GHSA Diamond Notes: 3/4 to 3/11
March 13, 2019
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 4 to 11.
Isaac Bouton, RHP/SS, Fellowship Christian, 2019
Isaac Bouton, a Columbus State commit, has helped the 1A Paladins get to an 8-3 mark on the spring with his performance against King’s Ridge on Thursday’s doubleheader. He totaled nine innings of work and earned a complete game shutout in the second game of the day. Bouton struck out a total of 14 batters, too.
Jacob Bradshaw, RHP, Thomasville, 2020
In 7.1 innings last week, Jacob Bradshaw notched both a save and earned a win against Cook. In the Bulldogs’ first game of the three-game series, Bradshaw entered in relief with a 1-0 lead intact. He inherited the tying run in the fifth and managed to record the last seven outs of the ballgame, securing the 1-0 victory. He started game three and went the distance in the team’s 11-1 win. In 7.1 innings total, Bradshaw struck out 11 and allowed just one run on five hits, and one walk.
Jonathan Cannon, RHP/INF, Centennial, 2019
Centennial’s ace Jonathan Cannon dominated Chattahoochee this past week, striking out 12 in 5.1 innings. The Georgia commit also pulled his weight on offense by driving in three runs, tallying three hits, two walks, and doubled twice. Cannon and the Knights can get back over .500 tonight with a win over Hebron Christian Academy.
Charlie Condon, INF, Walker, 2021
The sophomore from The Walker School led his team in hitting in the Wolverines’ two games against Pinecrest Academy last week. In their two games, Charlie Condon reached base six times and stole a couple of bases. They’ll play St. Francis next on Wednesday before meeting Fellowship Christian on Friday and again on Monday.
Carson Cook, SS/RHP, Bremen, 2019
Bremen took on 2A rivals Heard County last week and senior Carson Cook helped the Blue Devils sweep the three-game series. Cook has been integral to Bremen’s four-game win streak. He his a sturdy force at shortstop and his stellar work up the middle helped Bremen last week, too. He was on base 60 percent of the time in the three-game series. Cook was on the mound to lock down game one, and struck out three in his lone inning of work. He got the start in game two and pitched six innings, allowing just one run and struck out five.
Jayden Chance, C/RHP, Perry, 2020
In Perry’s 4-1 win over Jones County, righty Jayden Chance threw a no-hitter. He struck out 11 batters in seven hitless innings to salvage the Panthers’ week. At the plate, he was on base 10 times in 14 plate appearances. On the spring, he’s hitting .429 and has an on-base percentage of .611.
Tucker Dorrity, INF, Fayette County, 2019
The Tigers are 3-2 in March after a slow start to the spring and senior infielder Tucker Dorrity is big part of the reason why Fayette County has begun to turn things around. Last week, Dorrity went 9-for-14 and scored four runs.
Seth Fullerton, RHP, Towns County, 2019
Against Hiwassee Dam, Seth Fullerton tossed a one-hit, complete game shutout. He struck out six and walked just one in a game that was tied at zero over for four scoreless frames. The Indians are 4-3 this spring, and have five games on the schedule this week: Hebron Christian, Riverside Military, Athens Academy, Hayesville, and Tallulah Falls.
Miles Garrett, RHP, Parkview, 2020
The junior and Vanderbilt commit, Miles Garrett, starred on the mound for the Panthers in Hoover, Ala., last week. In his start against Woodward Academy, Garrett tossed a complete game and allowed just two hits, no runs, and struck out 14 batters. For the majority of the game, Garrett was working under a pressure-packed scoreless atmosphere, until the Panthers tallied two in the top of the sixth, allowing Garrett to complete the shutout and notch the win for No. 3-ranked Parkview.
Charlie Goldstein, LHP, Alpharetta, 2019
The senior Georgia-committed lefty relieved the other left-hander on staff, Sam Stratton, in the team’s game against No. 1-ranked Pope. He pitched the final 3.1 innings of the extra-inning victory over the Greyhounds, and held Pope to no runs on two hits and struck out seven. Alpharetta is 7-2 this spring and could climb further up the board with another strong week. They’re currently the No. 16-ranked team on the GA Power 25.
