2006 Game Summaries
1-AAAAA All-Region team
Danny Redshaw named coach of the year
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: May 16, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — This was the most competitive baseball season Region 1-AAAAA has seen in years, and this year’s All-Region baseball team was reflective of that.
Every hitter on the All-Region first team batted at least .341 this year, and every pitcher won at least seven games and had an earned run average of 1.96 or lower.
Five of the six teams were represented on the first team. Region champion Lowndes High placed three players on this season’s All-Region team, and had the Coach of the Year, Danny Redshaw.
Redshaw earned Coach of the Year honors for the sixth time, after winning his sixth region championship in the last eight years. The Vikings are currently 21-6, ranked No. 9 in the state, and preparing for their second-round matchup with Brunswick.
The region Player of the Year honors went to Houston County pitcher/first baseman Brian Wilkerson for the second year in a row. Wilkerson, a highly-touted right-hander who has signed with Georgia Southern, went 9-1 this season with a 1.81 ERA and three saves. He struck out 114 batters in 81 innings, and pitched 10 complete games.
Wilkerson was almost as dangerous at the plate, batting .513 with four home runs, 38 RBIs, a .738 slugging percentage and a .600 on-base percentage.
Joining Wilkerson on the team was an impressive cast of players, five of whom hit over .400.
The region’s best hitter was Lowndes center fielder Matt Harper. Harper won two-thirds of the region triple crown, with a .559 batting average and seven home runs, and also drove in 25 runs. He also had 12 doubles, scored 26 runs, had a .649 on-base percentage, and a mind-boggling 1.031 slugging percentage. As a pitcher, Harper went 4-1 with a 4.06 ERA and struck out 27 batters in 31 innings.
Lowndes pitcher/shortstop JonMichael Redding joins Harper on the first team. Redding batted .410 with three home runs, and had a .535 on-base percentage. As a pitcher, he went 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA despite elbow troubles that kept him off the mound part of the season.
The other Lowndes player on the first team was pitcher Chris Mederos. Mederos entered the season as the team’s No. 3 pitcher, but stepped up for the Vikings, and became one of the region’s best pitchers. He is currently 8-0 with a 1.40 ERA and three saves, and has struck out 49 batters in 40 innings this season.
Valdosta’s representative on the first team was shortstop Ryan Danbury. Danbury, the Wildcats’ leadoff hitter, batted .341 this season, with a .402 on-base percentage, and stole an impressive 28 bases, easily leading the region. He also provided strong defense for Valdosta, and went 2-0 as a pitcher.
Joining Harper in the first-team outfield is Houston County center fielder Brad Jackson, who batted .468 with two home runs and 29 RBIs, stole 11 bases, and had six outfield assists. The other outfielder is Israel Troupe of Tift County, who batted .388 with three home runs and 24 RBIs, had a .490 on-base percentage, and stole seven bases.
Joining Danbury and Redding in the first-team infield are Tift third baseman Charlie Edwards, who batted .430 with five home runs and 36 RBIs, with a .774 slugging percentage. The fourth infielder is Houston shortstop Chase Brown, who batted .385, scored 40 runs and stole five bases.
For the second year in a row, the first-team catcher is Tift’s Christian Glisson, who hit .351 with three homers and 26 RBIs this season. The designated hitter is Andrew Wallace of Colquitt County, who batted .440 for the Packers and was also the team’s top pitcher.
Joining Wilkerson and Mederos among the first-team pitchers was Tift County’s Scott Shuman, a Valdosta native. Shuman went 7-2 with a 1.96 ERA, and struck out 78 batters in 57 innings. He also started at shortstop for Tift, and batted .321 with six home runs and 24 RBIs.
Valdosta placed four players on the second team. Will Flail, an outfielder/pitcher, batted .377 with three home runs and 20 RBIs, and on the mound, went 8-4 with a 3.29 ERA and struck out 59 batters in 63 innings. Teammate Will Welch batted .394 with three homers and 14 RBIs for the Wildcats, and also had a .506 on-base percentage and 10 stolen bases. Valdosta second baseman Briggs Smotherman led the team with a .407 average and a .474 on-base percentage, and stole 17 bases. And first baseman/pitcher Tuzer Chism batted .380 with a home run, 22 RBIs and a .444 on-base percentage, while going 7-3 with a 3.64 ERA on the mound.
Lowndes placed two players on the second team. Catcher Randy J. Williams batted .387 with three home runs and 17 RBIs, and had a .462 on-base percentage. Teammate Dax Spriggs batted .350 and was a valuable utilityman for the Vikings, playing several different positions.
The other second-team players were: Tift second baseman Chance Veazey (.371), Coffee shortstop Brett Carter (.394), Colquitt first baseman Chance Pitts (.382) and Coffee catcher Jamaal Smith (.358, 6 HR). The other two pitchers were Tift County’s Jacob Stinson (7-1, 2.16) and Austin Smith (6-1, 2.56).
Making honorable mention was Valdosta catcher Brent Turner, who batted .347 and played excellent defense. He was joined by Lowndes third baseman Jarrod Pass, who batted .326, and Lowndes first baseman John Simpson, who batted .292 with a pair of home runs. Houston players Joe Vazquez and Ryan Beitler also received honorable mention.
Valdosta earns trip to second round, 14-4
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: May 14, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
STONE MOUNTAIN — Valdosta High’s baseball team is moving on to the second round.
Valdosta (20-8) upset No. 8 Redan 14-4 in Game 3 of the first round of the AAAAA playoffs Saturday. The victory earned the Wildcats a 2-1 series win over a team that had gone 24-2 in the regular season.
“We beat Redan. Our kids played good, solid baseball, and they earned the victory today,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “It was a tough task, after we got no-hit in the first game. But our guys played great baseball the last two days, and now we’re moving on.”
Not only did Valdosta beat the No. 8 team in the state Saturday, they dominated them. The Wildcats jumped on the Raiders right away, scoring nine runs in the first inning.
“We hit the baseball. Every one of our guys hit it,” Shuman said. “We scored nine runs on them in the first inning, then got four more in the sixth, and Tuzer Chism pitched a great ballgame for us.”
In the nine-run first, Ryan Danbury homered for the Wildcats, his first career longball, and Zane Sirmans had a two-run double.
The Wildcats tacked on four more runs in the sixth. That included a three-run blast from Will Welch, which put the finishing touches on Valdosta’s 10-run victory.
The game was stopped after the sixth because of the mercy rule.
At the plate, Welch drove in five runs, Danbury had four hits, Will Flail had three hits, and Briggs Smotherman also had a couple of hits. Chism (7-3) went the distance, allowing four runs on four hits.
On Friday, Valdosta lost the first game 3-0. All three of Redan’s runs were unearned.
But the Wildcats came right back in the second game, and evened the series with a 10-8 win. Flail (8-4), who’d pitched a complete game in Game 1, tossed three innings of shutout relief to close out the Game 2 win.
“Will Flail did an outstanding job for us on Friday,” Shuman said.
Danbury had three hits for Valdosta. Earl Daniels hit a solo homer.
Valdosta will travel to East Coweta for its second-round series on Wednesday.
Valdosta High pitcher Will Flail delivers during the Wildcats’ 10-8 victory in Game 2 of their three-game series with Redan Friday.
Kevin Smith/valdostabaseball.com
Wildcats, Vikings head into playoffs
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: May 12, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA -- It's time for the high school baseball playoffs. Lowndes High and Valdosta High open the Class AAAAA playoffs today with first-round doubleheaders. The Vikings (20-6) host Morrow, while Valdosta travels to Redan.
The Valdosta Wildcats (18-7) have their work cut out for them. Redan is 24-2, the Region 2-AAAAA champion, and is ranked No. 9 in the state, hardly the opponent the Wildcats wanted to start the playoffs against. Valdosta's challenge will be to make Redan do something in three games that it has taken all season for them to do: lose twice. "Redan's got a great team. They're 24-2, and I think that says a lot," Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. "Redan is a program with a lot of history, and they're going to be tough. They've hit 30 home runs this season. We've hit eight."
But the Wildcats' coach says his team will be ready. "I have confidence in our guys," Shuman said. "I know they're going to go in there and give it their all. They won't be intimidated. They're going to be aggressive, and try to do what they have to do to win." Hopefully Valdosta's players are morning people: they leave for Redan at 6:30 a.m. today. The first game will begin at 1 p.m., because Redan doesn't have lights on its field. Game 3, if necessary, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday. Will Flail (7-3), Valdosta's ace all season, will go to the mound in Game 1. The Wildcats will send Ryan Danbury (2-1) to the mound in the second game. "Will's done a good job for us all season, and he's the guy we're going with," Shuman said. "Ryan's been throwing the ball well lately."
Valdosta may not have Redan's power, but the Wildcats do have six hitters batting over .300: Danbury, Flail, Briggs Smotherman, Will Welch, Brent Turner and Tuzer Chism. Lowndes (20-6) comes into the playoffs playing well. The Vikings, No. 10 in AAAAA, have won 15 of their last 17 games, and just wrapped up their sixth region championship in the last eight years. "We're playing good baseball," Lowndes head coach Danny Redshaw said. "We've been swinging the bats well. The pitchers have been doing their jobs. What I've been happiest about is our defense; we're doing real well. Like I said, we're just playing good baseball right now."
