Most Outstanding Player:
Hunter Stiles
Most Outstanding Offensive Player:
Henry Terrell
Most Outstanding Defensive Player:
Thomas Sanders
Most Outstanding Pitcher:
Patrick Jansen
Coaches' Award:
Mark Sanders
Many thanks to the Stile family for hosting breakfast at their beautiful home. Special thanks to Lynn, Nick and Kyle for all the preparations and delicious food. Lynn has certainly exemplified the epitome of a "Perfect Team Mom" this year for Spartan baseball.
Photo courtesy of DeeAnn Cox
Although the Spartans’ baseball season ended Friday night, the memories of a phenomenal season will last in our hearts forever. There were more blessings and highlights than could possibly be listed, but here are a few (from an extremely biased and proud scorekeeper)!
• 17 of the finest young men came together as a team, always giving their personal best and encouraging their teammates to do the same
• 3 incredible seniors who will always be remembered for their leadership
• Five coaches who unselfishly and with a love and passion for the game, worked untiringly with the skills and character of each of the players
• Parents, relatives, faculty, fellow students, past players, fans filled the stands every game… not just home games, but followed the players from Towns County to Savannah, Georgia, cheering the good and encouraging the not so good
• A twenty game winning season
• Region runner-ups
• Winning 14 of their last 15 regular season games
• Seven Spartans names to the All-Region 8 A team
• 2 talented seniors going on to play college baseball
• 2 players being named Player of the Week, and many more receiving honorable mention
• 28 homeruns off Spartan bats, including two players going back to back 3 times, and three players having multiple homerun games
• 231 RBI’s and 78 stolen bases
• A great trip to Hilton Head and a freshman once again trying the HOT wings
• Team parents who made sure the baseball team never went hungry or thirsty
• A no hitter
• Shutting out Lakeview
• Upsetting Hebron
Do you have a favorite memory? Click here to send them and I’ll try to get them posted!
Pictures from the first round of state play-offs courtesy of DeeAnn Cox.
First Team:
Patrick Jansen
Hunter Stiles
Henry Terrell
Second Team:
Thomas Sanders
Mark Sanders
James Waugh
John Braucher
The Spartans will host the first round of the state play-offs with a double header on Friday at 5:30. They will play the 3rd seed from Region 5, Holy Innocents.
Athens Academy 18, Prince Avenue 5
April 30, 2010
A twenty win season is extremely impressive and that is exactly what the Spartans accomplished as they beat the Wolverines. The game was close until the fourth inning, when the Spartan bats exploded. They will be heading into the state play-offs as a number 2 seed, playing against Holy Innocents. Hunter Stiles had a sizzling bat as he corked two homeruns to center field… over 355 feet… and had 6 RBI’s. Patrick Jansen picked up his 8th win of the season.
Pitching:
• Patrick went the first four innings to pick up his 8th win, allowing 2 runs on five hits, striking out 5 and walking only one
• Lake Lindsay came in for the last two innings giving up 3 runs on four hits, striking out one and walking none
Offensively:
Fourteen hits: James Waugh 1/2, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI; Taylor Allen 1/1, 1 double one run scored, 1 RBI; Hunter Stiles 2/4, 2 homeruns, 2 runs scored, 6 RBI’s; Henry Terrell 2/4, 2runs scored, 1 RBI; Mark Sanders 2/ 3, 1 run scored; Forrest Liedberg 1/2; Alex Haver 1/2, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI; Nicholas Adams 2/2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI; John Braucher 1/1, 1 run scored, 2 RBI’s; Mason Mallory 1/3, 1 run scored, 1 double, 1 RBI
First Inning:
• James Waugh reached first on an error and stole second and third
• Henry Terrell also reached on an error with James coming in to score
1 run on 0 hits
Third Inning:
• Thomas Sanders led off the inning, being hit by a pitch
• James walked, with Thomas going to second
• Hunter grounded out to first, with Thomas and James advancing
• Henry singled to left field, with Thomas scoring
1 run on 1 hit
Fourth Inning:
• Alex walked
• John Braucher was hit by a pitch, moving Alex to second
• Mason Mallory took the first pitch to deep left field for a stand-up double, with Alex scoring
• Thomas walked
• James singled to right, plating John
• Mason came home on a passed ball
• Hunter went yard (355 feet) for a three run shot to deep center field
• Henry walked
• Mark reached on an infield single
• Alex singled to right, scoring Henry
• John singled to left center, sending Mark and Alex home
9 runs on 6 hits
Fifth Inning:
• Taylor led off the inning with a double down the left field line
• Hunter was intentionally walked
• Henry flied deep to fight, sending Taylor to third
• Patrick also went to deep right, sending Taylor to the plate
1 run on 1 hit
Sixth Inning:
• Nicholas singled to right field and went to second on a wild pitch
• John walked
• Thomas was hit for the second time of the night with a pitch
• Taylor hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Nicholas
• Hunter crushed his second 3 RBI homerun of the night to deep center
• Henry singled to left field
• Lake walked
• Forrest singled to left, loading the bases
• Nicholas singled down the left field line, scoring Henry
• Donta Eberhardt hit a hard hit ball to short, scoring Sam Clements, running for Lake
6 runs on 5 hits
Defense:
• Thomas went deep to his right catching a hard hit ball and throwing the runner out at first, with Lake covering
The Spartans finished the season with an intimidating win over rival Prince Avenue. Every player got into the game and made a positive contribution. The Spartans start their state playoff win with a double header against Holy Innocents this week… hope to see you there!
