AAAAA - Brookwood at Parkview | AAAA - Greenbrier at Loganville AAA - Columbus at Ringgold | AA - Pierce Co. at Appling Co. A - Providence Christian at Charlton County ghsa 2 | 2012 State finals Great Action!

GHSA BASEBALL CHAMPIONS

Year AAAA AAA AA A B C 1946 Lanier 1947 West Fulton 1948 Decatur Canton Meigs 1949 Marist Gainesville Ellingham Co. 1950 R.E. Lee West Point 1951 Richmond Acad. Newnan Swainsboro Duluth 1952 Richmond Acad. Avondale Pepperell West Point 1953 Richmond Acad. Americus Pepperell Glenwood Greetings, GHSA baseball fans! 1954 Richmond Acad. Americus Pepperell Colbert 1955 Richmond Acad. Americus Milton Mt. Zion 1956 Richmond Acad. Thomasville Tucker Shellman elcome to the 2012 GHSA will enjoy these games, and that you 1957 Richmond Acad. Miller Co. Pepperell Model Dade Co. 1958 Griffin Campbell, Smyrna Pepperell Model Dade Co. Championship Series for Base- will demonstrate the highest levels of 1959 Griffin Rossville Model Hughes Twiggs Co. W 1960 Murphy Rossville Winder-Barrow Hughes Coosa 1961 Bendictine West Rome Americus Perry Mt. Zion ball, the final GHSA event of this sportsmanship as you positively en- 1962 Griffin Crisp Co. Carrolton Perry Twiggs Co. 1963 Murphy West Rome Hughes Norcross Union Point school year. Four weeks ago these courage “your team” toward victory. 1964 Avondale East Rome Americus Fayette Co. Plains 1965 Lanier Headland Americus Terrell Co. Union teams began the journey through the The GHSA is grateful for the gen- 1966 Dykes Headland Americus West Point Mt. de Sales 1967 Tucker Tucker Westminster Seminole Co. Puntnam Co. 1968 Therell Wayne Co. Westminster Terrell Co. Mt. de Sales playoffs, and now they are poised for erous contributions of our corporate 1969 Willinghm Walker Americus Terrell Co. Mt. de Sales 1970 Dykes Pepperell Americus Roswell Clay Co. the final challenge – competing for partners who enable us to provide these 1971 Jordan Lakeview Roswell Wheeler Co. Mt. de Sales 1972 Sequoyah Lakeview Hephizibah West Point Mt. de Sales the State Championship. The Geor- events. As you see the list of these part- 1973 Glynn Stephens Co. Irwin Co. Trion 1974 Henderson Calhoun Harlem West Point 1975 Wheeler Westminster Irwin Co. GAC gia High School Association is proud ners around the field, please support 1976 Savannah Bradwell Institute Mt. de Sales GMI 1977 Kendrick Marist Pepperell Buford of the commitment to excellence that them at every opportunity. 1978 Valdosta Gainesville Harlem ML de Sales 1979 Newton Co. Winder-Barrow Harlem Gordon lee these players and coaches have dem- 1980 Griffin Cofee Pepperell Mt. de Sales 1981 Lowndes Marist Harlem Brookstone 1982 Coffee NW Whitfield Harlem GAC onstrated throughout the season, as the 1983 Coffee Marist Harlem Trion 1984 Columbus Marist Darlington Gordon Lee quality of play in high school baseball 1985 Forest Park Marist Hancock Central Calhoun Co. 1986 Brookwood Roswell Harlem Clinch Co. in Georgia continues to grow. Ralph Swearngin 1987 MacEachern Westside Shiloh Clinch Co. 1988 Evans Westside Berrien Towns Co. 1989 Evans Jones Co. Washington-Wilkes Clinch Co. We hope that you, the faithful fans, GHSA Executive Director 1990 Evans Marist Lovett Bremen 1991 Newnan Columbus Perry Clinch Co. 1992 Walton Columbus Cook Clinch Co. 1993 Evans Columbus Lovett Pace Acad. 1994 Evans Marist Lovett Pace Acad. 1995 Sprayberry Columbus Vidalia Pace Acad. 1996 Parkview Columbus Gainesville Toombs Co. Find us on FOLLOW us on 1997 Colquilt Co. Columbus Gainesville Irwin Co. 1998 Harrison Greenbrier Gainesville North Forsyth Facebook twitter 1999 