The first game will begin at 5 p.m. at Noel George Field, with the second game to follow afterwards. Redshaw said he didn't know what his rotation would be in the playoffs, but either JonMichael Redding (3-2) or Chris Mederos (7-0) will start the first game, with the other one to follow in the second game.
"They're both good pitchers. We like our chances with either one on the mound," Redshaw said.
Nearly every Lowndes batter is hitting over .300, led by Matt Harper's .554, Colby Yates' .448 and Redding's .410. What does Lowndes' coach know about Morrow? "I know they're in the playoffs," Redshaw said. "They're a young team with a young coach, but they were good enough to get into the playoffs as the fourth seed."
Lowndes will be at home the first two rounds of the playoffs (if they win this series), and possibly longer. Home field advantage never hurts. "It's good to be at home," Redshaw said. "That's the reward for being first in the region. Noel George Field has been good to us. We usually have good crowds at home. We like being at home."
Valdosta falls to Houston County
Author: Staff reports
Publication Date: May 6, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
WARNER ROBINS — Houston County’s Ryan Beitler beat out a potential double play grounder in the bottom of the eighth, scoring Chase Brown with the winning run, giving the Bears a 7-6 victory over Valdosta in a key Region 1-AAAAA baseball game.
The game was for second place in the region. Houston (20-6, 7-3 region) will be the second seed for next week’s playoffs, while Valdosta (18-7, 6-4) is the fourth seed, and will travel to Redan.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Brown reached on an error, and made his way to third. Valdosta walked Brad Jackson and Brian Wilkerson, Houston’s best hitters, loading the bases for Beitler. Beitler hit a ground ball to second for a force out, but beat the throw to first, scoring the game-winning run.
It was an exciting game throughout. Valdosta took a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning, thanks in large part to eight Houston errors. Houston came back to take a 6-5 lead in the sixth, and had Valdosta down to its final out. But Brent Turner’s RBI single scored Will Welch, and sent the game into extra innings.
Inevitably, though, Houston came away with the victory.
Wildcats fall to Blue Devils
Author: Steve Carter
Publication Date: May 3, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
TIFTON — The Tift County Blue Devils got a 9-5 baseball win over the Valdosta High Wildcats Tuesday night.
With the victory, the Devils set up a Region 1-AAAAA championship game with the Lowndes High Vikings Friday night in Valdosta.
Lowndes defeated Colquitt County 16-0 Tuesday in a three-inning game. That win gave the Vikings a 7-2 mark in the region standings. Tift will enter Friday’s contest with a 6-3 mark in the league, but “if we win, we will win the region. We have all of the tie-breakers in our favor,” said Blue Devil head coach Chuck Beale.
Against Valdosta Tuesday, the Wildcats and the Devils battled back-and-forth. Down 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the Devils finally took the lead for good with five runs.
Israel Troupe had a two-run homer in that frame. Chance Veazey had a run-scoring double and Charlie Edwards had an RBI single. The other run came in on a wild pitch by Valdosta relief pitcher Ryan Danbury.
Tuzer Chism started the game for Valdosta, but he came out in Tift’s five-run fourth.
Valdosta knocked Tift County starter Jacob Stinson out in the fifth with two runs. That included a home run by Will Flail. Austin Smith came in to relieve Stinson in the fifth and got out without further damage.
Up 7-5, Tift added two insurance runs in the sixth. Those came on a run-scoring double from Smith and another RBI single off the bat of Edwards.
Smith loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Scott Shuman came in to get the save. Pitching against his father, Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman, the younger Shuman got a fly ball out from Taylor Prain. He then got Danbury to bounce out to second to end the game.
“Jacob did a good job tonight. He just didn’t have his location down. Smith came in and did a great job and Scott did a good job of getting us out of it in the seventh,” Beale said.
Tift had three players with two hits each.
Troupe was 2-for-4 with the home run and three RBIs as he also knocked in a run with a single in the second. Edwards was 2-for-4 with the two RBIs, while Christian Glisson was also 2-for-4.
Veazey and Smith each had run-scoring doubles in the game, while Garrett Blalock had a run-scoring single in the second. Blalock reached base on all three of his plate appearances as he also walked and was hit by a pitch.
“We had several players get key hits and we also had several players make good defensive plays. It was an all-around good team effort for us,” Beale said.
Danbury, Briggs Smotherman, Flail, Brent Turner and Chism each had two hits in the game for Valdosta.
Vikings, Redding dominate
LHS relies on ace, big inning
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: April 29, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Lowndes High is now in the Region 1-AAAAA driver’s seat.
Lowndes (18-6) won maybe the biggest game of the region baseball season Friday, defeating crosstown rival Valdosta 5-0 in a battle for first place.
Lowndes scored four runs in the top of the first. Then the Vikings let JonMichael Redding take care of the rest.
Redding (2-2) pitched a three-hit shutout Friday night, turning in his best performance of the season in his team’s biggest game.
“(Redding) just pitched a great game. He’s a great pitcher,” Lowndes head coach Danny Redshaw said. “We won tonight, so we’ve got a chance to win the region. We control our own destiny. We win out, we win the region. That’s the bottom line.”
“That’s one of the biggest games of my life. I felt good out there,” Redding said. “This was huge win for us, to get back in the region like that. Now we have the tiebreaker.”
“That’s baseball. We got beat by a good team tonight,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “They were just better than we were tonight.”
A packed house, maybe the biggest ever to watch a Lowndes-Valdosta baseball game, crowded into Bazemore Field to watch the Wildcats and the Vikings battle for first place.
Lowndes gave Redding a cushion before he ever took the mound, scoring four times in the first.
Dax Spriggs led off the game with a single, then Redding was hit with a pitch. The runners moved up on a wild pitch, then Matt Harper lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Spriggs. John Simpson walked, putting two men on again. Then Colby Yates ripped a pitch into the left field corner for a double, and Redding and Simpson came around to score, making it 3-0 Vikings. Randy J. Williams followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Yates to make it 4-0.
“We needed to get some runs. After that, I knew what I could do,” Redding said.
That lead was big for Lowndes. When a pitcher like Redding gets a four-run lead, it’s hard for the opposition to come back.
“Those runs were big,” Redshaw said. “You can’t count on scoring a bunch of runs against that guy (Flail). We’ll take all we can get. As well as (Redding) throws, a 4-0 lead is a pretty good lead.”
“We never really recovered from the first inning,” Shuman said. “We never got the crowd into it. (Redding) kept us in check. We didn’t do a great job of battling back.”
The Vikings added a run in the top of the fourth. With one out, Chris Mederos reached on an error and Parker Pridgen singled to left. Then when a pitch bounced in the dirt, Mederos took off for third. Catcher Brent Turner’s throw got by the third baseman, and Mederos came home to make it 5-0.
Valdosta had its chances, putting runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings. But each time Valdosta would threaten, Redding would make a big pitch and escape the jam.
“I was locating my pitches very well. That was the key,” Redding said.
“He was in command,” Shuman said. “We had three or four chances to get something going, but Mederos made a couple of great plays. We had a little crack there, but couldn’t get anything.”
Ryan Danbury opened the bottom of the first with a single, and took second on a throwing error. Briggs Smotherman’s ground out moved Danbury to third with one out. But Redding came back to strike out Daniel Fowler and get Will Flail to pop up to catcher Randy J. Williams to end the inning.
Valdosta narrowly missed scoring a run in the third. With two outs, Danbury grounded to short, and when Parker Pridgen’s throw went wide of first, Danbury raced into second. Danbury stole third. Then Smotherman lined a shot down the line. The ball hit fair behind the base, but the umpire called it foul. Redding wound up getting Smotherman to ground out to short.
Redding then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. He walked Smotherman and Fowler to start the inning, then struck out Will Welch looking and got Brent Turner to pop up. Tuzer Chism struck out, but on the third strike, the ball got away, and Chism reached first, loading the bases. But then Chris Mederos dove to his left to rob Earl Daniels of a hit, ending the inning.
“It’s a good win for us. Valdosta’s got a good ball team, and they’re going to be fine,” Redshaw said. “They’ve got nothing to hang their head about.”
Valdosta third baseman Daniel Fowler (33) unsuccessfully reaches for the ball, as Lowndes baserunner Chris Mederos (13) slides in during the third inning Friday night at Valdosta. The ball wound up going into left field, and Mederos scored.
Tiffany Farrow/The Valdosta Daily Times
Lowndes first baseman John Simpson (22) reaches for the throw, as Valdosta’s Ryan Danbury (2) streaks by during the first inning Friday at Bazemore Field. Danbury wound up taking second on the play.
Tiffany Farrow/The Valdosta Daily Times
Wildcats maintain region lead, beat Colquitt
Valdosta maintains first place in Region 1-AAAAA
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: April 26, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — The Wildcats keep on winning.
