2005 Game Summaries
’Cats Come Up Short, Once Again

Author: Christian Malone
christian.malone@gaflnews.com
Publication Date: 2005-05-07 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — An upset of Houston County would have been a fine ending to Valdosta High’s baseball season. But they fell just short.

Valdosta hung with the Bears for six scoreless innings, but an unearned run in the seventh gave Houston a 1-0 victory Friday at Bazemore Field.

Valdosta ends its season 13-12 (2-8 in Region 1-AAAAA).

“We had a good group of guys. They played just about as hard as they could,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We just couldn’t get over the hump.”

The loss seemed to be typical of the last half of Valdosta’s 2005 season: play well enough to just barely lose.

“That’s the fourth region game that we lost either in the last inning or extra innings,” Shuman said. “Those four games, and the Lowndes game (where Lowndes rallied from a 6-0 deficit to win 10-8), could have made a difference in our season. But you’ve got to be able to get the clutch hit, throw the clutch pitch, get the clutch play, and we just seem to not quite get that.”

Houston pitcher Brian Wilkerson is about as good as any pitcher in the region, and he pitched that way Friday. But Valdosta starter Scott Shuman matched him zero for zero in the first six innings, in arguably his best outing of the season.

Several times this season, Valdosta has caught a bad break in a key situation, and it happened again in the top of the seventh.

With one out, Houston’s Brad Jackson lined a single into center field. Valdosta center fielder Will Flail is one of Valdosta’s best players, but he overran the ball, and it got by him and rolled to the wall. Jackson made it all the way to third.

Houston tried a swinging suicide squeeze with Wilkerson, the next batter, but he fouled it off. But then he hit a soft chopper to third baseman Ryan Danbury, who fired home too late to catch Jackson. That was the only run of the ballgame.

Like most teams he’s faced, Valdosta could not do much against Wilkerson. The Bears’ ace allowed just four hits, two of them infield singles, and struck out five.

The closest Valdosta came to scoring was in the fifth, when Shuman ripped a pitch deep to left field. It looked like it might go out, but fell just short, and Shuman settled for a double. The next two hitters struck out and flied to right. No other runner reached second against Wilkerson.

Houston had its scoring chances, but Shuman kept making big pitches to escape jams. The Bears loaded the bases in the first, but Shuman escaped with a ground out to first. Houston also got runners on third in the fourth and sixth innings, only to have Shuman escape with another ground out each time. Shuman pitched six innings, allowing no runs on six hits, striking out two.

“Scott did a pretty good job. They hit the ball, but our defense played well behind him,” Coach Shuman said.

But given a break in the seventh, Houston capitalized.

The game was the final one for Valdosta’s four seniors: pitcher Drew Ruttinger, catcher/first baseman Chad Gordon, left fielder Brett Chism and outfielder Daniel Jefferson.

“It’s always hard to see the seniors go,” Coach Shuman said. “Those four guys are going to be successful in life, in whatever they do.

“We should have a good team next year. We’re bringing just about everybody back. We’ll get started again (in summer ball) in about two weeks.”
'Cats' Ruttinger Shuts Out Tift, Sends Coffee to the Playoffs

Author: The Valdosta Daily Times
Publication Date: 2005-05-04 The Valdosta Daily Times

The Valdosta Wildcats won’t be going to the state playoffs, but they made region rival Coffee very happy on Tuesday. Valdosta’s 7-0 win at Bazemore Field clinched a playoff spot for the Trojans, who lost 9-2 to Houston County.

The Wildcats (13-11, 2-7 in Region 1-AAAAA) celebrated their seniors Tuesday, and one of those four shined brightly.

Left-handed ace Drew Ruttinger pitched a one-hit shutout on just 66 pitches. He improved to 7-3 on the year and struck out three.

A two-run home run by Scott Shuman, one of five VHS hits, sealed the victory. The blast was Shuman’s seventh of the season and second in as many games. The ’Cats conclude their season on Friday at Bazemore Field at 7 p.m. against Houston, the region’s No. 2 seed.
Lowndes Lays Claim To Region Championship

Author: Anthony Gagliano
anthony.gagliano@gaflnews.com
Publication Date: 2005-04-30 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA –– Lowndes’ incredible region run continued at Valdosta’s expense on Friday.

The Vikings captured the 2005 Region 1-AAAAA championship with a 10-8 victory at Noel George Field, overcoming a 6-0 first-inning deficit in the process.

While the Vikings (16-5) improved to 8-0 in the region, the Wildcats mathematically eliminated themselves from the postseason.

“This game typified our region season,” Valdosta coach Bart Shuman said.

Actually, the ’Cats managed more offense than usual, running six home off Lowndes starter Brandon Waller in the first inning on four hits. In the first meeting, Waller tossed a three-hit shutout.

But, Jon Michael Redding came to the Vikings rescue. The junior right-hander relieved Waller in the first and went the rest of the way for the victory, putting Lowndes ahead for good, 9-7, with a bloop two-run single in the fifth.

