Prep Baseball Report

GHSA Diamond Notes: 3/12 to 3/18


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

Throughout the 2019 high school season, we’re accepting nominations from the coaches across the state of Georgia for their program’s Player of the Week candidates. While there can only be one Player of the Week in the state, we’ll be using this weekly GA Diamond Notes post to highlight the top performers of the past week who fell just short of POTW honors. We cover all corners of the state – from 1A to 7A – and the evidence is in this post.

Below are the Diamond Notes from March 12 to 18.

Chandler Anderson, RHP/1B, Morgan County, 2019
The 3A Bulldogs are 12-3 this spring and just received a couple of huge performances from senior Chandler Anderson. In his one start last week, he went the distance, tossing seven innings and allowing no runs on four hits, one walk, and he struck out 10. In the batter’s box, Anderson might have been even more impressive. He drove in eight runs with the help of three home runs.

Jacob Bradshaw, RHP/DH, Thomasville, 2020 & Gabe Duncan, OF/LHP, Thomasville, 2022
The 10-4 Bulldogs had a surplus of Diamond Notes-worthy performances last week, but junior Jacob Bradshaw and freshman Gabe Duncan stick out most. Bradshaw tossed five no-hit innings against Berrien County in the teams 10-0 win, and struck out five, too. He also went 4-for-10 at the plate with five RBIs. As for Duncan, he had three big hits, drove in four runs, and scored three himself. More importantly, he earned the win in relief after entering a 5-5 game with the bases loaded in the sixth, preventing the opposition from scoring. He totaled two innings in that game and allowed no hits or runs and struck out three.

Lawson Brown, RHP, Darlington, 2021
Darlington sophomore Lawson Brown pitched twice last week and was stellar in both outings. The 1A Rome-area program is 6-5-1 and one this spring and split both series against Christian Heritage and Mt. Zion with the help of Brown. On March 11, he allowed one run in five innings on three hits and struck out 10. A few days later, he pitched seven innings and allowed one run on three hits and struck out five.

Connor Bruce, RHP, Loganville, 2019 & Jacob Boyd, UTL, Loganville, 2019
Loganville split their series with rivals Buford last week and got some key performances along the way, to help them get to a top-five ranking on the GA Power 25. After dropping game one of the series at Buford, senior righty Connor Bruce, a Georgia Southern commit, took the ball at home in game two. He allowed just one unearned run in five frames, walked one, and struck out five Wolves to help the Red Devils get a win on their fellow 5A heavyweights. As for Boyd, the senior utilityman hit a double on Wednesday and added another big hit on Friday in the win. He added two stolen bases and scored the tying run on Friday and later hit the go-ahead single to help land Loganville the win.

Brandon Byler, RHP/2B, Augusta Christ., 2019 & Drew Romer, OF, Augusta Christ., 2019
The Lions are 6-4 this spring, but have won five of their last six games. Brandon Byler’s performance on the mound in his start against Heathwood Hall helped Augusta Christian secure a regional win. He struck out 13 in his complete game win and allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk. Lead-off man Drew Romer was 8-for-14 last week, and half of those hits went for doubles. He scored eight times and drove in another three himself, he also walked three times and struck out only once.

Jonathan Cannon, RHP, Centennial, 2019 & Camren Landry, RHP, Centennial, 2019
The top of Centennial’s rotation took care of business last week, against Johns Creek and Alpharetta. The Georgia-committed Cannon tossed a complete game shutout against Johns Creek, allowed just two hits and he struck out 10. Camren Landry, a Georgia State commit, threw a three-hit complete game over ranked Alpharetta, striking out another 11 in the process. Cannon also went 4-for-10 from the plate with four RBIs, a homer, triple, and a double.

Lukas Clark, C, Decatur, 2020
Decatur debuted on last week’s GA Power 25 update and they’re up to No. 22 now. The Bulldogs got a huge performance from their backstop Lukas Clark last week, too. The junior went 5-for-8 with three doubles and a home run, and drove in seven Decatur runs. The team is 12-3 this spring after its 10-1 win over North Springs last evening.