Valdosta High maintained possession of first place in the Region 1-AAAAA baseball standings, defeating Colquitt County 8-1 Tuesday night at Bazemore Field.
Valdosta jumped on Colquitt for three runs in the first, added five more runs later in the game, and that was more than enough support for Wildcats starter Tuzer Chism, who tossed a five-hitter.
“This was another good team effort,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We hit the ball well, we got another good pitching performance from Tuzer, and we played good defense. These guys just keep playing good team baseball and doing what it takes to win.”
With the win, Valdosta (17-4, 7-1 region) remains in first place in the region, one game ahead of archrival Lowndes, who the Wildcats host on Friday.
Valdosta jumped on Packers starter Chance Pitts in the first inning. Ryan Danbury reached on an error to start the inning, then Briggs Smotherman doubled, putting men on second and third. Danbury raced home on Daniel Fowler’s sacrifice fly to right.
Then cleanup hitter Will Flail ripped into a pitch, and sent it over the fence in left center for a two-run homer, making it 3-0.
Colquitt came back with a run in the third. Cory Bridwell led off with an infield single, then Javeris Jackson was hit with a pitch. Chism retired the next two batters, but Matt Weaver lined an RBI single up the middle, making it 3-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Pitts retired the first two Valdosta hitters. But then Zane Sirmans reached on an error, and went to second on a passed ball. Danbury followed with a single to right center, and pinch runner Thomas Lovett came around to score. Danbury added to his stolen base total, swiping second and third. Then the shortstop booted Smotherman’s ground ball, and Danbury scored, making it 5-1.
Valdosta all but put the game away with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Flail nearly hit another home run, sending a long fly ball to left center that bounced on the warning track and over the fence for a home run. The next two batters were hit by pitches, ending the day for Pitts, then Chism greeted reliever Andrew McDowell with a fly ball to left, scoring Flail to make it 6-1. Earl Daniels followed with a two-strike single to left, and Will Welch and Brent Turner came in to score, making it 8-1.
Flail was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Danbury and Smotherman were both 2-for-4 with an RBI, with Danbury scoring twice and Smotherman once. Daniels also had two RBIs.
“Several guys hit the ball well tonight,” Shuman said. “Will Flail had a home run and a double. Ryan Danbury and Briggs Smotherman each had a couple of hits. Earl Daniels had a nice single with two strikes on him that drove in a couple of runs. We’ve got guys who are having great seasons.”
Chism (5-2) won his third straight start, holding the Packers to one run on five hits in six innings. Danbury closed the game with a two-strikeout seventh inning.
Valdosta’s Ryan Danbury (2) slides back into first base, as Colquitt County first baseman Matt Weaver waits for the ball Tuesday evening.
The Valdosta Daily Times
Valdosta baseball defeats Ware
Author: Staff reports
Publication Date: April 19, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
WAYCROSS — Valdosta High’s baseball team improved to 16-4 with a 6-1 victory over Ware County Tuesday.
Will Flail and Will Welch had two hits apiece, and Tuzer Chism drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single. Chism, Daniel Fowler and Ryan Danbury combined on a three-hitter.
Valdosta travels to Coffee for a Region 1-AAAAA game on Friday.
’Cats win Houston battle
With 3-2 victory over Bears, Valdosta improves to 15-4
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: April 14, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Yet again, the Valdosta Wildcats found a way to win.
Valdosta won a hard-fought Region 1-AAAAA baseball battle Friday night, defeating Houston County 3-2 in nine innings.
Will Welch raced home from second on an error in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Wildcats the victory.
“This was as good a win as we’ve had here in a long, long, long time,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “I can’t say enough about our team. Everybody contributed. Nobody panicked when they scored the tying run.”
“It’s indescribable,” winning pitcher Will Flail said. “It was a good team effort. We had some key hits in key moments. I had a good defense backing me up. I hate it that someone had to lose.”
The win improved Valdosta’s record to 15-4 this season, and put them in a tie for first in the region at 4-1.
Both teams sent their aces to the mound Friday, and Flail and Houston’s Brian Wilkerson staged a nine-inning pitcher’s duel. Flail allowed 12 hits, but escaped bases-loaded jams three times, and held the Bears to just two runs. Meanwhile, Wilkerson, last year’s region Player of the Year, held Valdosta to just five hits, but two ninth-inning errors proved to be the difference.
“What can you say about Will Flail? He was Superman out here tonight,” Shuman said. “He was just incredible.
“Wilkerson is a great pitcher. (Houston’s) got a great baseball team. This game could have gone either way.”
The game went into the bottom of the ninth tied 2-2, and it looked like it would go another inning when Wilkerson retired the first two batters, then got Welch to hit a routine ground ball to short. But the throw to first was high, and Welch reached safely. Welch stole second, so Houston intentionally walked Brent Turner.
Tuzer Chism came to the plate, and on the first pitch, hit a slow roller towards second. Second baseman Joe Vasquez charged in and threw to first, but the ball hit off the glove of first baseman Alex Blaine, and got away. Welch raced for the plate, and scored without a throw to give the Wildcats the victory.
“All of our guys just battled,” Shuman said.
The win put Valdosta in a tie for first with rival Lowndes, which fell to Tift County 4-3, thanks to a 13-strikeout effort from Tift pitcher Scott Shuman — a former Valdosta player and the son of the VHS coach.
Valdosta grabbed an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the second inning. With one out, Welch lined a double to right field, then Turner followed with a deep fly ball that fell on the warning track in center for an RBI double. Turner took third on the throw home, and scored on Chism’s ground out to second.
Houston made it 2-1 with a run in the third. An error and two singles loaded the bases, then Vasquez hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Wilkerson.
Houston loaded the bases in the first, fourth and sixth innings. But each time, Flail bore down, and escaped without allowing a run.
“They had some bases-loaded situations, and the defense made plays,” Flail said. “The team helped me out a lot.”
The score remained 2-1 going into the top of the seventh. Houston’s Ben Collins walked, then was sacrificed to second. Ryan Beitler singled to left, putting runners on the corners with one out. Mark Irwin hit a fly ball to medium left field, and Collins tagged up and took off for home. Welch fired home, and Turner tried to make a swipe tag. His tag beat Collins to the plate, causing a frustrated Collins to throw his helmet in disgust.
But in trying to make the quick swipe tag, the ball had fallen out of Turner’s mitt, and Collins was safe, tying the score, 2-2.
Valdosta had a chance in the bottom of the seventh, after Welch led off the inning with a double to the fence. But Wilkerson retired the next three hitters. Houston had a man on second with one out in the ninth, but Flail got a pop-up to Chism at first and a ground out to Ryan Danbury at short.
Then came the bottom of the ninth, when the Wildcats won the game.
Welch was the only Wildcat with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with two runs.
Valdosta High first baseman Tuzer Chism (12) leaps to catch a high throw, as Houston County’s Brian Wilkerson runs by Friday night at Bazemore Field. Wilkerson was safe on the play.
Tiffany Farrow/The Valdosta Daily Times
Welch whacks two in win
Wildcats defeat Deerfield Beach Bucks, 12-5
Author: Chris Walsh
Publication Date: April 13, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Valdosta High School improved to 14-4 on Wednesday after defeating the Deerfield Beach Bucks at Bazemore field, 12-5. After a slow first five and a half innings, the Wildcats’ bats came alive for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth.
“Well, we kind of waited around and didn’t do a whole lot until the sixth,” said Valdosta head coach Mark Shuman after the game.
Will Welch had a career night for Valdosta, going 2-for-3 with 2 home runs (3 on the season) for 4 RBI’s and one walk. Both of Welch’s homers sailed over the left field fence.
“It felt good tonight. I don’t really know what to say, it’s the first time I’ve ever done that,” said senior left fielder Will Welch after the game.
Sophomore Marquez Horne started the game for Valdosta and shut out the Bucks in the first inning, allowing no hits and no runs.
Ryan Danbury led off for the Wildcats in the bottom of the first with a single, but was left on base after the next three batter flew out. Deerfield’s second baseman Cyrus Martin ended the inning with the first of two leaping catches in the game.
Horne ran into trouble in the top of the second inning. After hitting the first batter and walking the second, the Bucks were in control with a sac bunt that put runners into scoring position. Left fielder Jarrett Thomas came up to bat and drilled a 2 RBI single to left center to give Deerfield the first lead of the game.
After the Wildcats went three up and three down in the bottom of the inning the score remained 2-0 going into the third.
In the third inning Horne gave up two hits, but had two strike-outs including an inning ending out to save the inning. In three innings of work Horne had allowed two runs, three hits, and had three strike-outs. Daniel Fowler came in as relief in the fourth inning for the Wildcats and had two strike-outs in his first inning.
“Marquez did a real nice job for us tonight as did Fowler. We were trying to give some of the young guys some looks and I was impressed,” said Shuman.
In the bottom of the fourth inning the Valdosta offense decided to wake up. Briggs Smotherman led of the inning with a double and scored when Fowler came up to bat next and hit a single to right field. Will Flail came up to bat next and had a single of his own, but was thrown out as he tried to advance to second.