It wasn’t easy though as two errors and a single allowed Valdosta to score one run in the seventh and put the tying run on base before Redding got a grounder to end the game.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Redding, who allowed four hits and one earned run in 6 1/3 innings. “I had to get him, and I was pretty much thinking, ‘Region championship. Region championship.’”

That was very much in doubt in the first as Scott Shuman’s two-run homer, his sixth of the season, helped propel Valdosta (12-10, 1-7 in region) to six runs, their season average for runs in a game. However, Shuman couldn’t hold that lead, going to at least three balls on each of the first six batters and walking three. Ray Meyers knocked in two with a single and John Simpson’s double bounced at the base of the fence in left-center. Meyers ran right through the stop sign at third and slid home safely thanks to an errant cutoff throw as two runs scored on the play and Lowndes cut the margin to 6-4.

Redding struck out the only batter he faced in the top of the first, then started tossing zeroes in the second, escaping a no-out bases loaded situation in that inning with a double play. Ryan Carpenter handed his team a 7-6 lead with a two-out, three-run homer in the fourth, the senior’s first this season. However, the Wildcats drew even in the fifth, converting a leadoff double by Will Flail into a run when he scored on a Meyers’ passed ball with two outs.

Meyers followed Jake Summers’ double in the fifth with a single on a perfectly placed hit-and-run play. Shuman returned to the mound to fan Jermel Demps, but Redding fisted a single just over second baseman Briggs Smotherman’s head into shallow right field to plate two runs and push his team ahead for good.

“He jammed me and I was praying, ‘God, let it go over his head.’”

In Region 1-AA, Cook continued its undefeated run, besting Brooks County 16-3. The Hornets are 9-0 in region and 16-5 overall going into Monday’s rainout makeup with Thomasville in Adel at 6 p.m.

On Friday, Justin Ray slammed his seventh home run of the season and went 3-for-4, scoring three times and driving in four. Matt Dobbins went 3-for-3, finishing a triple shy of the cycle and driving in three runs. He had a solo homer and Cody Gooden added a two-run blast in his 3-for-3 game. Gooden started and he combined with Jonathan Fulghum on a four-hitter, striking out six. Fulghum went 2-for-4 with two RBI.


Ray Meyers scores in the first inning as Valdosta pitcher Scott Shuman tried in vain to make a tag.
Patrick Warren/The Valdosta Daily Times
Cats Fall to Colquitt Co 6-5.

(No article printed)


Valdosta High's Daniel Jefferson beats the throw home during Wednesday's game game at Colquitt County. The Packers topped Valdosta 6-5.
John Mercer / The Moultrie Observer
These 'Cats Could Be Cursed

Author: Anthony Gagliano
Publication Date: 2005-04-23 The Valdosta Daily Times

By Anthony Gagliano
anthony.gagliano@gaflnews.com

VALDOSTA –– The scenario went exactly to form. The Wildcats intentionally walked Coffee’s Jamaal Smith to load the bases with two outs in the eighth. Brooks Waldron hit a slow bouncer right off the top of his bat toward first base.

Then, disaster struck.

The ball kicked off the lip of the grass and took a wicked bounce on first baseman Chad Gordon, nearly going over his head. He managed to get his hand on it, but the Trojans still scored two runs on the play and took a 6-4 lead. The next batter doubled to score another run, the second error of the inning plated one more and a single drove the final stake in the Wildcats’ hearts as the Trojans won 9-4 in extra innings.

“I’m really speechless,” said Gordon, one of four seniors on the team. “I knew I had it and I knew we’d be out of the inning. We’ve played good ball and we have a good team, but we’ve had no luck.”

More misfortune put Gordon in the game in the seventh as he relieved sophomore Tuzer Chism, who pulled a hamstring making a stretch on a throw to first and could miss the last two weeks of the season.

The loss means the whole team may soon experience the end of its season. The Wildcats (12-8) are last in the region at 1-5, while Coffee moved to 3-3 in 1-AAAAA.

“I think God is testing our character,” junior Scott Shuman said.

The offense has been trying the patience of the team all season and hit another low on Friday. The Wildcats managed just four hits in eight innings, but utilized them to the utmost. Chism struck out but reached via a wild pitch in the third, and Daniel Fowler drew a two-out walk. Sitting on a first-pitch fastball, Shuman connected with a three-run shot off Coffee starter Smith for his fifth homer of the season.

The Wildcats scored their only other run on balk after a hit batter and two walks.

Shuman started and allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings before pulling himself after striking out the leadoff man in the fifth. Ace Drew Ruttinger entered with a two-run lead, but Coffee tied the game with two runs in the sixth thanks to two Valdosta errors. Ruttinger allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings, but not a single one was earned because of four VHS errors.

“The errors were the key to the game,” Valdosta coach Bart Shuman said.
Valdosta Picks Up First Region Win

Author: Steve Carter
Publication Date: 2005-04-14 The Valdosta Daily Times

TIFTON — With 11 errors and only nine hits between the two teams, Wednesday night’s Tift County Blue Devils-Valdosta Wildcats game will not go down as a baseball masterpiece.

But, the Wildcats left the Devil Diamond happy as Valdosta got its first league win of the year, 3-2, over the Blue Devils.