Lasister Greenbrier Thomasville Lovett www.facebook.com/OfficialGHSA www.twitter.com/OfficialGHSA 2000 Lowndes Columbus Cook Calhoun Year AAAAA AAAA AAA AA A 2001 Parkview Shaw Gainesville Cartersville Walker 2002 Parkview Marist Gainesville Cartesville Walker he 2012 Georgia High School Association Baseball State Championship 2003 Colquilt co. Marist Cartersville Vidalia Clinch Co. 2004 Milton Columbus LaGrange Bacon Co. Lakeview Acad. TGuide is published by Score Atlanta, in conjunction with the GHSA. The guide 2005 Chattahooche Henry Co. Columbus Calhoun Calvary Day was designed by DJ Galbiati, edited by Stephen Black and Fletcher Proctor and 2006 Lassiter Greenbrier Blessed Trinity Lovett ELCA 2007 Walton Greenbrier Dunwoody Holy Innocents Calvary Day information and brackets were provided by the GHSA. Photos on the cover are 2008 Brookwood Loganville Cartersville Wesleyan Pacelli courtesy of Ty Freeman, Titus Martin, Parkview HS and Toni James. For more 2009 Pope Northgate Cartersville Lovett Wesleyan 2010 Harrison Marist Columbus Calhoun Wesleyan information on Score Atlanta, go to scoreatl.com or call 404-256-1572. 2011 Parkview Marist Columbus Buford Hebron Christian

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Blue Devils are led by Kyle Carter, J.T. Phil- won their respective semifinals series in three lips and John Lester, who starred for the city’s games. 2006 Little League World Series champions. Providence Christian relies on power- FINALS In their last series together as teammates, the hitter Christin Stewart, who drilled a state- trio would like nothing better than to bring record 69th career homer in the semifinals. home the school’s third straight state title. The Stars edged Savannah Christian in the PREVIEW semifinals with a Game 3 7-6 win. CLASS AA … Charlton County rolled past George Pierce County at Appling County Walton Academy in Game 3 of the semifinals Star power the theme of this year’s finals If you are looking for star power, this behind 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief from By Stephen Black matchup provides it with one name: Byron Chris Smith. Jacob Baxter had two Buxton. The University of Georgia signee RBIs for the Indians while Richard Dasher f your team is still playing, smile. Out of the runs to the Gladiators in the first inning of all may be the first player in the state selected in was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Imore than 400 GHSA baseball programs in three games. the upcoming MLB Draft. Photo of Christin Stewart courtesy of the state, only 10 remain. The final two games came down to the last Buxton has led his band of Pirates Providence Chr. HS. Black can be reached at All 10 teams have had ups and downs at-bat, as the Red Devils overcame 1-0 deficits through the playoffs at the plate and on the [email protected]. and all 10 have had to fight to get to this point. in the final inning of both games. In dramatic mound. In the semi- This weekend is about realizing how far these fashion, Loganville walked off with the series finals series against teams have come, and also seeing which five in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 3 Brantley County, Bux- can survive to call themselves “state champs.” when Clint Frazier singled in two runs. ton pitched in both Greenbrier also had to go to three games games (Appling County CLASS AAAAA … to finish off Whitewater. The Wolfpack, five- swept) and also had a Brookwood at Parkview time state champs, had no such drama in bases-clearing triple. It’s a neighborhood rivalry for the state their