Welch came up to bat with Fowler on third and one out. On the second pitch Fowler cranked the ball high over the left field wall to tie the game at three a piece. In the inning Valdosta had five hits for three runs and left one on base.
The Bucks took the lead back in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and one runner on, Martin hit an infield single and a run came around on a throwing error. Martin came around the plate when the next batter, Dallas Ducase hit a double to left field. Deerfield managed three hits and two runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead back 4-3.
In the bottom of the fifth inning the Wildcats tied the game back up. With two outs and no one Smotherman hit a single to left field. Fowler came up next and was walked, and with two on and two outs Flail hit a RBI single to right to tie the game.
Fowler had another impressive inning in the sixth, getting three straight outs, two of which were strike outs.
Gabby Severeno came in to pitch for the Bucks, but the bottom of the sixth belonged to the Wildcats. Welch led off the inning with a four pitch walk, but was thrown out on a force at second that put Brent Turner safe on first. Tuzer Chism came up next and hit a double to left center for the first RBI of the inning.
Earl Daniels came up to bat next and blooped a single to right to score Chism. The next batter was walked and in came Carlos SanLouis to try and save the inning. One walk and one strike out later SanLouis had the bases loaded with two outs and Fowler at the plate.
Two more runs came up after two errors by San Louis and the second baseman. Up came Welch again for the second time in the inning. Ahead in the count 3-1 Welch watched a fast ball come down the pipe and, bam, another two-run homer for Welch.
“It was the second best feeling all season, the best was the walk off the other night,” said Welch. “But I’m more happy about the win. As long as we keep winning I’ll be happy.”
All together in the inning the Wildcats managed 8 runs off four hits and three errors. The Bucks salvaged one run in the top of the seventh off of Danbury who came in to pitch, but the game ended two batters later. Fowler received the win.
The Wildcats totaled 13 hits and one error while the Bucks had eight hits and three errors. Valdosta will host Houston Friday at Bazemore field.
Valdosta High’s senior centerfielder Will Flail (14) hits a line drive to second base against Deerfield Beach Wednesday night at Bazemore field.
The Valdosta Daily Times
Wildcats defeat Tift County
Valdosta is now tied for second with Houston County in Region 1-AAAAA
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: April 12, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — The won-loss record now reads 13-4 for Valdosta High’s baseball team.
Valdosta improved to 13-4 on the season, defeating Tift County 6-3 Friday at Bazemore Field.
With the win, the Wildcats sit in a tie for second place in Region 1-AAAAA at 3-1 with Houston County, their opponent Friday.
“It’s good to be 3-1 in the region. It’s been a while,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said.
The Wildcats got six-hit pitching out of junior right-hander Tuzer Chism, and had multiple-run innings in the fifth and sixth to rally from an early 1-0 deficit.
“We played good baseball,” Shuman said. “We didn’t commit any errors. Tuzer pitched well. He only walked one batter. When you don’t commit any errors and only walk one batter, you have a good chance to win. We hit the ball, and scored some runs. It was a good effort.”
It was also a matchup of Shumans Tuesday. Valdosta’s head coach was coaching against his son, Scott, who transferred to Tift this year to be the Blue Devils’ quarterback. Scott Shuman, Tift County’s shortstop and cleanup hitter, hit a two-run homer against his dad’s team in the sixth, and went 2-for-3. But ultimately, it was Bart who won the game.
“It was hard,” Shuman the dad/coach admitted. “I want him to win all of his other games, except when they play us.”
Tift County jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first. With one out, Austin Smith, Charlie Edwards and Shuman had consecutive singles to load the bases, then Christian Glisson followed with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Smith to make it 1-0.
Tift’s lead held up until the bottom of the fourth, when the Wildcats tied it up. Daniel Fowler started the fourth with a single, then Will Flail hit a slow roller through a hole in the infield for another single, putting runners at the corners. Will Welch grounded out to short, scoring Fowler.
Valdosta took the lead with three runs in the fifth. Earl Daniels reached on an error to start the inning, and was sacrificed to second by Zane Sirmans. Two batters later, Briggs Smotherman’s fly ball fell just in front of left fielder Israel Troupe, and Daniels scored to give Valdosta the lead. Then Fowler ripped a line drive that fell just inside the right field line and rolled into the corner. Smotherman scored, and Fowler wound up with a triple. Flail followed with another single just in front of Troupe, and Fowler crossed the plate to make it 4-1.
Scott Shuman put Tift back in the game in the top of the sixth, launching a two-run homer to left center, which made it 4-3.
But the Wildcats responded with a two-run bottom of the sixth. Leading off the inning, Brent Turner hit an easy ground ball to the pitcher, but was safe when the Blue Devils’ first baseman lost the ball in the sun and got hit in the thigh with the throw. Chism followed with a double into the gap in right center, putting runners on second and third. Daniels hit a long fly ball that was caught on the warning track, but courtesy runner Taylor Prain scored easily from third, making it 5-3. With two outs, courtesy runner Harrison West scored from second on another error for the Wildcats’ final run.
Chism allowed three runs on five hits, striking out three, in arguably his best outing of the season.
“That was big, getting pitching like that from Tuzer,” Shuman said.
At the plate, Fowler was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Flail was also 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Valdosta hosts Deerfield Beach (Fla.) at 6 p.m. today, then hosts Houston at 7 p.m. Friday.
Valdosta’s Briggs Smotherman is safe as he slides into second at the bottom of the first inning against Tift County.
The Valdosta Daily Times
Vikes down Valdosta, 8-7
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: April 8, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — When it’s Lowndes playing Valdosta on the baseball diamond, just about anything can happen.
Including a rally from a 6-0 deficit, which is just what Lowndes did Friday night at Noel George Field.
Lowndes overcame a 6-0 fourth-inning deficit to defeat archrival Valdosta 8-7 Friday.
“It was a good ballgame,” Lowndes head coach Danny Redshaw said. “Our kids just believed. We played hard, and didn’t quit. They made a couple of mistakes at the end, and we took advantage of it.”
It was a tale of two games. The first half of the game was all Valdosta, as the Wildcats climbed out to a 6-0 lead. The second half was dominated by Lowndes, and in the end, the Vikings wound up with one more run on the scoreboard.
“It’s tough losing a game like this,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “But our kids played hard, and did a good job. We got 16 hits and scored seven runs. That’s pretty good. We just made a couple of mistakes in the sixth, and when you do that against a team like Lowndes, they can hurt you. But I’m proud of our effort.”
Valdosta came out of the gates on fire.
Ryan Danbury led off the game by lining a shot to the wall in right center for a double. Briggs Smotherman followed with a single, putting runners on the corners. That brought Daniel Fowler to the plate.
Fowler jumped on a Harper fastball, and ripped the ball to deep right center field, easily scoring Danbury. When Smotherman tried to go to third, right fielder Josh Purvis tried to throw him out. But the ball hit off the third baseman’s glove, and ricocheted into the dugout. Smotherman was awarded home, as was Fowler, making it 3-0 Wildcats.
The Wildcats added to their lead with two runs in the third. After Will Flail and Will Welch lined singles to left center, Purvis, a left-hander, was brought in to relieve. Purvis retired the next hitter, but Chism followed with a single to right on a full count, scoring Flail. Earl Daniels’ single to left brought home Welch, making it 5-0.
“We played tentative the first few innings, and Valdosta had a lot to do with that,” Redshaw said. “They were impressive. They’re a good ballclub.”
Danbury got Valdosta another run in the fourth. The speedy leadoff hitter beat out an infield single to start the inning. He then stole second, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on another one, making it 6-0.
But Lowndes wasn’t dead yet. Not even close.
The Vikings jumped right back into the game with a four-run fourth. JonMichael Redding led off the inning with a single to center. Harper walked. Randy J. Williams followed with a single back through the box, scoring Redding. Jarrod Pass followed with a single to left, bringing in Harper. Then John Simpson ripped a double the opposite way, into the right field corner. Courtesy runner Chase Prine and Pass crossed the plate, making it a 6-4 game.
But Flail escaped the jam with a strikeout, a popup to first and a line drive right at Smotherman to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, with a full count, Redding tattooed a fastball over the Colson Business Systems sign in left center, cutting Valdosta’s lead to 6-5.
Valdosta came back with a run in the sixth. Fowler opened the inning with an infield single, and stole second and third. With two outs, Turner had a potential home run sail foul, then had a potential double fall just outside the line. But two pitches later, he lined a single into right, and Fowler trotted home to make it 7-5 Wildcats.
Then came the fateful, game-deciding bottom of the sixth. With two outs and Simpson on third, Chris Mederos hit a chopper toward third, but at the last second, it hit the dirt, and bounced high over the head of third baseman Taylor Prain, scoring Bragg to make it 7-6.
Then things got crazy.
Pridgen, the ninth hitter, lined a shot just past first base. The ball went to the fence, and Redshaw sent courtesy runner Josh Reeves for the plate. Halfway home, Reeves stumbled and fell, but got up quickly. The throw came in, and Reeves backpedaled. But the ball got away, and Reeves scored.
