As we sit at the midway point of this 2009 high schools baseball season, surprises, disappointments and drama abound. Interestingly, a major factor so far this season has been one that cannot be controlled: the weather. It seems almost every day there have been cancellations or postponements due to rain, lightning, and even snow. The adverse conditions may have evened the playing field a little bit, as there are no undefeated teams left in the state, which is somewhat of a shock.
REGION 8 REELING
A few preseason favorites have gotten off to slow starts, including perennial playoff contenders Brookwood and Parkview. Brookwood is the defending 5A state champion and was the preseason No. 1 team in the state. So far, they have gotten off to a very uncharacteristic 8-6 start, already doubling the loss total of last year. The two most surprising losses have been the opener against Loganville, 11-0, and one to South Gwinnett, 7-1. The pitching has been good at times, led by senior Matt Adams, who has a 2-2 record on the year. The bullpen has been the disappointment for Rick Howard’s team. It gave up nine runs in two innings in the loss to Loganville and has yet to put a string of consistent performances together. Still, the Broncos are tied for first place in Region 8. The hot bat of Ronnie Freeman, who has eight home runs, has kept the defending champs in contention.
Parkview, like its county rival, is having a tougher time than usual as well. The Panthers’ most recent loss to their bitter rival Brookwood left them at 7-8 on the season. Although they are also tied for first in Region 8-AAAAA at 3-1, the eight losses are not a common thing for the Panthers at this point of the season. They are averaging less than two runs in their losses this season. However, Austin Wheeler has been the bright spot of late, going 7-for-12 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in the last three victories. The region schedule has provided some key victories to keep their season alive, but with Region 8 being stronger this year, and another matchup with Brookwood on tap, it might be difficult for Parkview to make much noise this season.
HORNETS SWARMING
The hottest team in the state right now might just be Roswell, as the Hornets have soared to the top ranking in Class 5A (according to Gasports.com) and a 13-1 record. Their sizzling start has also put them in the top 10 in the nation (according to Perfect Game). It’s been a total team effort thus far for Roswell, with a different player stepping up every game. Among the most consistent contributors have been senior first baseman/pitcher Kevin Herlihy, who went 2-for-4 and had six RBIs with a triple and walk-off grand slam in a recent defeat of Alpharetta. He also recently pitched a complete game shutout, allowing five hits and striking out six against McEachern for the 7-0 win. The only Hornets loss on the season is to No. 3 Pope. That loss puts them behind Pope (13-3, 7-1) in Region 6, but the region championship, as well as the state title, might come down to those two teams. The Hornets will get another shot at Pope, this time at home on April 24.
Perhaps the team with the state’s toughest schedule, Lassiter, has shown that it can play with anyone and still continue its winning ways. Going 12-5 against the level of competition that the Trojans have played this year is quite an accomplishment. Halfway through the season they are ranked No. 8 in 5A (according to Gasports.com). They have beaten the likes of Germantown (Tenn.), and Parkview, and their losses have been to the likes of Roswell, Pope and Columbus, all of which are in the top 10 in their respective classes.
Head coach Mickey McMurtry has relied on his pitchers going long innings this year. The staff is led by Reid Handler and Kevin Link. Handler flirted with a no-hitter into the sixth inning in an early-season win against Heritage-Conyers and won his second game of the season when he struck out eight against Walton last week. Link struck out 14 and pitched into the seventh in an 8-6 win over Wheeler. The tough schedule has saddled the Trojans with more losses than usual, but they could easily reclaim their perch atop the region down the stretch.
Deighton can be reached at jdeighton@scoreatl.com.
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