Game 3 by tagging Whitewater for 15 Pierce County, championship as two Gwinnett County power hits and 15 runs. Georgia Tech signee Jor- meanwhile, advanced programs meet for all the marbles. The two dan Hunt leads a talented Greenbrier pitch- past Lovett in the semi- teams met twice this season during Region 8 ing staff, while senior centerfielder Spencer finals in three games. play, and the Broncos took both meetings be- Duffy leads a potent lineup. Starting pitcher Will hind Lucas Sims’ pitching. Lowman tossed a no- Sims, a Clemson signee, is one of two CLASS AAA … hitter in Game 1, while players in this series expected to be taken high Columbus at Ringgold Drew Taylor and Nate in this year’s Amateur In direct contrast to each other, the Ring- Gay homered in Game Draft. The other, Parkview senior , gold Tigers are stalking their first-ever state 3 to key an avalanche of is a Vanderbilt signee, but like Sims, he will baseball championship while the Columbus offense by the Bears. need to decide between the MLB Draft and Blue Devils are trying to bring home their The winner of this college when this weekend’s series comes to 12th. But while the Tigers are short on tradi- series will claim its first a close. tion in this matchup, they may have an edge state championship in The Panthers are no stranger to the finals, in motivation. program history. having won it all last season and four times The town of Ringgold was devastated by total. Brookwood, meanwhile, last won the tornadoes almost a year ago exactly, and the CLASS A … state title in 2008, and also in 1986. Tigers want nothing more than to bring a state Providence Christian championship home for their community. at Charlton County CLASS AAAA … Ringgold will be led by Austin Parrish, who The state’s quaint- Greenbrier at Loganville threw a in the semifinals, and est classification also The Red Devils advanced past Johns Andy Mocahbee, who homered twice in the features two programs Creek to make the finals in one of the most Game 3 clincher. looking for their first dramatic series in recent state history. Logan- Columbus is headlined by some familiar state championship in ville fell behind early in each game, giving up names to state of Georgia baseball fans. The baseball. Each team

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AAAAA - Brookwood at Parkview Championship AAAA - Greenbrier at Loganville Baseball AAA - Columbus at Ringgold AA - Pierce County at Appling County Rosters A - Providence Christian at Charlton County

CLASS AAAAA 5 Steven Maier 11 oF 24 Matthew Crownover 12 P/Of Appling County Pirates Brookwood Broncos 6 Jordan Hunt 12 P 25 Adam Weldon 12 If/P Head Coach: Jeremy Smith Head Coach: Rick Howard 7 Taylor Glover 11 C Brandon Dycus 10 Of/P 1 Josh Barber 12 SS/P 1 Cedric Mullins 12 oF 8 Spencer Duffie 12 2B 33 Corey Kafka 12 If/P 2 Justin Javis 12 oF 2 Tre Lawrence 11 oF 9 Trey Koenig 11 C 3 12 P/OF 3 Allen Tokarz 12 P 10 Clint Hardy 11 P Columbus Blue Devils 4 Cole Simmons 11 P 4 Brock Baughcum 9 2B 11 Connor Hoover 10 2B Head Coach: Bobby Howard 5 Guner Sellers 11 C 5 Blake Schuck 12 2B 14 Chris Michals 10 P 2 luke Thompson 11 oF/P 8 Josh Deen 11 oF/P 6 Jordan Dykes 11 oF 16 rhett Stanley 12 oF 3 Spencer Draws 12 iNF 12 Gage Patton 10 3B 8 Nick Fonseca 11 C 17 Adam Grice 11 1B 4 Josh Lester 12 iNF 13 Colby Griffin 12 oF 10 Garrett Reynolds 11 oF 23 Adam Sasser 9 1B 10 ryan Lang 12 oF 14 Kyle Miller 12 1B 11 Matt Aycock 11 P 24 Brett Lillis 9 C 11 Nick Poskey 10 iNF/P 15 Devin Causey 12 1B 12 Michael Ranieri 11 P 25 Christian Hill 11 P 12 Anthony Dalponte 