Pridgen also tried to run home, but was tagged out by Turner. Except that the umpires called time, and Pridgen was sent back to third. That would prove to be huge. Spriggs walked, then two pitches into Redding’s at-bat, he tried to steal second. The ball went into center field. Pridgen raced home with the game-winning run.
Mederos got his second win of the week, pitching the final two innings. At the plate for Lowndes, Redding was 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored, Simpson was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs, and Mederos was also 2-for-3.
For Valdosta, who had 16 hits, Danbury was 3-for-5 with two runs, Smotherman was 2-for-5, Fowler was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, Flail was 2-for-4 with a run, and Turner and Daniels were both 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Valdosta defeats Packers, now 2-0
Author: Wayne Grandy
Publication Date: April 5, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
MOULTRIE — Getting down early to Tift County last Friday in its Region 1-AAAAA opener proved no problem for the Colquitt County baseball team, which rallied from an 8-1 deficit to win 15-14.
But there was no comeback for the Packers on Tuesday at Ike Aultman Field against Valdosta.
Valdosta scored three runs in the top of the first and went on to a 7-2 victory.
The Wildcats’ victory, combined with Lowndes High’s 12-2, five-inning victory over Coffee on Tuesday, sets up a meeting of the only two unbeaten region teams on Friday at Noel George Field.
Valdosta needed a seventh-inning home run from Will Welch to beat Coffee 4-3 on Friday, but needed no late-game heroics against the Packers.
The Wildcats also scored three runs in the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh to run their overall record to 12-2.
Valdosta reached Colquitt County starter Chance Pitts and reliever Matt Weaver for 10 hits, but Pitts has pitched in better luck than he did on Tuesday.
After retiring the first batter of the game, Pitts gave up five straight hits, although a run-scoring double off the center field fence by Will Flail was the only ball that could be considered well-hit.
“They hit some bleeders off Chance,” Packers coach Jerry Croft said. “I thought he did a good job.”
After the fifth hit in the inning, Pitts got an inning-ending double play, then held the Wildcats scoreless over the next four innings.
In the sixth, Pitts walked his first batter, then gave up a run-scoring double to Welch. After Brent Turner sacrificed Welch to third, Croft sent Weaver to the mound. Weaver got a ground ball for the second out, but Earl Daniels following with a run-scoring single. Daniels then stole second and third and scored on an error.
The final Valdosta run scored in the seventh when Briggs Smotherman reached on an infield hit, stole second and scored all the way from second on Daniel Fowler’s ground out to short.
Fowler started for the Wildcats and retired the first nine Colquitt County batters.
The Packers threatened in the fourth when Andrew Wallace walked and Carter Jones singled to open the inning. But after Sam Heath grounded out, Pitts lined into a double play to end the inning.
The first three Colquitt County batters singled to open the fifth inning and the Packers had another hit later in the inning, but had just one run to show for it.
Valdosta catcher Brent Turner picked one runner off second and later grabbed a swinging bunt and threw out another runner at second. Ironically, a Turner error led to the Packers’ other run in the seventh.
“We made made some mistakes on the base paths,” Croft said. “We’ve got to recognize situations and do a better job. We had our chances.”
Valdosta had 10 hits, including two each by Smotherman, Flail, Welch and Turner. Fowler and Daniels had the others. Flail and Welch each had a double.
Fowler went six innings to get the win. The right-hander allowed just one run and five hits. He walked one and struck out two. Flail pitched the seventh and gave up an unearned run and two hits.
After banging out 22 hits in the win over Tift County on Friday, the Packers managed just seven against Valdosta. Tyler Perryman and Scotty DeMott each had two. Weaver, Carter Jones and Javaris Jackson had the others.
Pitts pitched 5 1/3 innings and took the loss. He gave up five runs and eight hits, walking one and striking out three. Weaver got the final five outs, allowing two runs, only one of which was earned. He gave up two hits and hit a batter.
In the other Region 1-AAAAA game on Tuesday, Houston County dealt Tift County its second straight loss with a 10-0 five-inning victory. Tift had just two hits.
Welch delivers for ’Cats
Home run in 7th gives Valdosta 4-3 victory
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: March 31, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — When his team needed it most, Will Welch delivered.
Welch’s walk-off home run gave Valdosta a 4-3 win over Coffee in the teams’ first Region 1-AAAAA game.
Welch came up to lead off the bottom of the seventh, with the game tied 3-3. Coffee pitcher Ryan Whiddon had not thrown Welch a fastball all game, but when he threw him one in the seventh, Welch was ready. The senior left fielder ripped into the pitch, and crushed it over the fence in left center to end the game in dramatic fashion.
“Man, I’m still in shock,” Welch said after the game. “This was great. I’ve never done that before.
“When I hit it, I didn’t think it would go out. I thought I had a double, so I was running as hard as I could. I was ready for Brent Turner (the next batter) to drive me in. Then I saw the shortstop throw his glove down in frustration, and I realized it was gone.”
Valdosta had fallen behind 1-0, taken a 3-1 lead, then watched Coffee score twice in the fifth to tie the score.
Coffee pitcher Ryan Whiddon shut out the Wildcats for the first three innings, getting out of jams in the first two innings.
The Wildcats finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Brent Turner started the inning with a line drive to right field, which fell out of the reach of Coffee’s right fielder for a double. Tuzer Chism singled to right, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Whiddon struck out Harrison West, who was trying to bunt, but hit ninth hitter Zane Sirmans in the back on a two-strike pitch, loading the bases. Whiddon got a strike out, but with two outs, Briggs Smotherman lined a single through the hole on the left side, and courtesy runner Thomas Lovett and Chism came home to score, giving Valdosta a 2-1 lead.
Then, leading off the fifth, Flail crushed a Whiddon pitch deep over the Super Sod sign in left field for a solo home run, making it 3-1.
The game was temporarily delayed after Flail’s home run because a fan suffered a seizure, and was being attended to by medical personnel from South Georgia Medical Center. Later in the inning, the home plate umpire walked right into the bat of a hitter who was taken a practice swing, and fell hard to the ground, delaying the game again for about 15 minutes. The umpire was taken to SGMC, and did not return.
Coffee came back to tie the score in the sixth. Michael Swinson led off with a single. Then Carter singled to right, and Swinson took third. When the right fielder threw the ball well past the cutoff man, Swinson took off for home, and scored to make it 3-2. Brett Carter took second on the play, and scored on Jake Gower’s single, tying the score.
That set the stage for Welch in the seventh.
Coffee took an early 1-0 lead with a first-inning run. With one out, singles by Carter and Jamaal Smith put two men on, then Gower singled to right, scoring Carter.
Flail pitched a complete game for Valdosta, allowing seven hits and striking out four. Turner was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, while Smotherman had two RBIs.
Valdosta pitcher Will Flail throws a pitch during the Wildcats’ 4-3 victory over Coffee Friday night at Bazemore Field. Flail was the winning pitcher.
Tiffany Farrow/ The Valdosta Daily Times
Wildcats fall to Lions
Valdosta loses only second game of season
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: March 30, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — If not for the Tallahassee schools, Valdosta High would be undefeated in baseball.
Valdosta lost only its second game of the season, 4-3, to Tallahassee Leon Thursday at Bazemore Field. The loss makes Valdosta 10-2, with the only losses coming to Leon and to Lincoln on March 11.
“They’re good programs. That’s why we like playing them,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We lost to a good baseball team. We didn’t play bad, we played hard.
“We made a couple of critical mistakes, and against a good baseball team, that will get you beat. And we only drew one walk.”
Most of Leon’s offense came in a three-run fourth inning, which broke a 1-1 tie. The Lions had a man on first and two outs when Jordan Hoffman drew a walk. Robert Gwaltney followed with an RBI single to right field, giving Leon a 2-1 lead. After a wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third, Marshall Lewis ripped a Tuzer Chism fastball to deep left center field. The ball landed just short of the fence, and Hoffman and Gwaltney came home to make it 4-1 Lions.
Valdosta came back with a run in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Will Flail doubled to the fence in right center field. Will Welch followed with a seeing-eye single between third base and shortstop, driving home Flail to make it 4-2.
The Wildcats made it 4-3 with another run in the fifth. Daniel Fowler started the inning with an infield single, then moved to second on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball. One out later, Zane Sirmans beat out an infield single, and Fowler crossed the plate.
Valdosta had its chance to tie the score in the seventh. Sirmans lined a one-out double to right, and took third on Ryan Danbury’s ground out. Briggs Smotherman drew a base on balls, bringing up Flail, one of the team’s leading hitters, to the plate. Flail battled reliever Mike Armistead, fouling off several pitches, but eventually Armistead got Flail to fly out to left.
“We had some chances. We just came up short,” Shuman said.
Valdosta took a 1-0 lead with a first-inning run. Danbury led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Smotherman’s ground out.
Leon tied the score in the third. The Lions loaded the bases with no outs. Chism induced a ground ball back to the mound, then started a 1-2-3 double play. But then he uncorked a wild pitch, and Gwaltney raced for the plate. Catcher Brent Turner threw to Chism, who blocked the plate with his leg. The throw was in time, but when Gwaltney slid into him, the ball came loose, and the run scored.