Cameron Gill, C, Fellowship Christian, 2019
The Paladins’ senior backstop went 7-for-11 last week, including a double and two triples, and also drove in nine runs, scored five times, and snagged three bases, as well. The Wofford commit was also responsible for a clutch hit against King’s Ridge on Thursday that helped Fellowship extend its late lead in the seventh.
Daniel Haab, C/RHP/1B, Norcross, 2020
The Blue Devils went 4-1 last week to get back to .500, at 6-6, and Daniel Haab was critical to Norcross’ great week. He hit .429 and tallied two triples and stole a couple of bases, too. Against Lanier, Haab threw a complete game in the team’s 4-2 win. Haab is hitting over .400 this spring for Norcross and is 2-1 with a 2.06 ERA.
Adam Hooks, RHP/INF, Johnson County, 2020
Last Friday, Adam Hooks was nearly untouchable on the mound for the Trojans in their game against regional rivals Montgomery. In his complete game shutout, he struck out 16 batters, walked none, and allowed just three hits all game. The Trojans are 11-1 this spring and are back in action tonight against Glasscock County.
Trace Jeffers, LHP/OF, Winder-Barrow, 2019
In the Bulldoggs’ four-game stretch in Hoover, Trace Jeffers helped Winder-Barrow earn wins over North Broward Prep (FL) and Troup County last week. In the team’s four games, Jeffers went 9-for-13 with two doubles and six RBIs. They’re 8-3 on the spring with a game against Heritage and a three-game series against Dacula on deck.
Alex Kite, C, Mary Persons, 2019
The Bulldogs are 4-2 this month, 8-4 overall, and Alex Kite has helped Mary Persons get off to a strong start in class 4A. Last week, Kite went 9-for-15 – and nine of those hits went for extra bases: four doubles, one triple, and a home run. He also drove in 10 runs and scored eight times. The Bulldogs have Crisp County, Rutland, and Cook on the schedule this week, which can improve their standing a month into the 4A spring.
Michael Knight, RHP/INF, Loganville, 2019
Loganville is up to No. 6 on the GA Power 25 after putting together a 3-1 week during their time at the Hoover, Ala., regional tournament last week. Knight’s work from the bullpen helped the Red Devils notch a pair of wins during their trip – one over Savannah Christian and the other over Denham Springs. He came in for the seventh to lock down the save against Savannah, recording two strikeouts, too. Against Denham Springs, he pitched three innings and was credited with the win after allowing just one run on three hits. Loganville has a huge two-game series with No. 7 Buford, their region rivals.
Ashton Lansdell, RHP, Wheeler, 2019
Last spring, Ashton Lansdell became the first female pitcher to start a varsity game for a Cobb County school. She made her first appearance of this spring on the mound against Kell at the end of February, allowing a couple of runs and striking out a pair in three innings of work, but she earned her first start in Wheeler’s game last Tuesday against Pebblebrook. Then, she held Pebblebrook to just one run on two hits, no works, and struck out 10 in a complete game, five-inning effort. Wheeler cruised to a 14-1 victory, and is currently riding a four-game win streak and are 9-4 this spring.
Daniel Lavender, RHP/INF, Elbert County, 2019
The Blue Devils have been hot and the 2A program is on the rise this spring and senior two-way talent is at the center of it all. He was 6-for-9 last week with a home run and six RBIs, and he also started a game and earned the win, striking out nine batters in five innings.
Joshua Leerssen, RHP/OF, Mount Bethel Christian, 2020
In the Eagles’ three games last week, Joshua Leerssen hit .800 and stole a couple of bases, raising his season’s batting average to .430 this spring. Leerssen has been a bright spot on a Mount Bethel team that has had a tough start to the spring, but will look to get back on track against King’s Ridge and Whitefield Academy over the weekend.
Bret Madren, C, St. Francis, 2019
The Missouri committed backstop, Bret Madren, from St. Francis had a great week at the plate, helping his team earn three wins in three chances, against Mt. Pisgah, Athens Academy, and Whitefield Academy. Over those three wins, Madren hit .636 and six of his seven hits went for extra bases, including four doubles, a triple, and a home run. He also walked four times and struck out just once, driving in six runs himself and touching home nine times.
