 | | | 3/17/2008 12:01:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | High School Hardball: Diamond in the rough
Let me preface everything you are about to read in the rest of this column with this disclaimer.
It's still early in the high school baseball season. VERY early. For most teams in Gwinnett County and throughout Georgia, there is still 3/4 of the season yet to play.
Now, with that hedging out of the way, there are a couple of very compelling stories in Gwinnett developing during the early going, and I'm not talking about Brookwood and Parkview being ranked No. 1 and 2 in the gasports.com coaches poll last week.
I'm not even talking about solid starts from the likes of Mill Creek, Buford or Providence Christian.
No, the two county teams that have raised eyebrows the most in the early weeks of the season are Central Gwinnett and Hebron Christian.
Both teams are a surprising 7-0 heading into today's play. For the Black Knights, the start puts them within three wins of their victory total from all of last season. For the Lions, the start is even more impressive, having nearly doubled last year's total of four wins.
Central's start has caught the attention of at least some of the state's coaches, with the Black Knights breaking into last week's Class AAAAA state rankings at No. 8 (Note: This week's updated rankings are due out probably today).
They've done it behind a solid 1-2 pitching punch of Jeff Shields and Jake Spear (both 2-0 on the young season), plus the strong hitting of players like Shields (.389), Matt Ricciardi (.368) and Danny Sekerak, who has shocked many ' including coach Chris Hays ' by coming back after sitting out last season to lead Central with a .500 batting average.
In fact, Hays' biggest challenge so far has been keeping his players from getting too carried away with the fast start.
"I've been telling them that every day," Hays said. "I was kind of hoping they wouldn't find out (about the state ranking), but a group of parents began sending out e-mails when it happened. But I think they understand we still have a lot of work to do. How can we be too confident when we've got (the) two top ... teams in our region?
"I never thought we'd be 7-0, but I'm also fully aware we haven't really done anything yet. And it's not like we've been coming out and tatooing folks."
Maybe Central hasn't, but Hebron sure has. The Lions closest margin of victory has been six runs, and they've scored double digit runs in each game behind an offense led by Danny Lockhart (nine hits, six RBIs and two stolen bases in the last three games), Jordy Penrod and Jesse Myrick.
Hebron has also gotten strong work on the mound, giving up just over three runs per game, led by pitcher Jamie Holt (3-0).
Granted, we'll find out a lot more about both teams in the coming weeks. Central still has a formidable Region 8-AAAAA to tackle. Hebron also has a tough region schedule to play, including two games with state-ranked Jefferson.
For now, though, both teams have a lot to be encouraged about ' even if it is early.
Game of the Week
Brookwood puts its No. 1 state ranking on the line against defending Class AAAAA state champion and current No. 4 (No. 11 nationally by Baseball America and No. 18 by Easton Sports) Walton today at 5:55 p.m. at home.
The Broncos (6-0) have been very impressive so far, including winning the traditionally strong LaGrange Invitational behind an MVP performance from Georgia signee Chase Hawkins, plus All-Tournament Team performances from Seth Adkins, Ronnie Freeman, Jon Robinson and Ross Heffley, and have cracked the most recent East Sports national rankings at No. 25.
Meanwhile, the Raiders (4-1) have shaken off a season-opening loss to South Gwinnett to win four straight behind college signees Mark Pope (Georgia Tech) and Kyle Putkonen (North Carolina), plus other stars like Billy Burns and T.J. Kerins.
Today's game begins a rough non-region stretch of Brookwood's schedule, which sees the Broncos take on defending AAAAA state runner-up Kennesaw Mountain on Thursday and two-time defending AAAA champion Greenbrier on Saturday, plus games against powerhouses Columbus, Mill Creek and Hardaway next week.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
| | 
|
Monday, August 04, 2008 