The only Valdosta hitter with multiple hits was Sirmans, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Chism pitched a complete game, giving up four runs, three earned, and just three hits, and took the loss. Mark McLeod was the winning pitcher, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out four. Armistead got the save.
Valdosta must quickly regroup, because tonight the Region 1-AAAAA season starts. The Wildcats host Coffee at 6 p.m.
“Those (region) games are big. That’s for the playoffs,” Shuman said.
Valdosta first baseman Zane Sirmans (19) watches after hitting a pop fly Thursday against Leon. Sirmans was 2-for-3 with an RBI in the Wildcats’ 4-3 loss. The Valdosta Daily Times
Wildcats improve to 10-1
Valdosta High posts 11-3 win over Newton
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: March 26, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Make that 10-1 for Valdosta High’s baseball team.
Valdosta improved to 10-1 with an 11-3 victory over Newton Friday night at Bazemore Field. The Wildcats used a six-run second inning and a three-run fourth to pull away from the Rams.
“We had a lot of guys hit the ball tonight,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We put the ball in play, and scored some runs. Tuzer (Chism) pitched well. I didn’t like the fact that we made some errors, but we’ll work on that.
“It’s always nice to win. It’s good to be 10-1, but we still have to keep working and getting better.”
Newton scored runs in the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead. Then the Wildcats exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second.
The bottom of the second started with Brent Turner reaching on an error by the third baseman. Tuzer Chism was hit by a pitch, then Zane Sirmans walked to load the bases. Mark Northcutt followed with a single through the hole, scoring courtesy runner Harrison West. Then Taylor Prain lined a double just inside the third base bag, and Chism and Sirmans came home to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead. One out later, Earl Daniels’ single scored both Northcutt and Prain. Will Welch followed with a double down the left field line, and after Will Flail was intentionally walked to load the bases, Turner lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Daniels to make it 6-2.
The Wildcats put three more runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth, making it 9-2. The inning started innocently enough, with a strike out and a fly out to center. But Turner singled to center. Then Chism ripped a long fly ball that disappeared over the right-center field fence for a two-run homer, his first of the season. Sirmans and Ryan Danbury followed with back-to-back doubles, scoring Valdosta’s ninth run of the game.
The Wildcats finished off a strong offensive performance with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Thomas Lovett walked and Danbury reached on an error. Galen Smith singled, loading the bases. Mudassar Tarar came up to pinch hit, and drew a bases-loaded walk, forcing in a run. Daniels grounded to the second baseman for a 4-6 putout, but beat the throw to first, and another run crossed the plate to make it 11-2.
“Our guys hit the ball tonight,” Shuman said. “We also let some (reserves) play, and they hit the ball.”
Newton scored a run in the top of the seventh, when Brent Durand lined a two-out single to center, scoring Chris Boyd. But Flail fired a bullet to the plate, and Turner tagged out another runner for the final out. For Valdosta, Welch went 3-for-5. Prain was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run, Northcutt was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run, and Sirmans was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Daniels had three RBI. Chism drove in two runs, and was the winning pitcher, allowing two runs in four innings.
Valdosta hosts Leon next Thursday, then begins the Region 1-AAAAA season against Coffee on Friday.
Valdosta High pitcher Tuzer Chism throws a pitch during the Wildcats’ 11-3 victory over Newton Friday at Bazemore Field.
Tiffany Farrow/ The Valdosta Daily Times
Wildcats dominate Ware
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: March 21, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Valdosta High dominated the first five innings Tuesday night en route to a 9-5 victory over Ware County.
The game was not as close as the final score indicated. Valdosta built a commanding 9-0 lead in the first five innings, then after the Wildcats put in some of their reserves, Ware scored five late runs to make the final score respectable.
“We had a good night,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “A lot of guys hit the ball. Briggs Smotherman had a good game. Ryan Danbury and Will Flail hit the ball well. Tuzer and Earl Daniels had big hits. And Will Flail pitched a great game on the mound. We played a good game.”
Valdosta improves to 9-1 with the win.
It took Valdosta just one inning to take command Tuesday. The Wildcats put four runs on the board in the first, and Ware never got any closer the rest of the game.
“It always helps to score some runs early,” Shuman said.
Danbury and Smotherman started the game with singles. One out later, Flail singled home Danbury, making it 1-0. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Tuzer Chism ripped into a pitch from Ware starter Corey Barefield, and sent it off of the Cross Cut Lawn Care sign in right center field. Smotherman, Flail and Harrison West all scored, giving the Wildcats a 4-0 lead.
The lead remained 4-0 until Valdosta exploded for five more runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Brent Turner started the fourth with a single. Then Daniels crushed a triple to the fence in left center, scoring West, who was running for Turner. Daniels was tagged out in a rundown after taking off on Taylor Prain’s ground ball. But Danbury followed with an RBI single, stole second, and took third on a wild pitch. Smotherman lined a double into right center, scoring Danbury, then Daniel Fowler followed with an RBI single to right, plating Smotherman and making it 8-0. Two wild pitches brought Fowler home for a 9-0 lead.
Flail had shut Ware down all game. The senior right-hander allowed a single to Kager Moody to start the game, then retired nine straight batters. The first two runners had reached in the fourth, but Flail got a 6-4-3 double play and a fly out to right to keep Ware scoreless.
But Shuman had planned all along to give all four of his main pitchers some time on the mound Tuesday, and with the Wildcats leading 9-0, he pulled Flail after four innings.
“Will pitched great. But I wanted to let all the guys pitch some tonight,” Shuman said. “I hadn’t planned on throwing him (four innings), but he was throwing so well that I left him in.”
Danbury pitched a scoreless fifth, then Fowler went 1.1 innings, and Chism got the final two outs. Shuman also let several reserve players play in the field.
Ware finally got on the board in the sixth. After an error and a hit-by-pitch to start the inning, Adam Craft ripped a two-run double to right-center, making it 9-2. Travis McDowell blasted a three-run homer in the seventh to make the final score 9-5.
At the plate for Valdosta, Smotherman and Danbury each had two hits, scored two runs and had an RBI. Flail was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, and Chism drove in three runs.
The Wildcats host Newton on Friday.
Valdosta High center fielder Taylor Prain (22) connects witha pitch during the fourth inning Tuesday night at Bazemore Field. Prain and the Wildcats defeated Ware County 9-5 Tuesday.
The Valdosta Daily Times
Wildcats improve to 8-1
Valdosta High posts 9-6 victory over Bartram Trail Friday night
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: March 18, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Valdosta High’s baseball team improved to 8-1 with a 9-6 victory over Bartram Trail Friday night at Bazemore Field.
Bartram Trail took early leads of 3-0 and 6-4, but the Wildcats quickly made both leads disappear. Then they dominated the final four innings to earn the win.
“It was a good win,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We scored some runs, got some big hits with runners on. We didn’t strike out much, we played good defense, for the most part. I thought several guys hit the ball well tonight. I was pleased.
“It’s nice to be 8-1. But we’ve still got a lot of baseball left.”
Bartram Trail got on the board first, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Patrick Metcalf had an RBI double to left, Kyle Parker followed with an RBI single to center, then three batters later, Cullen Mahan’s bloop single plated another run.
But Valdosta responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Bartram Trail left-hander Travis DeBee walked Briggs Smotherman, Daniel Fowler and Will Welch, loading the bases with two outs. Then Brent Turner drew a bases-loaded walk, forcing in a run. Tuzer Chism followed with a line drive single to left center, and Fowler and Welch crossed the plate to tie the score, 3-3.
The Wildcats loaded the bases again in the second, then Welch drew a bases-loaded walk, making it 4-3 VHS.
But the Bears came right back with three runs in the top of the third. Parker led off the inning with a home run over the 350-foot sign in right center. Then the Bears loaded the bases on two singles and an error. Mike Lombardo’s infield single scored Jarrod Dodds, then an error allowed two more runs to score, and Bartram Trail took a 6-4 lead.
The Wildcats shot right back with two runs, tying the score again. With one out, Earl Daniels singled, was sacrificed to second, and took third on Danbury’s infield single. Then Smotherman blasted a triple to deep right center, scoring Daniels and Danbury, and making it 6-6.
Valdosta took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Will Flail and Welch reached base to start the inning, then two wild pitches brought Flail home. Then Chism lined an RBI single over the shortstop’s head, making it 8-6.
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the fifth. Smotherman singled with one out, and when the shortstop’s throw hit him in the foot and bounced away, he took second. The junior second baseman moved up to third on a passed ball. Then Shuman called for the suicide squeeze, and Fowler laid it down perfectly. Smotherman crossed the plate, making it 9-6.
Fowler took care of the rest on the mound. The senior right-hander pitched four scoreless innings in relief, struck out five of the first six batters he faced, and earned the win. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth by getting a groundout to short, ending Bartram Trail’s last major threat.