After going two innings Tuesday in a game that was called due to rain, Tift County’s Austin Smith pitched a complete game for the Devils Wednesday. Even though he threw over 120 pitches, the junior did not allow an earned run, struck out four, walked five and allowed five hits.

“Austin pitched a good game,” Tift coach Chuck Beale said.

However, the Tift squad committed seven errors behind Smith.

“The errors were the difference in the ball game. They made the plays when they had to and we didn’t,” Beale said.

One of those plays came in the bottom of the seventh.

After Travis Johnson reached on an error and Tyce Moore singled, the two Tift runners advanced on a passed ball by Valdosta starter Drew Ruttinger.

With one out, Devil leadoff man Lee Caquelard then hit a pop up off of Valdosta reliever Will Flail into right field. The ball kept traveling and it forced Valdosta right fielder Daniel Fowler to make a sliding catch.

But, Johnson did not tag up on the play.

“We thought he would catch it easy and the right fielder has a good arm. We didn’t want to risk it,” Beale said.

Smith was the next batter and he hit a foul pop that Valdosta catcher Brent Turner made another sliding catch on to end the ball game.

While the ending was not what the Devils had hoped for, the beginning also did not go well for the Tift County team.

With one out in the top of the first, Valdosta’s Will Welch reached on an infield single. One out later and one wild pitch later, Tift third baseman Charlie Edwards misplayed a ball hit by Fowler that allowed Welch to score.

The score was still 1-0 in the top of the third when a scary moment happened for Tift County. Valdosta’s Scott Shuman hit a fly ball to right-center field. Johnson was playing center for Tift, while Ben Salter was in right. Both of the players went for the ball and collided. Johnson ended up making the catch, but Salter was injured on the play and did not return. According to reports, Salter was hit in the stomach and was also having problems with blurred vision.

In the bottom of the inning, Tift’s John McBrayer led off with the Devils’ first hit off of Ruttinger. He ended up going to second on a walk to Johnson and then on to third when a Moore fielders choice loaded the bases.

One out later, McBrayer then scored on a sacrifice fly by Smith.

That run was the only earned run in the contest as Ruttinger also pitched well. He went six-and-a-third innings, striking out three and walking two.

A single by Valdosta’s Briggs Smotherman scored Brett Chism in the top of the fourth to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Wildcats. Chism had reached on an error by Edwards.

Tift answered in the bottom of the inning. The Devils’ Israel Troupe led off the frame with a deep fly ball to center. Flail crashed into the fence, but held on to the ball for the out.

Christian Glisson then had a one out single. Ross Fulghum followed with a ground ball to Smotherman at third, who threw to Welch at second.

Glisson slid hard into Welch that forced a bad throw that went into the dugout. That allowed Fulghum to go to second on the play.

McBrayer then singled to right. Fulghum went home on the play and it appeared he kicked the ball out of the hand of Turner at the plate which allowed the Tift runner to score.

In the top of the fifth, Fowler reached on an error by Tift shortstop Jacob Stinson. Fowler then later closed out the game’s scoring on an sacrifice fly off the bat of Turner.

McBrayer had two of the four hits in the game for the Devils, while Glisson and Moore each added one hit.

Welch was 2-for-4 for the Wildcats. Tift and Valdosta are now each 1-3 in the league standings and both teams are now 11-5 overall.

“We have still got to take care of ourselves,” Beale said of his team’s standing in the league.


Valdosta High's Daniel Fowler leaps back to first ahead of the throw by Tift County pitcher Austin Smith Wednesday in Tifton. Valdosta won 3-2.
JD Sumner/The Tifton Gazette
’Cats slump continues

Author: The Valdosta Daily Times
Publication Date: 2005-04-10

VALDOSTA –– After a 10-2 start, Valdosta High hasn’t won since and reasons for why that’s happened are hard to find for head coach Bart Shuman.

The Wildcats lost for the fourth consecutive time Saturday at Bazemore Field, struggling at the plate in a 3-1 loss to Tallahassee Leon.

“We’re just going through a tough time right now and I don’t know the answer to it,” Shuman said.

The Wildcats (10-6) got six solid innings of pitching from starter Will Flail, but Valdosta managed just three hits and one run off Lions’ starter Mark McLeod (1-3), who matched Flail’s effort en route to his first win of season.

Locked in a scoreless tie through three innings, Flail ran into trouble in the fourth after a leadoff single by Leon’s Todd Stannard and a double down the left field line by designated hitter Chris Sands (2-for-2) with no outs.

“Coach Shuman always tells us to stay cool, calm and composed,” said Flail, who threw 84 pitches. “I tried to get some strikeouts and let my defense work for me.”

Flail (2-3) struck out the next two batters using a nasty curveball and a deceptive change-up, but Leon shortstop Dan Bennett (1-for-2, two RBIs) came through with a clutch two-out single to center that scored Stannard and Sands to give the Lions (10-10) a 2-0 lead.

“I gave him a low curveball and he got a good piece of it,” Flail said of Bennett’s at-bat. “That’s how the ball rolls sometimes.”