Final Score: Athens Academy 18, Prince Avenue Christian 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 Final
Athens
Academy 1 0 1 9 1 6 18
Prince Avenue
Christian 0 1 0 1 1 2 5
Athens Academy (20-5), (13-3)
Athens Academy 15, Hebron Christian 5
April 27, 2010
The Spartans took on the third ranked team in the state and methodically and soundly beat them in six innings. Henry Terrell went yard two times and Patrick Jansen went once. The Lions came out roaring leading off the game with a homerun, but were quickly and efficiently silenced by the excellent pitching of John Braucher. It was an exciting game and fun to watch. The seniors will never forget their last regular season home game and the joy of victory.
Pitching:
• John was more than calm and truly unflappable on the mound going the full six innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and walking 3
Offensively:
Eight hits: Thomas Sanders 1/4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI; James Waugh 1/4, 2 runs scored; Hunter Stiles 1/2; Henry Terrell 2/2, 2 homeruns, 4 runs scored, 4 RBI’s; Patrick Jansen 1/ 3, 1 run scored, 1 homerun, 4 RBI’s; Mason Mallory 2/3, 1 run scored, 2 doubles, 3 RBI’s; Charles Sligh 1 run scored;; Taylor Allen 3 runs scored;
First Inning:
• With two outs, Hunter was hit by a pitch and Taylor came in to run for him
• Taylor went to second on a passed ball
• Henry walked
• Patrick lit up the park, the team, the coaches and the fans as he fired a lightning bolt to deep center for a 3 run homer
3 runs on 1 hit
Third Inning:
• With one out, James Waugh reached on an error and stole second
• Hunter singled sending James to third
• James scored and courtesy runner extraordinaire, Taylor went to second on a balk
• Henry went yard as he blasted his first homerun of the night to deep center driving in Taylor and himself
3 runs on 2 hits
Fifth Inning:
• Henry crushed his second homerun of the game to right field for a solo shot
1 run on 1 hit
Sixth Inning:
• Mason started the ball rolling in the sixth inning by crushing a double to left field
• Thomas singled to right center, sending Mason home
• James Waugh singled to right
• The Lions walked Hunter and Henry, hit Patrick with a pitch, and then walked Mark and Alex Haver resulting in four runs scored
• Taylor came in to run for Hunter and Charles Sligh came in to run for Patrick
• With Charles, Mark and Alex now on the bases, Mason corked a bases clearing double to left field scoring all three runners and putting the ten run rule into effect
8 runs on 4 hits
Defense:
• The team played solid defense with each player defending their position in a capable and competitive manner
The Spartans have their fighting spirit and are laying it all on the line. They are playing their best ball of the season and enjoying the rewards. The Spartans will travel to Prince Avenue for their last game of the regular season at 5:00 on Friday…hope to see you there!
Final Score: Athens Academy 15, Hebron Christian 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 Final
Hebron
Christian 2 0 1 1 0 1 5
Athens
Academy 3 0 3 0 1 8 15
Athens Academy (19-5), (12-3)