Ross Heffley in the third a wild pitch in the fourth and another two-out RBI by Heffley in the fifth.
Brookwood then finally re-discovered its power in the next half inning as Ronnie Freeman followed Seth Adkins' leadoff single by launching a two-run home run to straightaway center to push the Broncos' lead to 5-2.
That opened the floodgates as Jonathan Robinson delivered a two-run single and Heffley added a two-run homer to cap a six-run outburst to push Brookwood's lead to 9-2 and eventually make a winner out of Alex Beebe (9-1).
"Everybody goes up there knowing they have to be clutch," said Robinson, who finished the series 5-for-6 with two doubles and four RBIs.
"Whether there's nobody outs or two outs, everyone has the same approach."
Heffley also had a big night by going 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs in Game 2.
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Saturday, August 02, 2008 