Thanks to McLeod that would be all Leon would need, but Valdosta did come back with a run of its own in the bottom of the fourth on Brett Chism’s RBI single to left, scoring Daniel Fowler from second to cut the lead to 2-1.

McLeod allowed just two hits, one run, which was unearned, and struck out two while walking just one batter on 67 pitches through five innings.

“We’re just not putting men on base,” Shuman said after Valdosta came to bat just five times with runners in scoring position Saturday.

Flail was the hard luck loser after giving up five hits, three runs (two earned), striking out four and walking two.
Vikings blank Valdosta

Author: Anthony Gagliano
Publication Date: 2005-04-09 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA –– The master plan unfolded to perfection for Lowndes on Friday. Meanwhile, Valdosta is going back to the drawing board.

Lowndes coach Danny Redshaw tabbed junior Brandon Waller as the Vikings ace entering the season. However, he came into the cross-town matchup having pitched only 13 innings this season, fourth on the team.

The right-hander reaffirmed his coach’s confidence with a three-hit shutout against the Wildcats on Friday, not allowing a runner to reach third base as the Vikings thumped their rivals, 7-0. The Wildcats (10-5) slumped to 0-3 in Region 1-AAAAA, surrendering four unearned runs to spoil a solid outing from lefty Drew Ruttinger (4-2).

“We’re hitting a little bit of a slump, but all of us are confident we’re going to come back out of this,” Ruttinger said.

The Vikings (11-5) are brimming with confidence while sitting at the top of the region standings at 3-0. The team is ranked No. 4 in the state and has won six of its past seven games. After losing a controversial three-game set to state runner-up East Coweta a year ago, the Vikings feel primed to make a strong run at this year’s AAAAA championship.

The point would be hard to argue after watching Waller (3-0) stonewall the Wildcats for seven innings. He allowed a walk and an infield single in the first, then retired the side in order in three of the next four innings. He struck out six and walked two, throwing 99 pitches in his fifth start of the season.

“I don’t expect it,” said Waller of his three-hit shutout, “but all I need is to go out there and throw the best I can.”

However, his coach argued that the capacity crowd didn’t see Waller’s best yet.

“He didn’t have his good stuff (Friday), believe it or not,” Redshaw said. “Changeup wasn’t there, and his curveball is his best pitch. He probably didn’t throw four curveballs for strikes. But, he’s got such good movement on his fastball, he kept them off-balance.”

Ruttinger would have matched zeros with Waller, but a couple of errors deflated the ’Cats. After Waller singled with one out in the first, Corey Nichols lined a single to right that bounced under Daniel Fowler’s glove, allowing courtesy runner Jermel Demps to score all the way from first.

Nichols became a constant thorn to VHS, doubling home two runs in the fourth after first baseman Jim Martin dropped a pop-up that could have been the second out in the inning. After going 3-for-3 against Ruttinger, the Vikings’ left-handed DH lined a two-run double off reliever Scott Shuman in the sixth, driving home two more runs before scoring Lowndes’ seventh run on a wild pitch. Nichols, who is tied for the area lead in home runs with four, upped his average to .450 with 19 RBI in 16 games.

“It feels great because we were looking forward to this one, and we wanted a big win,” Nichols said.


Valdosta High’s Tuzer Chism fouls off a pitch during Friday’s Lowndes-Valdosta game at Bazemore Field. The Vikings beat Valdosta 7-0 to improve to 3-0 in region play.
Patrick Warren/ The Valdosta Daily TImes
VHS falls to 0-2 in region

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-04-06 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — Sherard Reynolds already owns a football scholarship to Valdosta State. Maybe he ought to think about playing baseball for the Blazers, too.

Reynolds shut out Valdosta High, leading his Colquitt County team to a 4-0 win Tuesday at Bazemore Field. Reynolds held the Wildcats to five hits, but only one in the final three innings. He also struck out 10 batters and went 2-for-4 at the plate. Reynolds is now 4-0, and his ERA will drop from the 0.95 it was coming into the game.

“Their pitcher did a great job,” Valdosta coach Bart Shuman said.

With the loss, Valdosta finds itself in last place in Region 1-AAAAA at 0-2, with less than three days to prepare for maybe the best team in the region, archrival Lowndes.

Shuman was not too pleased with his team’s performance.

“I don’t know what to say,” Shuman said. “We’ve gone 14 innings without scoring a run. How many runners did we leave on base in the first (four) innings? Seven runners left on base. We have to do better.”

Indeed, an inability to hit with runners on base played a big part in Valdosta’s loss, especially since five of those seven runners were left in scoring position. Four VHS errors didn’t help, either.

In the first inning, Valdosta had Will Welch on third with one out. But Scott Shuman struck out, taking a big cut at a pitch in the dirt on the third strike, and Daniel Fowler grounded out. The Wildcats had the bases loaded with one out in the third, but Will Flail struck out and Brent Turner grounded out to third. In the fourth, a one-out Tuzer Chism double to the fence gave VHS another scoring chance, but it couldn’t get him across, either. Reynolds retired 11 of the last 13 batters he faced.

