2021 GHSA Baseball Guide - Grayson Stadium

GHSA 2021 STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS | GRAYSON STADIUM

2021 GHSA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

GREETINGS, GHSA BASEBALL FANS elcome to the 2021 GHSA BaseW ball championships! The games are sure to be exciting as all of the

schools represented are looking forward to their team achieving the title of “Champion”. However we all know that all of our teams are outstanding and are definitely winners.

This has been an outstanding season and this year’s championship games will include familiar faces as well as teams that have worked hard and peaked at just the right time. Our congratulations are in order for all of the teams, coaches, administrators, students and parents who have supported the athletes through this year’s journey to the final games. I know you will enjoy and appreciate the games and all of the work leading up to this exciting event.

I would also like to thank you for your support of high school baseball throughout the season. Your attendance and support is integral to the success of high school athletics and for the team you are here to cheer on. Good sportsmanship is expected from our athletes and I urge you to be positive in your support of all of our teams. Let’s work together to make today’s games a great experience for all involved.

GoFan digital tickets sales exclsive at all venues.

To put on an event of this magnitude takes many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to provide a “first class” event. Many hours of work from this group will enhance the experience of our players, students and fans. The GHSA staff has been working for weeks as well to ensure a special event for all involved.

Finally I would like to thank our corporate sponsors who make it possible to put on these championships. Their advertisements can be seen throughout this venue and I encourage you to support them whenever possible. The GHSA wants to thank these exemplary companies for their involvement, we appreciate their support.

Thank you for your attendance and I know you are going to enjoy the best high school baseball anywhere!

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MAY 22 - 12:00 PM

1A Public - Gordon Lee vs Metter (If Game)

MAY 22 - 5:00 PM

2A - Jeff Davis vs Lovett (H) (DH)

MAY 24 - TBD

James R. Hines, Jr. Executive Director

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MAY 21 - 5:00 PM

1A Public - Gordon Lee vs Metter (H) (DH)

2A - Jeff Davis vs Lovett (If Game)

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M AY 2 1 , 2 2 & 2 4

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MAY 21, 22 & 24

GHSA BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

STORIED TEAMS TREK TO SAVANNAH

BY SETH ELLERBEE | SELLERBEE@SCOREATL.COM

T

he 2021 GHSA baseball state championships for Classes 2A and A Public feature three programs looking to add trophies to their cases with one team, Metter, hoping to win the program’s firstever state championship. Both series will take place at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, home of the Savannah Bananas.

Hollingsworth, Hayden Bernard, Owen McMurtrie, Conner Partin and Will Prigge handle pitching responsibilities. Northwestern-signee Andrew Pinkston and senior Christopher Kollme provide talent at the top of the lineup for Lovett. Coach Lance Oubs has led Lovett to state championships in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2018.

through Region 6-A Public. The program is

Jeff Davis outlasted Rockmart in three games to win the 2A championship in 2019 and enters this year’s title series with a 2714 record. The Yellowjackets also survived three-game series against Jasper County/ Monticello in the first round, Fitzgerald in the second round and Callaway in the semifinals. Jeff Davis also swept its quarterfinal series against Haralson County. Pitchers Matthew White and Cole Baucom have been the Yellowjackets’ most productive pitchers alongside Duke Stone, who pitched RETURNING GREATNESS a three-hit shutout against Callaway to Lovett enters the Class 2A champion- advance Jeff Davis into the title match. ship series with a 22-12 record and a 7-1 FAMILIAR TERRITORY AND showing through Region 6-2A play. Three UNCHARTED WATERS of Lovett’s four series in the bracket went After surviving a three-game series to deciding Game 3’s – Round 1 against Coosa, Round 2 against Elbert County and against ACE Charter in the semifinals, its quarterfinal matchup against Vidalia. Gordon Lee is in its fourth consecutive The Lions swept Bremen in the semifinals championship series. The Trojans are 35-3 to earn the championship berth. Michael on the season and went undefeated (15-0)

in the semifinals. Gordon Lee lost the first

Lovett is the most successful program making the trip to Savannah. The Lions have won nine state championships with 2A titles in 2013 and 2016 and a 3A championship in 2018. Lovett, which reclassified down to 2A last season, will try to upend the Class 2A defending champions Jeff Davis, which won two of the last three state titles in 2A. Gordon Lee enters the state championship series having won the past two A Public titles.

trying for its fifth overall championship after winning titles in 1979 and 1984 in Class A and the past two seasons in A Public.

The Trojans shut out both Glascock County and Washington-Wilkes in the first two rounds before beating Wilcox County game of the semifinal series against ACE Charter before winning 10-0, 15-6 to earn the title berth. Jake Poindexter, Blake Rodgers, Riley King and Bo Rhudy have provided the pitching prowess for Gordon Lee. In the other dugout, Metter has never been to a championship series. The program is 27-8 and went 13-1 through Region 3-A Public. The Tigers swept each round, shutting out Lanier County and Montgomery County in the first two rounds. In the quarterfinals, the Tigers beat Schley County and, in the semis, beat Charlton County for the title berth.