11 iF/P 16 Tyler Sapp 10 P/2B 14 Zach Moon 11 C 33 Austin Robinson 11 P 13 Christian Wiggs 10 iNF/P/C 22 Dylan Hutchinson 12 oF 18 Patrick Riley 12 P 16 will Kilgore 10 iNF/P 23 Mathew Shumans 12 oF/P 19 ryan Woodard 12 P Loganville Red Devils 17 J.T. Phillips 12 iNF/P 25 Jeremy Ammons 12 P/2B 21 Clint Carr 12 C Head Coach: Jeff Segars 18 John Weekley 11 C/OF 28 Zack Smith 11 oF/SS 23 Stephen Wray 12 P 1 David Chabut 9 MI 22 Alonzo Jones, Jr. 9 iNF/OF 24 Jonathan White 9 2B 2 David Mayo 11 MI/P 24 Pierce Ressmeyer 12 C CLASS A 26 lucas Sims 12 P 5 Chandler Downing 10 oF/P 25 Anthony Young, Jr. 11 oF/P Providence Christian Academy Stars Head Coach: Adam Cantrell 27 Michael Gouge 12 3B 6 Andy Clay 11 MI 26 Avery Seckinger 12 P/INF 1 Tyler Brown 12 oF 9 Clark Califf 10 oF 27 keith Sims 12 oF 29 reeves Sheffield 11 oF 3 Patrick Smith 12 P Parkview Panthers 10 logan Mattix 10 MI/P 31 Jackson Wells 11 iNF 4 Justin Brew 11 oF Head Coach: Chan Brown 11 Braxton Beck 10 oF/P 32 Hunter Swilling 11 iNF/P 5 Josh Carter 12 2B 1 Jake Hipple 11 2B 13 Garrett Ford 12 oF/P 33 Harrison Kurtz 10 C 6 Austin Loyd 12 SS 2 Jeff Ronpirin 12 2B 14 Brandon Stewert 11 C 36 kyle Carter 12 oF/P 8 erich Stahl 11 3B 3 Jack Esmonde 12 P 17 Daniel Milligan 11 3B/P 38 russell Forthofer 9 P/INF 9 John Bailey 12 oF 4 ryan Blanton 11 oF 18 Coty Stewert 12 P 40 robin Geven 11 OF/P/INF 10 Michael Shealy 11 P 5 JP Chamblee 10 C 19 Clint Frazier 11 3B/P 42 Anthony Padron 12 oF/P 11 Austin Smith 12 oF 6 Austin Fisher 12 P 20 Brandon Williams 10 C 44 Greg Lewis 12 P 13 Christin Stewart 12 C 7 edwin Arias 12 SS 21 kyle Hall 11 MI 45 Chandler Stutzman 10 oF/P 21 Charlie Scott 11 C 8 Zach Langley 11 oF 22 royce Harrison 10 C 48 Joey Brown 12 P 27 Max Broom 11 SS 11 rob Youngblood 11 3B 23 Brandon Moncrief 10 oF 33 Steven Slaughter 12 1B 13 Mason Caskey 11 P 24 eric Boss 12 C CLASS AA 42 Matt James 11 3B 14 Mac Marshall 10 P 25 Brandon Pergantis 12 oF/P Pierce County Bears 44 Zach Meier 10 P 15 Jordan Kelly 10 P 26 Josh Nelson 12 P Head Coach: Greg Gay 16 Josh Hart 11 oF 30 Christian Miller 12 oF/P 1 Codi Dixon 12 oF Charlton County Indians 17 Jarrett Freeland 11 C 33 Avery Fagan 11 oF/P 2 Vince Elliott 11 SS Head Coach: Thad Marchman 18 AJ Davis 12 oF 34 Tyler Mixon 10 1B/P 3 will Lowman 12 P 1 Jesse King 10 P/OF 21 Matt Olson 12 1B 4 will White 12 P 2 lJ Talley 9 SS/P 22 Jesse Foster 12 oF CLASS AAA 5 Cole Dowling 11 2B 3 Jacob Popham 11 oF/2B 23 Jim Wagner 10 2B Ringgold Tigers 6 Austin Allen 9 oF 4 Scott Birchall 9 P/OF 24 Micah Finley 11 oF Head Coach: Brent Tucker 7 Nate Gay 12 C 5 ryan Turner 12 P/1B 26 Sam McCoy 11 P 1 Slade Dale 10 If 8 Michael D’Ambrosio 12 P 6 ryan Young 11 2B/1B 27 Hunter Thornton 11 C 2 wright Hackett 12 Of/If 9 Drew Taylor 12 oF 7 Chris Smith 12 P/3B 28 Trevor Brown 9 SS 3 ethan Dalton 9 C 11 kyler Allen 9 C 8 Drew Gowan 12 C/OF 31 Jarrett Hood 11 1B 5 Andy Mocahbee 12 C/If 12 Brian Barefield 12 oF 9 Josh Crosby 10 oF/3B 33 Michael Craig 10 oF 6 Caleb Peters 10 Of 13 Harrison Hart 11 1B 10 Brad Baxter 10 C/OF 7 read Walden 12 Of 14 Jordan Handley 11 SS 11 Jacob Baxter 11 SS/P CLASS AAAA 9 Austin Parrish 11 of/P 15 Stetson Smith 9 3B 13 Hampton Huling 10 1B/P Greenbrier Wolfpack 10 Alan Mocahbee 12 If 16 rod Kennedy 11 oF 15 Dylan Turner 10 2B/P Head Coach: Chris Wilkins 12 Zach Morris 9 If/P 17 Cody Harris 12 P 16 richard Dasher 10 P/3B 1 Hunter Boose 12 SS 15 Gabe Rich 11 C/P 18 Brandon Popham 12 P 17 Brandon Dell 9 3B/P 2 Tyler Fournier 12 SS 18 Mark Fairbanks 12 of 19 Tim Huff 12 oF 20 Scott Beasley 11 C/P 3 Zack Metcalf 11 oF 20 Andrew Douglas 11 Of/P 20 Terry Carter 12 oF 21 Derek King 12 C/OF 4 knox Marchman 10 3B 23 logan Baldwin 10 of/P 30 Brandon Aldridge 12 P 29 will Gowen 10 DH/OF