Carson Cook, SS/RHP, Bremen, 2019
The 2A powerhouse Bremen is 13-4 this spring and met rivals Heard County last week. Bremen swept the series and senior Carson Cook had a lot to do with it. According to head coach Chris Brown, Cook was his reliable self at shortstop where he made the plays to keep them in ballgames. He was on base 60 percent of the time in the series, too. He also earned two wins from the mound, he struck out three batters in his one inning of work in game one and started game three, where he tossed six innings and allowed just one run and K’d five.

R.J. Delaney, RHP, Thomas County Central, 2019
Against East Coweta, senior righty R.J. Delaney threw a complete game and allowed just one unearned run on two hits, two walks, and he struck out seven. Both of his hits allowed came in the first, meaning he no-hit East Coweta for the final six frames. The Yellowjackets are 12-1 this spring and Delaney has been credited with four of those wins, and his a minuscule 0.29 ERA to go along with it, with 41 Ks ain 24 innings.

Tucker Dorrity, INF, Fayette County, 2019
Tucker Dorrity is back on Diamond Notes after yet another robust week from the batter’s box. He went 8-for-9 with five RBIs and six runs scored in the Tigers’ two wins over Jonesboro.

Max Eikelberry, 1B, Calvary Christian, 2019
The Knights are 15-4 in 2019 and are a perfect 5-0 within their region and their senior first baseman is coming off an excellent week. Max Eikelberry went 5-for-5 last week with a double, home run, and he drove in seven runs in two games. The Columbus-area program is looking to bounce back from a 3-1 loss to Valley last night, starting a two-game series with Ezekiel Academy this evening.

Michael Fuller, INF, Mt. Bethel, 2020
Junior Michael Fuller has proven to be one of, if not the, best hitters on the Mt. Bethel Eagles this spring. He leads the team in hitting and doubles, and added to his totals last week. He went 5-for-9 in the Eagles’ three games, including three more doubles, and he scored three runs.

Cameron Gill, C, Fellowship Christian, 2019 & Isaac Bouton, RHP, Fellowship Christian, 2019
These two are already pretty familiar with our weekly Diamond Notes and helped Fellowship Christian extend its win streak to 10 games in the last week. Cameron Gill, a Wofford commit, went 4-for-9 from the plate with a double, home run, as well as four RBIs and five runs scored. As for Isaac Bouton, the Columbus State commit tossed a five-inning complete game in the win over Walker.

Brad Grenkoski, OF, Kell, 2020
The Longhorns’ seven-game win streak just ended last night in a close 3-2 loss to East Paulding, but Kell is 10-4 and still looks competitive, especially with junior Brad Grenkoski standing in the batter’s box. The Georgia Tech commit went 5-for-9 last week, including a 4-for-4, two-homer game against Carrollton. They’ve got East Paulding and Villa Rica back on the calendar this week, where Grenkoski will help the Longhorns spur another win streak.

Christian Harmon, INF/RHP, Norcross, 2021
Last week, Norcross had some lopsided wins and their sophomore infielder Christian Harmon helped the Blue Devils put together a 4-0 week. Harmon hit .571 last week, stole two bases, and also had the walk-off hit to push Norcross past St. Pius. On the mound, he threw 6.1 innings against Pius and did not allow an earned run and gave up just four hits. This spring, he’s hitting .394 with a .467 on-base percentage and has a 2.70 ERA from the mound.