Tucker Maloch, RHP/OF, Commerce, 2019
Tucker Maloch entered the game from the bullpen in the third inning against Elbert County and threw five shutout frames to help Commerce earn the comeback win, 12-9. He allowed just three hits in five innings of work and struck out four batters. He was also responsible for the team’s go-ahead runs scoring when his two-out base hit drove in a pair of runs.
Logan McGuire, RHP, Allatoona, 2019
The Cincinnati commit starred on the mound for the Buccaneers twice last week – once against Dalton and once against Dunwoody. Logan McGuire totally shut down Dunwoody in Allatoona’s combined no-hit effort. He struck out eight, walked just two, and didn’t allow any hits in five innings. Against Dalton, he allowed just one hit in 4.1 innings of work this time, and struck out six. Combined, that’s 14 Ks and just four walks in 9.2 innings last week.
Kyle Moon, INF, Elbert County, 2020
The junior infielder went 8-for-11 during Elbert’s three games last week, doubling three times and driving in nine runs for the Blue Devils. The 2A team is 8-2-1 this spring and has Clarke Central and Putnam County on the schedule this week.
Jaylen Paden, RHP/INF, Decatur, 2020
The Decatur Bulldogs debuted on the GA Power 25 this week and Jaylen Paden’s work against ranked Grayson is a big reason why. The uncommitted two-way talent struck out 12 Rams in five shutout innings, and allowed just one hit and one walk in the complete game effort. The Bulldogs’ victory over Grayson was a big reason why Decatur landed the final spot on the Power 25 in our latest update, and Paden was at the center of the action.
Joseph Pittman, RHP, Tift County, 2019
The Augusta commit, Joseph Pittman, shut down Camden last week in Tift County’s 1-0 win. Pittman struck out 12 batters in seven innings and allowed just one hit and walked no one. He helped Tift secure the tightly contested victory by striking out the first batter in all seven frames.
Syd Reece, RHP/UTL, Christian Heritage, 2019
In the Lions’ two games last week, senior standout Syd Reece put together the strongest week of anyone on the team. From the mound, Reece did not allow a run on four hits in 5.2 innings of work, and he also struck out seven. From the batter’s box, he went 3-for-5, drove in three runs with a double and run scored.
Hudson Sapp, LHP/OF, Dawson County, 2020
The Ole Miss-bound outfielder from Dawson County, Hudson Sapp, went 5-for-10 last week and slugged two homers for the Tigers. He drove in three runs, scored five times, and stole three bases. He also got earned a win from the mound, notching nine Ks in five innings of work, having allowed just one run on five hits, and one walk.
Josiah Siegel, LHP, Woodstock, 2019
The Woodstock southpaw and Georgia Tech commit turned in a strong performance against North Forsyth, helping his team get to 8-3 on the season. The No. 11-ranked Wolverines on the GA Power 25 needed Josiah Siegel’s help to bounce back from a 7-3 loss to North Cobb the evening before. Against North Forsyth, Siegel allowed no runs on three hits, one walk, and struck out 10 in six clean innings of work.
Nathan Smith, SS, Thomasville, 2021
Nathan Smith facilitated Thomasville’s three-game sweep of Cook by collecting four hits, including a home run. He also scored five runs, drove in three, and stole four bases. Coach Erik McDougald also noted that Smith was responsible three phenomenal plays at shortstop in the team’s narrow 1-0 win in game one.
Zack Smith, INF, Winder-Barrow, 2019
The No. 9-ranked team in the state went 2-2 at rigorous regional tournament in Hoover, Ala., and Zack Smith was a factor in both wins, earning saves in the two contests. At the plate, he went 7-for-10 with two doubles, six runs, and six RBIs. He’s committed to Ole Miss and should continue helping the Bulldoggs battle through the 6A class this spring.
Hayden Soley, OF, Allatoona, 2021
The sophomore center fielder helped the Buccaneers go 2-1 last week, with wins over Dalton and River Ridge. Over the three games last week, Hayden Soley went 6-for-10 with eight runs scored and he drove in six runs himself, and also snagged three bases. Soley and Allatoona have a chance to get back onto the GA Power 25 with three games this week against Dalton and two against South Cobb.