At the plate, Smotherman was 3-for-3, scored two runs, and drove in two more for Valdosta. Chism was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Welch was 2-for-2 with two runs.
“Briggs Smotherman hit the ball well,” Shuman said. “So did Tuzer, and Will Welch. Daniel Fowler pitched well for us in relief.”
Valdosta High baserunner Briggs Smotherman (1) slides back into first base after a Bertram pick-off attempt in the second inning Friday night. Bartram Trail first baseman Cullen Mahan waits for the ball. Valdosta won the game, 9-6.
Wildcats hit, pitch way to 8-3 win over Chiles
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: March 15, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Valdosta High’s baseball team won for the second time in 24 hours, defeating Chiles 8-3 Wednesday at Bazemore Field.
The Wildcats scored four runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and two more in the sixth, and those eight runs were more than enough for pitcher Will Flail.
“Another good win,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We had a four-run fourth inning, and got some big two-strike hits. Earl Daniels had a couple of hits, Tuzer (Chism) had a couple of RBIs. Ryan Danbury had a nice (RBI) triple. Several guys had hits tonight.”
Flail got the job done on the mound and at the plate. The senior pitched 6.2 innings, allowing just one earned run and five hits. Flail also had a hit and scored three runs.
“Will Flail was in total control,” Shuman said. “He had great command of all of his pitches.”
For three innings, the teams were scoreless. Valdosta had runners on base in each of the first three innings, but couldn’t get them across the plate.
But in the fourth, the Wildcats finally broke through.
Flail reached on an error to start the fourth. A hit and a 6-4-3 double play later, Tuzer Chism lined a single into center field, scoring Flail to make it 1-0. Earl Daniels followed with a double into the left field corner, scoring Chism. Daniels took third on the throw home, and scored when Taylor Prain beat out an infield single, making it 4-0 Wildcats.
“It was a pitcher’s duel for the first three innings, then we came in and got four runs in the fourth, and locked it up,” Flail said.
Chiles got two runs in the top of the fifth. The Timberwolves loaded the bases to start the inning, thanks to an infield single, an error and a base on balls. Melvin Ray followed with an RBI single to left. Dylan Tinsley grounded to short for a force at second, but beat the throw to first, and Jacob Dixon scored to make it 4-2.
But Valdosta came right back with its own two-run inning. The inning began with a Daniel Fowler single and a Flail double inside the right field line. Will Welch was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Brent Turner’s ground out scored Fowler. Then Chism hit a grounder to third. Tinsley, the third baseman, threw home, but Flail beat the throw, and Valdosta led 6-2.
The Wildcats added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. The first two batters were quickly retired, but then Fowler and Flail walked. Welch’s seeing-eye single got through the infield, and Fowler raced home to score. When the center fielder’s throw got by the catcher, Flail also scored, making it 8-2.
Chiles managed a run in the top of the seventh, as Gabe Peters’ two-out fly ball hit just inside the right field foul line, and Jake Shouppe scored from second. The Timberwolves loaded the bases, but Fowler, in relief, struck out the last batter to preserve the win.
Valdosta is now 7-1. The Wildcats host Bartram Trail at 6 p.m. Friday.
Wildcats thump Lake City Columbia, 14-4
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: March 14, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Valdosta’s baseball team was on the opposite end of a blowout this time. This result felt a lot better.
Valdosta rebounded from last Friday’s 15-0 loss to Lincoln by taking it out on another Florida team, Lake City Columbia, 14-4 in five innings Tuesday night at Bazemore Field.
The Wildcats got at least one run from every spot in the lineup, and pounded out 11 hits in just four innings. And pitcher Ryan Danbury, grateful for the run support, shut down the Tigers.
“I think we did it all well,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We threw strikes. Ryan Danbury stayed ahead in the count. We put the ball in play. We ran the bases well. We played good defense. When we do that, we’re going to be in the game.”
The rout began in the bottom of the first inning. Danbury led off with an infield single and stole second. Then after Briggs Smotherman walked, Danbury stole third and came home when the catcher threw the ball into left field. The throw back into the infield was bad, too, and Smotherman raced home to score, making it 2-1. It was a sign of things to come.
With one out and Will Flail on first, Will Welch hit a low line drive off the field umpire for a hit. Brent Turner followed with an RBI single. Three batters later, Taylor Prain’s RBI single made it 5-1 Wildcats.
Valdosta’s offensive onslaught continued in the second inning. Smotherman and Daniel Fowler walked to start the inning, then Flail lined an RBI double into the left field corner. Two batters later, Turner singled just inside the left field line, and that scored Fowler and Flail, making it 8-1. An Earl Daniels RBI single made it 9-1.
Danbury’s sacrifice fly in the third scored Prain to make it 10-1.
Valdosta finished off the rout by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Zane Sirmans and Daniels started the inning with infield singles, then Prain walked to load the bases. Danbury walked to force in a run, then Smotherman followed with an RBI single to left. Fowler drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 13-1, and Andrew Moore completed the scoring with an RBI single.
Columbia scored a run in the first inning, after a misjudged fly ball became an RBI single. Columbia scored its other three runs in the fifth, while most of Valdosta’s starters were watching from the dugout.
Smotherman went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Turner was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Daniels was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Flail had an RBI and two runs. Danbury had two RBIs and three stolen bases, and on the mound, held Columbia to a run and four hits in four innings, and struck out four.
Wildcats roll on to fifth straight victory
Author: Bryan Fazio
Publication Date: March 9, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Win No. 5 was supposed to be a chance for Valdosta to get some guys in off their bench and work on their baseball expertise.
A 12-0 win against Westover Wednesday didn’t last long enough for that to happen however as the game was stopped after five innings.
“We wanted to get guys in that didn’t play much,” Valdosta coach Bart Shuman said. “It’s hard in baseball to get the bench in. We wanted to play kids three or four innings.”
The Wildcats started the game aggressively on the base paths and sharp with the gloves in the first two innings.
The third inning saw two hits and pitching trouble by Westwood for two runs, before the Wildcats ended it in the bottom of the fourth, scoring eight of their 12 runs.
Ryan Danbury led the game off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Briggs Smotherman hit a sacrifice to bring in the games first score.
The Wildcats would continue to capitalize on wild pitches as they scored another in the second.
Valdosta kept pressure on the Westover defense by being aggressive on the base paths.
“Fortunately we were able to run the bases good and put pressure on the defense,” Shuman said.
Daniel Fowler reached base in the third as Westover’s centerfielder dropped a fly ball. Fowler then found homeplate on a Will Welch double.
Welch wouldn’t remain on second base long as the next batter Brent Turner hit an RBI single.
The Wildcats calmed down the aggressiveness on the basepaths in the fourth, but still poured on the runs.
Valdosta saw the batter’s box 14 times during the fifth scoring eight runs.
Smotherman started it off with a single, as Will Flail drove him in. Flail was knocked in by Welch before the Wildcats would load the bases and bring runners home with the efficiency of an assembly line.
Turner and Welch had two hits each, as Westwood errors and wild pitches led to a Wildcat victory.
The Wildcats next matchup will not come as easily as they face off against Tallahassee Lincoln Friday.
“That will be as good as any game we’ve played all year,” Shuman said.
Valdosta improves to 4-0
Wildcats defeat Thomas County Central 6-4
Author: Chris Walsh
Publication Date: March 8, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Valdosta High won its home opener and its first game of the Wildcat Invitational on Tuesday, 6-4 over the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets.
Valdosta (4-0) fell early in the game, but was able to come back after some impressive hitting. Tuzer Chism started the game for the Wildcats, but was replaced in the fourth by Daniel Fowler.
In the first inning, TCC scored one run on two hits, but left three men on base.
After dodging a bullet in the first, Chism pitched better in the second, holding TCC hitless. In the bottom of the inning, a fielder’s choice brought in the tying run and made the score 1-1.
In the third inning, both offenses came alive. The Jackets started the inning by jacking a homer, then brought in two more runs, one unearned.
Valdosta answered right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs to make it 4-4. Will Flail scored the first run after getting on with a single.
Fowler came on in relief for VHS in the fourth and shut out the Yellow Jackets the rest of the way.
In the bottom of the fourth, Briggs Smotherman singled and crossed home plate on a double by the next batter, Flail.
Fowler struck the first two batters up in the top of the fifth, then beaned him in the shoulder. But he forced a grounder to third to end the inning.
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. After an error, two fielder’s choices and a hit, Smotherman hit an RBI single to right field.
The Yellow Jackets went three up, three down in the top of the sixth. Soon after, the game was called because of time constraints.
Fowler got the win for the Wildcats in relief, allowing one hit and striking out three in three innings of work. Doug Pilcher, a Valdosta State football recruit, took the loss for Thomas County Central.
Flail went 2-for-2 with a single, a double and two walks, scored a run, and one RBI. Smotherman went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
The Wildcat Invitational will continue at Valdosta High School now through March 11.
Valdosta High School Wildcat pitcher Tuzer Chism throws one down the pipe during the teams game against Thomas County Central Tuesday evening.