Flail was almost as strong as Reynolds, allowing only a three-run second inning.

Colquitt got all the runs it would need in the second. With two men on and one out, Sam Heath’s single to center scored Carter Jones. Two batters later, Marshall Faircloth grounded to shortstop for a potential double play, but after tagging second, Scott Shuman’s throw sailed well wide of first, and Andrew Wallace and Heath came in to score, making it 3-0.

Flail shut the Packers down after that, then gave way to Shuman in the sixth. Drew Ruttinger, three days after a gutsy 9 1-3 inning, 136-pitch outing Saturday, got the last two outs.

Tuzer Chism was the only Wildcat with more than one hit, going 2-for-3 with a double.


Valdosta High first baseman Jim Martin catches a pick-off throw to first as Colquitt County’s Carter Jones slides back safely Tuesday at Bazemore Field. Coffee defeated Valdosta 4-0.
Patrick Warren/ The Valdosta Daily Times
Coffee 4, Valdosta 3, 10 inning

Author: The Valdosta Daily Times
Publication Date: 2005-04-03

In Douglas, Valdosta High fell 4-3 in 10 innings to Coffee County Saturday to open the region slate.

The Wildcats (10-3, 0-1 region) took an early 3-0 lead, highlighted by Will Flail’s two-run double in the first inning.

Coffee (7-6, 1-0 region) crawled back into it with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth and then pulled out the win in extras on Wesley Adams’ run-scoring single in the 10th off Valdosta reliever Scott Shuman.

“We beat the unbeatable,” Trojans’ head coach Frank Vashaw joked.

Valdosta starting pitcher Drew Ruttinger (5-1) ‘pitched great’ according to coach Bart Shuman, but suffered his first loss of the season after throwing nine innings.
VHS Surpasses '04 Win Total

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-31 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — It’s taken just 12 baseball games for Valdosta High to exceed its win total from last year.

Valdosta High won nine baseball games all of last year. Wednesday, the Wildcats’ 11-5 victory over Camden County improved their record to 10-2.

“It was a good win,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We got good pitching, and played good defense. We put the bat on the ball. This was a good tune-up for the start of the region (Friday at Coffee).”

For five innings Wednesday, it looked like this win would go to Camden. Then came the bottom of the sixth.

The sixth inning began with Camden leading 3-1. It ended with Valdosta on top 11-3.

“We’d been hitting the ball all game,” Shuman said. “They’d just been right at people. It was one of those games where we just couldn’t get anything started with the bats. Then those hits finally started coming, and everybody started hitting the ball. We put the bat on the ball.”

Scott Shuman started the inning with a double. One out later, Will Flail lined a single to right, putting runners on the corners. Flail tried to steal second, and when catcher Clint Clark’s throw sailed into center field, Shuman trotted home. When Flail tried to take third, center fielder Vince Smith fired towards third, but his throw flew into the dugout, and Flail was awarded home, tying the score.

Brett Chism doubled to right center and Brent Turner singled to left and stole second, putting runners at second and third. Then pinch hitter Drew Ruttinger lined a single into right field, scoring Chism and courtesy runner Daniel Jefferson, to make it 5-3. Two batters later, Will Welch lined a single through the right side, plating Jim Martin. Briggs Smotherman followed with an RBI single to left, scoring Tuzer Chism. A Daniel Fowler single to center scored Welch and made it 8-3.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Brett Chism again ripped into a pitch, and this time sent it into the gap in left center. Smotherman, Shuman and Fowler all came in to score, and the scoreboard read 11-3.

When the dust settled, the Wildcats had scored 10 runs on nine hits in the sixth. This from a team that had been held to one run on two hits up to that point.

Camden took an early 2-0 lead with two second-inning runs. A walk and two hits loaded the bases. After a force out at home, Tyler Snellgrove was sent up to pinch hit, and delivered a two run double just inside the line in right field.

Valdosta came back with a run in the bottom of the inning. After one-out walks to Flail and Brett Chism, Camden pitcher Ryan Barber tried to pick off Chism, but threw the ball away. Flail raced for the plate, and beat the throw home to make it 2-1.

The Wildcats blew a great scoring chance in the third, putting runners on second and third with no outs, but failing to score.

Camden extended its lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth, when Derek Hurdle singled home Tyler Shaw from second. Then came Valdosta’s explosion in the bottom of the inning.

For Valdosta, Brett Chism was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI. Welch and Smotherman each had two hits, scored a run and had an RBI. Flail (3-1) got the win in relief.

For Camden, Josh Joiner and Terrance Grooms had two hits apiece.


Valdosta High catcher Brent Turner catches a throw home during the Wildcats’ 11-5 win over Camden County Thursday at Bazemore Field.
Patrick Warren/ The Valdosta Daily Times
Valdosta's Unbeatable Ace

Author: Anthony Gagliano
Publication Date: 2005-03-29 The Valdosta Daily Times

By Anthony Gagliano
anthony.gagliano@gaflnews.com

VALDOSTA –– The Wildcats have found their ace in left-hander Drew Ruttinger. The senior hurled four shutout innings on Monday, as Valdosta thrashed Thomasville 10-0 in game shortened to 4 1/2 innings by the mercy rule.