Pitchers Brian Crooms and John Luke Glanton have been stalwarts for Metter, while brothers Randan and Rustan Ridgon have also been productive on the mound.

3 | W W W. G H S A . N E T

GHSA 2021 STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS | GRAYSON STADIUM

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4 | W W W. G H S A . N E T

MAY 21, 22 & 24

CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL ROSTERS & SCHEDULE

May 21

1A Public - Gordon Lee vs Metter

(H)(DH) 5:00 PM

May 22

1A Public - Gordon Lee vs Metter

(If Game) 12:00 PM

May 22

2A - Jeff Davis vs Lovett

(H)(DH) 5:00 PM

May 24

2A - Jeff Davis vs Lovett

(If Game) TBD

CLASS 2A LOVETT LIONS

JEFF DAVIS YELLOWJACKETS

Head Coach: Lance Oubs

Head Coach: Paul Glass

1

Will Prigge

IF/P 11

1

Cason Clance

OF/LHP

10

2

Andrew Pinkston OF/P 12

2

Conner Rea

3B

12

3

Christopher Kollme IF

12

3

Josh Griffin

OF/RHP

11

Ethan Picanso

IF/RHP

9

4

Anderson Beavor IF/P

10

4

5

Kai Cunningham IF/P

11

5

Carter Mullis

C

6

Charles Lindsay C

11

6

Trenton Clance

SS/RHP

7

Robert Mitchell IF/OF 11

7

Duke Stone

SS/RHP

8

Conner Partin IF/P 11

8

Ethan Griffin

OF

10

10

Charlie Caldwell C

12

9

Cade Walters

OF

12

11

Christopher Fielden UTIL

10

10

Cole Baucom

RHP/OF

12

12

Jack Steel

11

Hamp Hayes

1B

12

13

Luke Ham P 12

12

Matthew Glass

C

11

15

Michael Hollingsworth OF/P

13

Tyler Brewer

OF

12

16

Hayden Bernard OF/P 10

14

Alex Mason

1B/RHP

19

Grant Turner P 12

15

Matthew White

RHP

12

16

Ethan Hulett

2B

12

20

Logan Givens OF/P 11

17

Cam Williams

RHP/OF

11

22

Zach Minetola OF/P 12

18

Jackson Sayer

IF

9

23

Nape Kirkpatrick IF/P

11

20

Tre Rea

C

9

24

Diego Sarabia P

11

23

Hayden Turner

OF

9

32

Owen McMurtrie P

12

25

Kamden Munsayac

OF

9

IF/P 11 12

9 11 9

9

CLASS 1A-PUBLIC METTER TIGERS

GORDON LEE TROJANS

Head Coach: Zach Rackett

Head Coach: Mike Dunfee

1

Antoine Deloach CF

2

Randan Rigdon P/UTIL 12

3

John Luke Glanton C/P

12

11

4

Kaliq Jordan

P/UTIL 10

5

RJ Coney

LF/P 10

6

Kyzer Anthony 3B 11

7

Brian Crooms P/RF 12

8

Jayden Deloach P/LF 10

11

Reese Hadden 1B/P 11

12

Brendan Wood MIF 12

13 15

Rustan Rigdon SS/P 9 Tyler Kirkland C/P 12

17 Eric Bragg

P/RF 11

00

Brodie Genter

C/P/IF

10

1

Griffin Collins

OF

12

2

Nate Dunfee

OF

10

4

Brody Cobb

C/P/IF

12

6

Jacob Neal

IF

12

8

Barrett Dockery

C/P

9

9

Ethan Rider

P/IF

11

10

Cade Peterson

P/OF

12

12

Garren Ramey

P/OF

11

13

Blake Rodgers

P/IF

10

16

Cody Thomas

IF

12

17

Tyler Forester

C/P/IF

10

18

Jackson Moore

P/IF

12

20

Riley King

P/IF

12

21

Holt Roberts

C/P/IF

10

23

Tanner Wilson

P/OF

11

24

Kade Cowan

P/IF

10

25

Cooper Jackson

P/OF

10

27

Jake Poindexter

P/IF

12

34

Bo Rhudy

P/IF/OF

10

36

Logan Simerley

IF

12

5 | W W W. G H S A . N E T

GHSA 2021 STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS | GRAYSON STADIUM

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6 | W W W. G H S A . N E T

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MAY 21, 22 & 24

GHSA BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

ATLANTA BRAVES, TRUIST PARK PARTNER TO HOST A TRIO OF CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

T

he Atlanta Braves’ commitment steps of one of Major League Baseball’s historic events over the last few years. and ongoing partnership with the most successful franchises.

Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State faGHSA is bringing three state chammously played the first-ever football game HOME SWEET HOME pionship series to Truist Park this week— at the venue in 2018 and the Owls scored the latest joint initiative aimed to promote

Located in Cobb County, Truist Park a 60-52 victory in a five-overtime thriller.

the growth of youth baseball in the state. has quickly become a beloved home field Additionally, Truist Park has hosted top This partnership goes back decades and to the Atlanta Braves since its opening in music acts like Billy Joel, Metallica, Def the Braves willingly opened the doors of 2017. The ballpark features an intimate Leppard, Journey and the Zac Brown Band. their new stadium to Georgia High School configuration—despite its 41,084-seat cabaseball in 2019. That year saw Parkview pacity—and has the highest percentage of

PROUD PARTNERS

sweep Hillgrove for the Class 7A champi- seats closer to the field than any other ball Keeping this partnership going is a onship in what was the only series played park in Major League Baseball. Woody Stu- win-win for Georgia High School baseat the stadium. denmund of “The Hardball Times” called ball and the Atlanta Braves are mainthe park a “gem” and praised the “com- taining a cherished tradition of the Last year’s cancellation prevented pact beauty of the stadium and its exciting state’s professional teams partnering the opportunity from taking place, but the approach to combining baseball, business with high school sports. The AtlanBraves are rolling out the red carpet in a big and social activities.”

ta Falcons hosted the Georgia High

way—this time hosting Georgia’s top three

School football state championships

classifications (Class 5A, 6A and 7A) for

This year’s championship games are for years at the Georgia Dome, but

the second annual GHSA championships conveniently scheduled as the Braves hit have not been able to host the games at Truist Park. Additionally, the Braves are the road for series against the Boston Red at Mercedes-Benz Stadium the last few opening up the Red Deck for free parking Sox and New York Mets and they will be years due to logistical concerns. Deup to three hours and tickets will be just back at Truist Park on Sunday to close out spite this, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is $15.

a busy May schedule.

welcoming back the Corky Kell Classic this upcoming football season for

Partnering with the Braves is giving

Truist Park and the surrounding mix- its 30th anniversary and the state’s

these six finalists an opportunity to play in used development known as “The Battery” professional franchises are continuing one of the premier baseball venues in the that provides a back drop to the state-of- to shine a spotlight on Georgia high world and they will be walking in the foot- the-art stadium has been the site of many school athletics.

7 | W W W. G H S A . N E T

GHSA 2021 STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS | GRAYSON STADIUM

8 | W W W. G H S A . N E T

MAY 21, 22 & 24

GHSA PAST CHAMPIONS Year AAAA 1985 Forest Park 1986 Brookwood 1987 McEachern 1988 Evans 1989 Evans 1990 Evans 1991 Newnan 1992 Walton 1993 Evans 1994 Evans 1995 Sprayberry 1996 Parkview 1997 Colquilt Co. 1998 Harrison 1999 Lassiter 2000 Lowndes

AAA Marist Roswell Westside Westside Jones Co. Marist Columbus Columbus Columbus Marist Columbus Columbus Columbus Greenbrier Greenbrier Columbus

AA Hancock Central Harlem Shiloh Berrien Washington-Wilkes Lovett Perry Cook Lovett Lovett Vidalia Gainesville Gainesville Gainesville Thomasville Cook

A Calhoun Co. Clinch Co. Clinch Co. Towns Co. Clinch Co. Bremen Clinch Co. Clinch Co. Pace Acad.

Pace Acad.

Pace Acad.

Toombs Co. Irwin Co. North Forsyth Lovett Calhoun

Year AAAAA 2001 Parkview 2002 Parkview 2003 Colquitt Co. 2004 Milton 2005 Chattahoochee 2006 Lassiter 2007 Walton 2008 Brookwood 2009 Pope 2010 Harrison 2011 Parkview 2012 Parkview

AAAA Shaw Marist Marist Columbus Henry Co. Greenbrier Greenbrier Loganville Northgate Marist Marist Loganville

AAA Gainesville Gainesville Cartersville LaGrange Columbus Blessed Trinity Dunwoody Cartersville Cartersville Columbus Columbus Columbus

AA Cartersville Cartersville Vidalia Bacon Co. Calhoun Lovett Holy Innocents’ Wesleyan Lovett Calhoun Buford Appling County

Year AAAAAA AAAAA 2013 Milton Pope 2014 Lambert Houston Co. 2015 Parkview Greenbrier 2016 Walton Houston Co. Year 2017 2018 2019

AAAA Redan Carrollton Buford Locust Grove

AAAAAAA AAAAAA AAAAA Etowah Pope Loganville Parkview Pope Loganville Parkview Heritage Loganville

AAA Cartersville Blessed Trinity Blessed Trinity Westminster

AAAA AAA Marist North Hall Jefferson Lovett NS Columbus Pike Co

AA Lovett Benedictine Wesleyan Lovett AA Jeff Davis Benedictine Jeff Davis

A Walker Walker Clinch Co. Lakeview Acad.

Calvary Day ELCA Calvary Day Pacelli Wesleyan Wesleyan Hebron Chr. Providence Chr.

A-Private A-Public ELCA Charlton Co. King’s Ridge Charlton Co. King’s Ridge Schley Co. Tattnall Square Treutlen

A-Private Savannah Chr. Tattnall Square Tattnall Square

A-Public Schley Co. Gordon Lee Gordon Lee

Previous years available on www.ghsa.net 9 | W W W. G H S A . N E T

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