Wildcats win Hornet Classic Tournament
Author: Christian Malone
christian.malone@gaflnews.com
Publication Date: March 4, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
ADEL — Valdosta High’s baseball team wrapped up the Dairy Queen Hornet Classic tournament title with a 6-3 victory over Worth County Friday afternoon.
The Wildcats won all three games they competed in this week at the tournament, played at Cook High’s Bruce Long Field. The tournament championship trophy was presented to the Wildcats after Friday’s win.
On Friday, Valdosta won the game by getting timely hits with runners in scoring position, playing near-flawless defense, and getting solid pitching for the third time this week.
“We got some timely hitting. We ran the bases well. I thought we played real good defense,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “When we pitch well, throw strikes, play good defense, and put some runs across, we’ve got a chance. We did that today.”
Will Flail swung the biggest bat for Valdosta against Worth, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run.
For the second time in three games this season, the Wildcats put runs on the board in the first inning. With one out, Briggs Smotherman singled and Daniel Fowler was hit by a pitch. The two runners moved up on a wild pitch, and two batters later, Flail lined a single up the middle to score them both.
Worth came right back in the bottom of the first, thanks to third baseman Daniel Henley. With one out, Henley blasted a two-run home run to left center, tying the score at 2-2.
Valdosta took the lead for good in the third. Smotherman led off the inning with a double to left. Smotherman advanced to third on a Will Welch single, then scored on Flail’s sacrifice fly, making it 3-2 Wildcats.
Valdosta padded its lead with two more runs in the fifth. The inning started with two quick VHS outs, but then Welch walked and stole second. Flail followed with a single to left, scoring Welch, and took second when the ball got by left fielder Scott Sumner. Tuzer Chism then went the opposite way with a pitch, and lined an RBI single to left center, scoring Flail to make it 5-2 Wildcats.
Valdosta scored its final run in the top of the sixth. Galen Smith singled with one out, and went all the way to third on an error. Smith and Smotherman then successfully executed a double steal, and Smith crossed the plate to make it 6-2.
Henley hit a solo home run in the seventh, his second longball of the day, to make the final score 6-3.
“We’re happy about winning, and being undefeated. But it’s a long season, and we’ve still got a long way to go,” Shuman said.
Shuman used three pitchers on Friday, wanting to get all three some work. Flail pitched the first two innings, and allowed Henley’s first home run, but after that, he retired the last five hitters he faced. Ryan Danbury (1-0) followed with two scoreless innings, striking out three batters. He was the winning pitcher. Fowler pitched the final three innings for the save, allowing only one hit (Henley’s second homer) and striking out two.
Smotherman had two hits for Valdosta, and scored two runs.
Valdosta hosts the Wildcat Invitational next week. The tournament starts Monday.
Wildcats defeat Packers in final innings
Valdosta scores all 12 runs in final two innings
Author: Christian Malone
christian.malone@gaflnews.com
Publication Date: March 1, 2006 The Valdosta Daily Times
ADEL — Valdosta High has always delighted in beating Colquitt County, and the Packers have always enjoyed beating VHS just as much (if not more).
On Wednesday, Valdosta was the one celebrating a victory over its longtime rival.
Valdosta scored three runs in the fifth inning, then exploded for nine in the sixth to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 12-2 rout of Colquitt Wednesday afternoon in the Hornet Classic, played at Bruce Long Field in Adel.
The win makes Valdosta 2-0 on the season.
Colquitt grabbed the early lead with runs in the first and second innings. In the first inning, the first three Packer hitters reached base, then Sam Heath came home when Chance Pitts grounded into a double play. Scotty DeMott opened the second inning with a double to left, then two batters later, scored on a sacrifice fly, making it 2-0 Packers.
The score remained 2-0 until the fifth inning. Colquitt southpaw Andrew Wallace shut out the Wildcats for the first four innings, but he tired in the fifth. Colquitt’s basketball season just ended last week, so Wallace, a power forward, hadn’t thrown a lot of innings leading up to Wednesday’s game.
With one out in the fifth, Ryan Danbury walked and Briggs Smotherman reached on an error. Then the two executed a double steal, and Danbury scored to make it 2-1. After Daniel Fowler walked, Colquitt went to the bullpen. Relief pitcher Matt Weaver retired the first batter, but Will Flail followed with a single to center. Smotherman scored, and Fowler raced for home. On a bang-bang play at the plate, Fowler slid in barely ahead of the tag for the go-ahead run, making it 3-2.
Then in the sixth, the wheels came off for Colquitt.
Tuzer Chism led off with a single, then Earl Daniels, Andrew Moore, Danbury and Smotherman all drew walks. The last two bases on balls forced in runs, and Valdosta took a 5-2 lead. Then Fowler launched a ball down the left field line, well over the fence, that was called foul. Fowler didn’t get the grand slam, but two pitches later, his sacrifice fly brought home Valdosta’s sixth run.
The next two batters, Will Welch and Flail, reached on errors, and two more runs came home, making it 8-2. Brent Turner singled to right center, making it 9-2. Chism’s RBI sacrifice fly made it 10-2, then two batters later, another error brought home another run. Two batters later, Smotherman drew another bases-loaded walk, making it 12-2.
The game was called after six innings, due to the mercy rule.
Chism started on the mound, and allowed two runs on three hits in four innings, striking out three. Fowler (1-0) relieved in the fifth, and shut out the Packers over the final two innings.
At the plate, Valdosta managed just five hits, but made the most out of them. Chism went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Flail and Smotherman had two RBI each. The Wildcats got at least one run from every spot in the lineup, and Danbury, Smotherman and Earl Daniels scored two runs apiece. Danbury stole three bases, giving him six steals in two games.
The Hornet Classic wraps up Friday, with Valdosta playing Worth County at 4:30 p.m. and Cook hosting Colquitt at 7 p.m.
John Smotherman/ Special to the Times
Valdosta High’s Daniel Fowler (33) slides for the plate as Colquitt County catcher Drew Shealy takes the throw in the fifth inning of Valdosta’s 12-2 win Wednesday in Adel. Fowler slid safely under the tag to score the go-ahead run for the Wildcats.
Valdosta opens season with 9-3 win over Cook
Author: Christian Malone
christian.malone@gaflnews.com
Publication Date: February 28, 2006The Valdosta Daily Times
ADEL — Valdosta High got its baseball season started on a good note, defeating Cook 9-3 Tuesday night at the Cook Invitational.
The Wildcats pounded out 12 hits and crossed the plate nine times Tuesday in their season opener, and gave the kind of effort a coach is usually pleased with.
“That was a good win for us, a real good one,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We put the ball in play. We ran the bases well. We played good defense. We got good pitching.
“We’ve got a good little squad. I like them. They’re working hard, and they played well tonight.”
Valdosta starter Will Flail (1-0) shut down Cook’s veteran lineup. Flail pitched four shutout innings, limiting the Hornets to four hits. He did not allow a runner past second, and struck out six batters. Flail also helped himself out at the plate, driving in three runs.
“We got real good pitching tonight from Will Flail,” Shuman said. “He did a good job.”
It took Valdosta just two batters to get on the board. Ryan Danbury opened the game with a single up the middle. Danbury then stole second, and took third when the throw went into center field. Briggs Smotherman followed with a single over the second baseman’s head, and Danbury trotted home to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Valdosta struck for two more runs in the second. Earl Daniels’ double put men on second and third with one out, then Tuzer Chism scored on Taylor Prain’s sacrifice fly. Danbury followed with an RBI single, scoring Daniels for a 3-0 lead.
The Wildcats continued to hit the ball in the third. Daniel Fowler and Will Welch started the inning with singles, then Flail’s fly ball was dropped. Fowler and Welch both raced around to score, Welch sliding in just ahead of the tag. Brent Turner followed with an RBI single to left, making it 6-0.
Cook got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Jonathan Surrency started the inning with a single, and took second on a pitch in the dirt. Will Wright then singled him home to make it 6-1.
But Valdosta responded with a run in the top of the sixth. Chism started the inning with a double to deep center field, then tried to steal third. The throw got away from the third baseman, and Chism raced home to make it 7-1.
Valdosta tacked on its final two runs in the seventh. With one out, Andrew Moore’s fly ball fell just inside the right field line for a single, then Galen Smith was hit by a pitch. Flail then lined a double to right center field, scoring Moore. Two batters later, Chism lined a single to left, plating Smith to make it 9-1.
Wright slammed a two-run home run to right for Cook in the bottom of the seventh, which made the final score 9-3. Wright was Cook’s best hitter, going 3-for-3 and driving in all three Hornet runs. “Cook’s a good team. They’re going to have a great season,” Shuman said.
At the plate for Valdosta, Danbury was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Chism was 2-for-3 with an RBI. For Cook, Cody Gooden was 3-for-4 and reached base all four times.
This was the second day of the Cook Invitational. The tournament continues today at Bruce Long Field, with Valdosta facing Colquitt County at 4 p.m. and Cook playing Worth at 6 p.m. The tournament culminates on Friday, when Valdosta plays Worth at 4:30 p.m. and Cook faces Colquitt at 7 p.m.