Heavy rains forced the game to be moved from Thomasville, allowing the Wildcat fans to get another good look at Ruttinger. Thanks to a pair of double plays, he faced the minimum nine batters through three innings. He walked a batter in the fourth and gave up his second hit of the game to the next man before posting back-to-back strikeouts to escape with men on second and third.

“He’s got so many pitches, and he hits his spots on the dot,” shortstop Scott Shuman said.

Ruttinger flashed that control early and often, needing just 26 pitches to get through the first three innings. He walked the Bulldogs’ leadoff batter, but recovered with some fancy defense, starting a 1-6-3 double play on a sacrifice bunt attempt. He threw just two balls in the second inning, retiring the side in order.

“Usually, (I throw) a first pitch fastball and I try to get ahead of as many batters as I can,” Ruttinger said. “Then, I work the corners.”

Ruttinger’s strategy fanned five men, and just three balls left the infield. He’s now 5-0 on the year and helped Valdosta (8-2) bounce back from a loss to Madison County (Fla.) on Friday.

“He’s a very calm and composed young man,” Valdosta coach Bart Shuman said. “He’s got five wins and he’s being very consistent right now with his outings.”

Run support came immediately as VHS scored three runs in the bottom of the first, including two-out RBI hits from Brett Chism and Ruttinger himself.

Thomasville had numerous chances to avoid its own undoing in the third inning. Two errors prolonged the inning and the Bulldogs still had a chance to escape without a run when pitcher Drew Garber’s pickoff attempt caught Jim Martin running to second. Martin dodged the shortstop’s tag, allowing courtesy runner Mark Northcutt to score from third. Will Welch singled home two runs, and Scott Shuman launched a three-run home run on his 17th birthday to make it a six-run inning and a 9-0 lead.

Briggs Smotherman supplied a pinch-hit double in the fourth for the necessary 10th run, bringing home Tuzer Chism, who worked around a leadoff walk in the fifth with a pair of strikeouts.

Valdosta cracked the GaSports.com Coaches’ Poll for the first time later Monday at No. 7, two places ahead of Lowndes. Four 1-AAAAA teams made the Top 10, led by No. 6 Colquitt County.
Cowboys Win Border Battle

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-26 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — Madison County apparently must enjoy heading north across the Georgia border and beating Valdosta High.

Frankie Carroll’s Cowboy football team has done it a couple of times. And Friday night, Terry Barrs’ Madison baseball team did it for the second straight year, defeating Valdosta 8-2.

“We played a good game,” Barrs said. “We hit the ball and scored some runs, and we beat a good baseball team. I’m proud of these guys.

“We always enjoy playing Valdosta. They’re a class baseball program. When we play them (in Madison), they always bring a lot of fans with them. Coach Shuman does a good job there.”

Madison got on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Lucas Rutherford opened the game with a walk, then was sacrificed to second. Brian Bass’ single moved Rutherford to third, and he scored on a wild pitch. Richie Sowell followed with a double to the gap in left center, and Bass came around to score, making it 2-0.

Valdosta came back and tied the score in the bottom of the first. Will Welch started the inning with a walk, then Briggs Smotherman singled through the hole into right. One out later, Daniel Fowler’s blooper to left fell in, loading the bases. Then Will Flail’s fly ball fell just out of the right fielder’s reach, and Welch and Smotherman came around to score, making it 2-2. The Wildcats had the bases loaded with only one out, and were primed to score more, but Madison pitcher Bruce Williams got out of the inning with a double play.

Williams allowed five batters to reach base in the first, but after that, he settled down. Valdosta had just four hits after that, and could not get another runner past second.

“Bruce had some trouble in the first, but after that, he came back and threw the ball well,” Barrs said. “They got those two runs in the first, but (our team) kept their composure, and came out and played well the rest of the game.”

Madison went ahead to stay in the third. Williams doubled to left, went to third on Bass’ groundout, and scored on a two-out wild pitch.

The Cowboys then put three more on the board in the fourth. Blake Sapp reached on an error, and wound up coming around on Williams’ one-out double to left center. Another error put runners on first and third, then Sowell ripped a double to left center. Sapp and Williams both scored, making it 6-2.

Madison padded its lead with two more runs in the seventh. With Williams on first, Bass’ shallow fly ball fell in front of a diving Fowler in right, then rolled to the fence. Williams scored, and Bass got to third. With two outs, former Wildcat Freddie Blalock beat out an infield hit, and Bass scored, making the final score 8-2.

Williams (4-1) wound up holding Valdosta to two runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out three. He was also 2-for-2 at the plate and scored three runs. Bass was 2-for-4 and scored three runs, while Sowell was also 2-for-4 and drove in three runs.

Will Welch went 2-for-3, but was the only Wildcat with more than one hit.

“We didn’t play that well,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We didn’t get some bunts down, we kicked it around a bit (four errors), and didn’t get the big hits when we needed them.

“We’ll come back Monday and try to play like we have our first nine games. If we play like this only once every 10 games, we’ll be all right.”