Garrett Spikes, SS, Mountain View, 2020
The Bears were slow out of the gate this spring, but they corrected their course and put together a 5-0 week, moving up to No. 22 on the GA Power 25. Infielder Garrett Spikes, a Georgia commit, went 11-for-19 and drove in 12 runs. He also tallied a double and three triples over the week. Mountain View plays Duluth three times this week (won 6-2 on Monday) and will host ranked Brookwood a week from today.
Devin Spivey, C/OF/RHP, Coffee, 2019
Coffee made it out to the regional tournament in Hoover, Ala., and senior righty allowed just two runs to national powerhouse IMG Academy last Thursday. He struck out four in five innings of work in his first start of the spring, after recuperating from a broken finger on his throwing hand at the start of the season.
Warren Stovall, LHP/OF, Clinch County, 2019
Warren Stovall, a Valdosta State commit, helped the Panthers get to 8-3 last week with his performances against Wilcox, McIntosh Academy, and Irwin. At the plate, Stovall went 7-for-9 with three walks and five total runs scored. He made it to the mound twice, too, and struck out five in two innings of work against Wilcox and pitched over three runs against Irwin by striking out 16 hitters, against just two walks.
Sam Stratton, LHP, Alpharetta, 2019
Alpharetta has been among the hottest teams in the state this spring, and have gone from unranked in the preseason all the way up to No. 17 on the GA Power 25. Last week, against No. 1-ranked Pope, the Raiders southpaw Sam Stratton, a Wofford commit, held the Greyhounds to just one run on four hits in 4.2 innings of work, and he struck out six over that stretch. Alpharetta went on to win the game, 3-2, in extra innings. They’re back in action on Wednesday against Cambridge, before meeting a tough Centennial team on Friday in Roswell.
Davis Swenson, RHP/1B, Stephens County, 2019
Davis Swenson, a recent Gordon State CC commit, struck out 12 Franklin County batters across five frames, and allowed just three hits along the way. On the spring, Swenson is 2-1 and has struck out 33 batters in 19 innings of work, and has a 2.21 ERA. Stephens County has the chance to improve on its 7-3-1 record this spring with a two-game series against Jefferson this week and Banks County on the weekend.
Andre Tarver, OF, Ringgold, 2019
The Tigers are 8-3 this spring and are On The Bubble in the latest edition of the GA Power 25, and thanks to the kind of season their star senior Andre Tarver is having. The outfielder is the reigning PBR Georgia Player of the Week and homered again last week and drove in four runs in the team’s two games – against ranked programs Redan and North Paulding. The Tigers lost to the red-hot Redan Raiders, but bounced back to down North Paulding on Friday. They’re back in action tonight against Calhoun.
Wyatt Tennant, LHP, Ringgold, 2019
The uncommitted lefty Wyatt Tennant was 4-for-7 at the plate for Ringgold last week and most notably struck out nine North Paulding batters in four innings of work against North Paulding, and allowed just one run (unearned) on two hits and three walks. Tennant will help the Tigers gain some added momentum now that their on the GA Power 25 bubble, with three more contests this week on the schedule.
Holden Tucker, LHP, Ringgold, 2019
The Charleston Southern commit is one of three Ringgold Tigers to earn a spot in the this week’s Diamond Notes. Southpaw Holden Tucker was credited with the win after putting in two scoreless, hitless innings of work against North Paulding. He also went 5-for-6 last week, helping the Tigers generate some GA Power 25 attention.
Deion Walker, OF, Hillgrove, 2019
The Hawks keep rising on the GA Power 25 and in the team’s three wins over Lassiter, Lambert, and Mill Creek, senior Deion Walker was a central figure. Walker went 6-for-12 with a home run and scored three runs and added a stolen base, too. His seven RBIs were key in Hillgrove’s big week. Against Lassiter on March 4, Walker earned the win and struck out six in the Hawks’ 7-4 victory.
Jay Wetherington, C/OF, Calvary Day, 2020
The junior helped the Cavaliers win three games last week, against Treutlen, McIntosh Academy, and Tattnall County. Wetherington finished the week 8-for-12 and drove in seven runs, doubling twice and adding in a triple, too. He threw a five-inning complete game against McIntosh, striking out 10 along the way.
Miles Wood, INF, McIntosh County Academy, 2021
Against Bradwell Institute last week, sophomore infielder Miles Wood went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and two RBIs and also walked once. His performance was critical to the Buccaneers pulling out the 9-8 victory.