Austin Heard, RHP, Hillgrove, 2019 & Brennan Richardson, RHP, Hillgrove, 2019
The Hawks went 2-2 last week, but that’s saying something considering they had a three-game series with bubble team Kennesaw Mountain and mixed in a one-off with an 11-3 Harrison squad. Hillgrove’s up to No. 16 on the GA Power 25 with the help of their trademark pitching, and were particularly lifted by Austin Heard’s start against the Mustangs, as well as Richardson’s magic from the bullpen. Heard, an Augusta State commit, threw a three-hit shutout against Kennesaw Mountain and struck out eight and a series-clinching win. Richardson tossed 4.1 innings from the pen last week and allowed just one run on four hits – but more importantly saved helped keep Hillgrove in ballgames where their starters exited before the end of the fourth inning. Richardson is an uncommitted side-winding senior who’s clearly effective from the bullpen.

Dom Hughes, OF/LHP, North Oconee, 2019
North Oconee has won four straight and Dom Hughes has been at the center of the action. The senior two-way talent, and Kansas State commit, was 6-for-10 last week with six runs scored, three RBIs, including four doubles and a home run at Coolray Stadium. He also started on the mound against Gainesville and tossed five innings of two-hit baseball, striking out six in the process.

Joshua Lanham, INF, Evans, 2019
The Evans Knights earned a three-game sweep over Alcovy last week and senior infielder Joshua Lanham was squarely a part of the teams three wins. He went 4-for-8 last week and drove in seven runs for Evans – and two of his four hits went for extra bases.

Thomas LeMaster, LHP, Peachtree Ridge, 2020
Peachtree Ridge called upon junior southpaw Thomas LeMaster to complete the three-game sweep of Collins Hill last week and he clinched it for them with a dominant performance. He tossed a complete game shutout and allowed just four hits and struck out a couple in a narrow 2-0 contest. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate in the ballgame.

Bo Lewis, C, Dawson County, 2020
Dawson County won a big three-game series against Cherokee Bluff last week and their backstop was among the most important reasons why. The Tigers’ junior catcher Bo Lewis had four key hits, including a home run, and drove in eight runs himself.

Mickey Maguire, INF, North Paulding, 2019 & Peyton Moseley, INF, North Paulding 2019
North Paulding is up to No. 14 on the GA Power 25 this week and seniors Mickey Maguire and Peyton Moseley have been critical to all of the Wolfpack’s success in 2019 thus far. Maguire went 5-for-8 last week with a home run, four stolen bases, and he scored six runs. Moseley was 5-for-12 with a double, four RBIs, and he scored another three.

Tyler Messick, INF/RHP, Allatoona, 2019 & Brett Blomquist, C, Allatoona, 2021
The 10-5 Buccaneers have been steadily climbing their way back on to the GA Power 25 and are currently riding a four-game win streak to get back there. Uncommitted senior Tyler Messick went 8-for-12 last week with three doubles and three RBIs and also earned a save and a win from the mound. In 10.2 innings this spring, he’s yet to allow a run. As for sophomore catcher Brett Blomquist, he went 4-for-9 last week with two doubles and a homer. The two-run home run came at Dalton in the top of the sixth with the Bucs down 1-0. His clutch double in the seventh against South Cobb also helped lock in a regional win over South Cobb.

Kyle Moon, INF/RHP, Elbert County, 2020 & Daniel Lavender, RHP/INF, 2019
The 2A Blue Devils are 11-3-1 this spring and are fresh off a two-game sweep of Putnam County, a series in which Kyle Moon and Daniel Lavender went off. Moon, a junior, was 8-for-11 at the plate with three doubles and nine RBIs. Lavender went 6-for-9 with a homer and six RBIs and also earned the win on the mound after starting game one, going five frames and punching out nine batters.

Blake Renner, RHP, Cambridge, 2019
The Bears are 8-7 this spring, but that doesn’t tell the story about how hot Cambridge has been playing lately. After a 3-6 start, Cambridge won five straight until last evening’s narrow 4-3 loss to Northview. But during the Bears’ win streak, Blake Renner, a Lincoln Memorial commit, earned a complete game victory over a budding North Atlanta team that had just defeated a then-No. 1-ranked Pope two days prior. Renner allowed just one unearned run in seven frames on two hits, no walks, and he struck out 10. Dunwoody and Pope are next up on the schedule for Cambridge this week.

