Gwinnett Beat, April 23-29: Collins Hill soccer back at No. 1 in state; baseball postseason under way

Nothing quite says spring quite like the ping of aluminum bats and high school baseball regional play in Gwinnett is really heating up.
Grayson was able to deliver Parkview its first region loss with an 8-7 decision last week. Clay Ardeeser was 3-for-4 including the game-winning hit for the Rams, and Will Kimmel contributed two hits and two RBI in the big Grayson win. Austin Wheeler was tagged with the loss for the Panthers, though he did provide two RBI to try and help his cause. Menerik Vereen was 3-for-4 with two runs batted in for Parkview.
Dacula was able to steal a one-run decision from Shiloh 7-6 thanks to Lance Jenkins’ three hits, including two doubles and two RBI. South Gwinnett edged Berkmar 10-9 with several Comets pitching in offensively. Tayler McCauley was 3-for-4 with two RBI while Kent Rollins was 2-for-4 with four runs. Mack Adams also pitched in three runs and two RBI with a home run for South Gwinnett.
Several local talents other than Adams showed off their power with home runs. Kevin O’Leary cranked three bombs and Wesleyan totaled six in just three innings against St. Francis as the Wolves won 16-0. Mill Creek received homers from Greg Brody and junior Jerad Curry as well as 10 strikeouts from pitcher Matthew Grimes, but it was not enough against North Gwinnett. The Bulldogs were led by Nick Jones (three-run home run) and Chris Hawkins’ home run and three RBI in a 6-4 North Gwinnett win.
Collins Hill routed Duluth 9-3 with the Eagles receiving two hits and three RBI from Cameron Starling as well as three hits and two RBI from Spencer Horridge. Also, Peachtree Ridge edged out Fulton County’s Northview when Chris Kelly singled home Patrick Carter in the ninth for the game-winning run. Finally, Phillip Bates threw a five-hit shutout as Central Gwinnett knocked off Brookwood 1-0. Curtis Davis stole his school-record 20th stolen base of the season and would score the game’s only run for the Black Knights.
ON THE SOCCER PITCH …
Cobb County’s run of soccer dominance may be coming to an end this season. In the recent eurosportscoreboard rankings, the Collins Hill boys squad is ranked as the No.1 team in Class 5A and No. 2 overall in the state. Norcross is ranked No. 7 and No. 14 overall while Dacula is No. 8 in the classification. Wesleyan is ranked No. 6 in Class 2A/A.
The girls rankings also are littered with Gwinnett programs. Parkview is ranked No. 2 in both Class 5A and for all classifications. Brookwood is No. 3 in 5A and No. 4 overall. North Gwinnett is nipping at their heels with a No. 4 ranking and No. 6 overall. The Lady Eagles of Collins Hill is No. 10, while GAC is ranked No. 1 in Class 2A/A and No. 5 overall. The No. 1 Eagles though could fall in next week rankings after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Lassiter.
Wesleyan, on the other hand, could be ready to move up after knocking off Buford 3-1 and clinching a state playoff berth. The Wolves will play GAC for the area title after the Spartans handled Providence 3-1 with goals from Denzel Clarke, Jimmy Stahlke and Stuart Abrahart. The GAC win also gave head coach Thom Jacquet his 200th career win.
In other boys action, Mill Creek received three goals and an assist from Taylor Scalera in a 7-1 win over North Forsyth. Nick Muntean pitched in one goal and two assists while Tajay Hoppines and Ryan Spitler each notched a goal. Grayson blanked Shiloh 1-0 thanks to Adam Kremo’s goal and Mason Flynn’s shutout. Central Gwinnett’s Charlie DeLoatche held Berkmar scoreless with 12 saves in a 1-0 win. Steven Bott scored in the first minute and the lone goal held.
GIRLS ACTION …
On the girls pitch, North Gwinnett received three goals from Lauren Harriman in a 6-2 victory over Apalachee. No. 10 Collins Hill eked out a 5-4 win over Lassiter when Taylor Donohue scored her third goal of the match in OT. Emily Kubal tallied three goals against Meadowcreek as Dacula won 6-0. Grayson’s Kelly Craft and Shyna Rogers each scored three goals apiece in a 10-0 romp over Shiloh, and Chika Ibiam accounted for two goals in Central Gwinnett’s 5-0 win over Berkmar. Finally, it took penalty kicks, but Duluth edged South Forsyth 3-2. Erin Falk had two goals then added one in the penalty kick portion of the match.
In girls lacrosse action, No. 26 Peachtree Ridge doubled up Collins Hill 16-8 with Jennifer Hennelly scoring eight goals. For the boys, No. 10 Collins Hill defeated Wheeler 11-3 with Connor Squires scoring six goals. Also, No. 5 Wesleyan defeated Holy Innocents 7-5 as Harrison Cheeley scored three goals and Drew Daniels tallied two.