Valdosta High’s Will Welch tries to lay down a bunt during Friday’s Valdosta-Madison game at Bazemore Field.
Patrick Warren/ The Valdosta Daily Times
Shuman blasts off, VHS wins

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-24 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — Scott Shuman’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth gave Valdosta High a 3-2 victory over Cook Wednesday at Bazemore Field.

Shuman led off the eighth against Cook pitcher Blake Mainor. Mainor put a fastball over the plate, and Shuman launched a long fly ball down the left field line. There was no doubt it was long enough, but all eyes watched to see if the ball would land fair or foul. When it landed, the field umpire signaled it was a fair ball, then signaled a home run.

“That’s always a great way to end a ballgame, when you win,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said.

The game was a pitcher’s duel between Valdosta’s Drew Ruttinger and Cook’s Cody Gooden. Ruttinger (4-0) pitched a complete game, holding Cook to four hits and one run, and striking out 11 batters. Gooden held Valdosta to two runs on six hits over seven innings, striking out five. Before Wednesday, Valdosta had not been held under six runs all year.

“Great pitching by both Ruttinger and Gooden,” Coach Shuman said. “Both teams got good pitching tonight.”

Cook got on the board in the top of the first. Ty Goff led off the game with a single, was bunted to second by Jonathan Fulghum, took third on an errant pick-off throw, and scored when Justin Ray ripped a two-out double to the gap in left center.

Ruttinger and Gooden traded zeroes on the scoreboard until Valdosta tied it in the bottom of the fourth. Will Welch led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Brent Turner. One out later, Daniel Fowler singled to right field, and Welch came home to make it 1-1.

Valdosta then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Turner drew a one-out walk, then Shuman lined a double into the gap in left-center. Courtesy runner Daniel Jefferson tore around third and tried to score. The throw was up the line a little, and Jefferson beat the tag, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. The Wildcats were in position to score more, but on an attempted double steal, Cook shortstop Brandon Mainor gunned down Shuman at home.

Valdosta was just three outs away from victory, but leading off the seventh Ray ripped a Ruttinger pitch over the fence in left center, tying the score.

Valdosta had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Brett Chism led off with a single, but a pinch runner was caught stealing. With two outs, Jim Martin singled, then Ryan Danbury walked. A wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third, then Welch was intentionally walked to load the bases. Gooden got two quick strikes on Turner, then Turner fouled off three pitches before Gooden fanned him on a curveball.

At the plate for Valdosta (8-1), Shuman was 2-for-4 with two RBI, including the game-winner. Fowler also had a pair of hits and an RBI. Ray had two of Cook’s three hits, and drove in both runs.


Valdosta High’s Will Welch rounds third as Wildcats’ head coach Bart Shuman waives him home during the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game against Cook High at Bazemore Field. Welch scored on the play and the Wildcats won 3-2 in eight innings.
Patrick Warren/ The Valdosta Daily Times
Can't stop the 'Cats

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-19 The Valdosta Daily Times

By Christian Malone
christian.malone@gaflnews.com

VALDOSTA — Make that a 7-1 record for the Valdosta Wildcats.

Valdosta High won its seventh baseball game in eight tries this season, defeating Deerfield Beach (Fla.) 12-2 in six innings Friday.

The Wildcats pounded out nine hits and benefited from 10 walks and two hit-by-pitches Friday.

“This was a good win,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “We hit the ball, we got on base, we scored (12) runs, we didn’t strike out a lot. We got good pitching and good defense, and didn’t make a lot of mistakes. I’m was proud of the way we played.”

Both teams got runs in the first inning. The Bucks got their run when Anthony Sanchez stole third, and scored easily when the throw sailed into left field. Valdosta got the run back when, after a Scott Shuman two-out single, Daniel Fowler hit a long fly ball over the center fielder’s head. Shuman scored from first to make it 1-1.

Valdosta then broke the game open with a five-run third inning and a four-run fourth.

Fowler and Will Flail began the third with singles, and were sacrificed over by Brett Chism. Deerfield pitcher Cody Loomis then temporarily lost control. He walked Ryan Danbury to load the bases, then issued two more walks to Jim Martin and Briggs Smotherman, forcing in two runs.

Will Welch’s sacrifice fly scored Danbury, then Brent Turner knocked a two-run double to left center, plating Martin and Smotherman, and making it 6-1.

The fourth inning began in similar fashion. Fowler and Flail singled, then Chism and Danbury walked, forcing in a run.

Martin’s chopper to third was fielded, but thrown away at first, and Flail and Chism scored. Smotherman followed with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Danbury to make it 10-1.

Deerfield got its second run in the fifth, when Jess Ladig singled home Matt Hubbard from second.

Valdosta increased its lead to 10 runs, and ended the game on the mercy rule, with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. The first two batters struck out, but then Lee Mims drew a walk and Smotherman was hit with a pitch.

Welch’s single loaded the bases. Then Turner lined a single into right field, and Mims and Smotherman scored to make the final 12-2.
Wildcats continue on their winning ways

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-16 The Valdosta Daily Times

By Christian Malone
christian.malone@gaflnews.com

ADEL — Valdosta High’s baseball team won again Tuesday night.

