 | | | 4/24/2008 12:01:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Brookwood tops Parkview to claim 8-AAAAA crown
By Will Hammock
Sports Editor
SNELLVILLE - With the Region 8-AAAAA baseball title there for the taking, Brookwood's baseball team didn't waste any time seizing control.
The No. 1 Broncos scored five runs in the first inning on Wednesday and four more in the third, coasting to a 10-1 victory over rival Parkview. The win tied a school record for wins in a row at 14, but most importantly it locked up their second straight region championship.
"(Winning region) was the biggest thing," said Brookwood coach Rick Howard, whose team is now an amazing 21-1. "That's something we've focused on all year and it's something that's never been done before here, back-to-back region championships. For the seniors to go out with two region championships is huge."
Alex Beebe (6-0) was the winning pitcher, allowing four hits and just one unearned run. His biggest jam came in the top of the first when Parkview put runners on second and third with no outs, but he induced three straight ground ball outs, all to third baseman Grayson Flack.
Flack had nine assists on the night, and also was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice at the plate.
"That was huge, that set the tone for the night," Howard said of escaping the first inning. "I can't say enough about Grayson Flack. He had nine assists and they weren't easy. He was moving left, moving right, having to make strong throws. And this a kid who had Tommy John surgery in April. He's worked hard, never missed a workout.
"And Alex Beebe threw a great ball game against what I consider a very good lineup."
Ronnie Freeman plated the Broncos' first two runs on a single, then Chase Hawkins ripped a three-run homer for the 5-0 edge. Freeman led off the third with a solo home run, sparking a four-run inning.
Hawkins (3-for-4, homer, two doubles) had a double in the third inning, as did Ross Heffley and Jon Robinson.
Parkview scratched out a run in the sixth thanks to Beau Esmonde, who had three of his team's four hits, and an error. Esmonde scored on a sacrifice fly line drive by Brandon Jacobs.
The Broncos got a run back in the bottom of the sixth but by then the outcome wasn't in much doubt as they locked up their 14th straight win, matching the streaks of both the 1986 and 2007 teams. Brookwood's Michael Brown pitched a scoreless seventh inning with a pair of strikeouts.
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Sunday, August 03, 2008 