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TERRIFIC TEAMMATES … hear his name called early enough in the The Columbus Blue Devils are no strang- MLB draft to skip his time in Athens. Phil- PHENOMENAL ers to extended GHSA playoff runs as the lips stands 6-foot-3, 200-pounds and could Blue Devils have taken the last two Class project as a third baseman in college or the AAA crowns. This year’s squad boasts a pair pros, though he has been manning the short- FIVE of players that could hear their names called stop position for the Blue Devils. He also has early in this June’s MLB draft. been lighting up radar guns off the mound for Georgia’s five top prospects prepare for draft Kyle Carter has a smooth left-handed Columbus this season after returning from a stroke, and the outfielder/pitcher was on full back injury that forced him to miss part of the By Fletcher Proctor display last December in Phoenix. Carter early non-region schedule. bashed 14 home runs to win the 6th annual The state of Georgia has been called one s the 2012 GHSA baseball season prepares called early enough in the first round. Brook- Power Showcase Home Run Derby at the Dia- of the top four states in terms of producing to declare its five champions, many Major wood’s Lucas Sims signed with Clemson and A mondbacks’ Chase Field. Carter set the Co- football talent every National Signing Day, League Baseball scouts will be watching the was still undecided about his future plans en- lumbus single-season home run record with 22 and schools across the country annually raid championship series to see just how the standouts tering the playoffs. That may have changed, one year ago while maintaining a .467 batting the Peach State for basketball talent. The fare and whether the cream that rises to the top though, as Sims has been fantastic through the clip. He was nearly unhittable on the mound, baseball talent from Georgia is strong this may be ready to rise to the top of the draft boards. early rounds of the GHSA playoffs. winning nine games with 97 . He has year and Major League Baseball scouts have For years Georgia high school players Sims went the distance in Game 1 of been just as good on the bump this season, re- taken notice of these Georgia gems. Get a such as , Tim Beckham, Delino Brookwood’s best-of-three quarterfinals series cently striking out 18 batters in a second-round good look at these high school stars now be- DeShields Jr. and others dating back to Mike against Harrison, striking out eight in the 11-2 game against Harlem and going the distance in cause soon they will be making an impression Ivie (1970) and Ron Blomberg (1967) have win. Sims would also come through with his bat a win over Troup in the semifinals. at the major league level. been taken in the first round straight out of the in Game 3, keeping a rally alive to help Brook- It will likely be Carter’s prowess at the Photo of Byron Buxton (left) cour- prep ranks and thrust into professional base- wood take down the Hoyas. Sims had previous- plate, though, that will get him drafted in the tesy of Janet Patton/Appling Coun- ball. This year’s crop of talent could surpass ly dominated Colquitt County with 10 strikeouts first round. In a piece written by Score At- ty, amd Matt Olson (right) courtesy of the 2010 season, when five high school talents after striking out seven North Gwinnett batters lanta’s Stephen Black, Columbus head coach Parkview HS. Proctor