Evan Richardson, C, Burke County, 2021
The Bears’ sophomore catcher helped Burke County get to 10-3 on the spring in their regional victories against Baldwin and Thomson this past week. Evan Richardson went 4-for-8 in the week with four RBIs and two stolen bases. He caught 14 innings behind the plate and, according to coach Billy Marchman, was sound back there, helping his staff allow just four runs combined.

Josiah Siegel, LHP, Woodstock, 2019 & Garrett Goblish, RHP, Woodstock, 2021
The Wolverines are 10-4 this spring and are ranked No. 12 on the GA Power 25, and just finished taking two of three from Lassiter with the help of back-to-back complete game shutouts from senior Josiah Siegel and sophomore Garrett Goblish. Siegel scattered seven hits and one walk and struck out eight, stranding the tying run on second with one out in the seventh. As for Goblish, he allowed just four hits, one walk, and K’d four in his CG, helping the Wolverines earn the series win over the Trojans after dropping the first game.

Caswell Smith, RHP, Pickens County, 2019
Caswell Smith is a College of Charleston commit who completely dominated the Heritage Generals in his one start last week – and he also went 6-for-11 from the plate with a homer and notched a save. Against Heritage, Smith tossed a complete game shutout and allowed just two hits, one walk, and struck out 14 batters. The 4A Jasper program is 9-6 this spring, 4-2 in Region 6 play.

Jonah Stout, RHP, Lamar County, 2019
The Andrew College commit earned two regional wins in relief last week over Heard County. In five innings combined, he allowed just one run on two hits and he struck out nine. In the first game of the series, he pitched the sixth and seventh innings in a tie game and five of his six out were via the punch-out. In game two, his three innings were crucial to keeping Lamar within winning distance, and he drove in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh. On the spring, he’s struck out 53 batters in 28 innings and has a 1.00 ERA, allowing just four earned runs on nine hits over that span.

Sam Taylor, RHP, The Walker School, 2021 & Nick Addison, INF, The Walker School, 2021
The Walker Wolverines might be enduring a losing streak, but that hasn’t stopped sophomores Sam Taylor and Nick Addison from getting hot. Taylor tossed six innings of two-hit ball last week and allowed just one run and struck out eight in a no-decision effort. As for Addison, he went 5-for-8 last week and also tallied a clutch double.

Holden Tucker, LHP/OF, Ringgold, 2019 & Wyatt Tennant, LHP/OF, Ringgold, 2019
Holden Tucker, the Charleston Southern commit, starred on both the mound and in the batter’s box in yet another solid week of action for Ringgold. They’re firmly On The Bubble, according to our GA Power 25, because they’re full of players capable of performances like these two, week in and out. Tucker tossed a shutout seven frames against Calhoun, striking out 12, and he was also 5-for-12 from the plate this past week. Tennant can really pitch, too, but he did it with the bat last week, going 8-for-11 with two home runs and drove in seven runs.

Griffin Weaver, SS, St. Francis, 2019
The 1A Knights are off to a 10-4 start this spring and senior shortstop Griffin Weaver has had a lot to do with it. Over three games (and three wins) last week, Weaver went 4-for-7 with three doubles, drove in a couple, walked four times, and scored three runs. His timely hits against Walker and Pinecrest both played a huge factor in an undefeated week of action for St. Francis.

Jonathan Young, INF/RHP, North Cobb, 2019
The Warriors were the lone team to make their GA Power 25 debut last week and Jonathan Young, a Chattahoochee Valley CC commit, was integral to the push onto the rankings. North Cobb swept McEachern last week in three games and Young went the distance on the mound in game one, allowing just one run on four hits, three walks, and he struck out nine. He also hit a home run in that game to help his own cause. In game two, his second homer of the series, a two-run bomb, helped put the game out of reach. In the three-game series, Young went 4-for-7 with two homers, four RBIs, and four runs scored.

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