can be reached at were taken in the first round. in five innings. He also pitched a complete game Bobby Howard gushed over his star. [email protected]. shutout against Grayson in the semifinals. “There aren’t too many hitters like Kyle,” BLASTIN’ BYRON … ESPN lists Sims as the No. 12 high said Howard. “He’s been good for a long time The first Georgia high school player ex- school player in America and projects Sims and has been able to live up to expectations. pected to be selected could be the first player as landing in the top half of the first round of He’s pretty special.” taken overall in the draft. Appling County’s the draft. Jason Churchill believes Sims has a have shied away from throw- Byron Buxton is an outfielder with all of the “plus fastball and . The breaking ball ing to Carter much this season, choosing tools that MLB teams covet from a poten- sits in the low 80s with good shape, depth and to intentionally walk the six-foot-one, tial No. 1 selection. Buxton stands 6-foot-2, late break.” 195-pound phenom. The strategy hasn’t weighs 180 pounds and while his home run Meanwhile reigning Gatorade Player of paid off, however, as the rest of the team, numbers haven’t popped eyeballs, his blazing the Year Matt Olson has including J.T. Phillips, has stepped up speed has scouts drooling. Buxton recently a future at Vander- with some big numbers. knocked just his third home run of the year, bilt if he wants it, Phillips, who has signed but his speed was on display against Blessed but Parkview’s Ol- with Georgia, could also Trinity as the speedy Buxton registered a sto- son could too be len base and later scored the winning run in selected early in the Game 1 from second on a single. In the semi- first round of the finals, he knocked a bases-loaded triple to MLB draft. Olson clinch a ticket to the Class AA finals. came through for the Buxton’s defense is also a major reason Panthers in Game 3 why he could be taken No. 1 overall by the of the quarterfinals Houston Astros. According to Keith Law of ESPN, Buxton is the top high school player in this year’s draft, and Law has given Buxton’s de- fense a perfect 80 rating. Law also saw fit to give Buxton an 80 as a runner. He projects “big future power” for the outfielder. In addition to serving as an outfielder, against Hill- Buxton has been called upon to pitch for grove. The pitcher/ Appling County. Buxton started Game 1 of first baseman was 2-for- his team’s quarterfinals series victory over 3 with a double and Blessed Trinity and then came on in relief two RBIs after hitting a to close out the Titans in Game 2. He also home run and driving in pitched in both games as Appling County three in the Panthers’ closed out Brantley County in the semifinals. Game 2 win. Appling County coach Jeremy Smith said Churchill noted that Buxton is more than just an outstanding on Olson’s ES- player. Smith noted that Buxton leads by ex- PNHS profile that ample. “He’s a tremendous kid, very humble the Parkview and team-oriented.” prospect “has Smith did concede that Buxton has some big-time raw incredible gifts as a baseball player. “If there power.” was only one part of his game to watch, I’d like to watch him run,” said Smith. According to Smith several scouts in- cluding one from the Boston Red Sox have timed Buxton as getting from the batters box to first base in 3.7 seconds. GWINNETT STARS … Several Class AAAAA prospects have made college declarations, but two could end up leav- ing Clemson and Vanderbilt at the al- tar if their names are

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