Valdosta, which won only nine games last year, is now 6-1 following Tuesday’s 10-3 victory over Cook at Bruce Long Field.

“It’s been a long time since we had that kind of record,” Valdosta coach Bart Shuman said. “We did a good job. We put it in play, we ran the bases well and we got some decent pitching. I’m glad to see us doing those things.”

The past three seasons, the Wildcats had struggled to hit the ball and score runs, but this year, they’ve scored at least six runs in all seven games. Tuesday, they pounded out 10 hits en route to scoring 10 times.

“Valdosta’s got a good ballclub,” Cook coach Bob Owsley said. “They can hit the ball. Bart’s starting a lot of new players this year, and they played a good ballgame.”

Valdosta got on the board in the first. An error and two walks loaded the bases with two outs, then Brent Turner’s bases-clearing double brought home Daniel Fowler, Scott Shuman and Brett Chism, making it 3-0.

Cook scored a run in the bottom of the first with Justin Ray driving home Ty Goff, who’d reached on an error.

Valdosta extended the lead to 7-1 with a four-run third. Again, two walks and an error loaded the bases. Will Flail followed with a two-run single, scoring Will Welch and Fowler. A Turner single and a sacrifice fly by Jim Martin scored two more runs.

Cook came back with two runs in the bottom of the third. Brandon Mainor and Kyle Hamilton reached base to start the inning, then Ray lined an RBI double to left, scoring Mainor. Hamilton came home on Cody Gooden’s groundout, making it 7-3.

But that was as close as the Hornets would get. The Wildcats would score four more times, and Cook would wind up stranding six runners in scoring position during the game, four in the final three innings.

“Our kids may be young, but they’re experienced now. Tonight, they played like they were intimidated,” Owsley said. “We gave up too many walks, and we left people in scoring position several times.”

In the top of the fourth, Tuzer Chism singled and was sacrificed to second. Then Fowler lined a double out of the reach of a diving Goff in left field, and Chism scored. Later, Brett Chism drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Fowler. Cook escaped further damage when reliever Jonathan Fulghum got a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Valdosta got its final run in the fifth. Drew Ruttinger drew a one-out walk, stole second, then scored on a Welch single, making it 10-3.

At the plate for Valdosta, Shuman was 2-for-2, scored two runs and reached base in all four plate appearances. Turner was 2-for-4 and drove in four runs. Tuzer Chism also had a pair of hits. Fowler scored three runs.

Flail was the winning pitcher, allowing four runs, none earned, on three hits while striking out six. Shuman pitched the seventh, striking out his final two batters.

“Will pitched well, and he didn’t walk many batters,” Coach Shuman said.

Cook did not use its top three pitchers, resting them in preparation for the Hornets’ two region games in the next week (Albany on Thursday, Thomasville next Tuesday).

Cook had just four hits, but three went for extra bases. Ray drove in two of the Hornets’ three runs.
Valdosta 11, Clarke Central 6

Author: christian.malone@gaflnews.com
Publication Date: 2005-03-13 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — Clarke Central almost escaped the first inning virtually unscathed. Instead, they didn’t escape until they were down 7-0.

The bottom of the first started with a Will Welch double and a Daniel Fowler infield single, putting runners at the corners. Then Scott Shuman and Will Flail struck out, putting the Gladiators one out from escaping.

But then Fowler took off for second and drew a throw. Once the catcher threw, Welch took off for home and scored. That began the onslaught. The next seven hitters wound up reaching base.

Brett Chism singled to center, scoring Fowler. Brent Turner followed with an infield single, and when the third baseman threw it over the first baseman’s head, the runners advanced a base. Chism came home on a passed ball, then Turner scored when Drew Ruttinger swung and missed on the third strike, but the ball got away from the catcher and went to the screen. Ruttinger took first. Chad Gordon followed with a double to left center, putting runners at second and third, then Ryan Danbury singled to left, scoring Ruttinger and making it 5-0. Welch walked to load the bases. Then Fowler lined a double into the gap in right center, and Gordon and Danbury both came in to score.

That seven-run lead was all the Wildcats would really need to up their record to 5-1 this season.

The score remained 7-0 until Clarke Central’s Will Boucher launched a solo home run into a wind that carried the ball over the center field fence. Clarke Central added a run in the top of the fifth on a Michael Henson RBI double, making it 7-2.

Valdosta gave itself some insurance, though, in the bottom of the fifth. The Wildcats opened the inning with a Turner single and a walk to Ruttinger. A passed ball moved them up, then a wild pitch scored Turner. Two outs later, Fowler lined a triple into the gap in right center, scoring Ruttinger and Welch, and making it 10-2. Fowler then scored on a wild pitch. An error in the seventh gave Clarke Central its final run.

Fowler earned the win, allowing five hits and two runs Saturday, striking out two. At the plate, Fowler was 3-4 with a double, a triple, two runs and four RBI. Turner was also 3-for-4, scoring two runs. Eight of Valdosta’s nine starters had at least one hit.

For Clarke Central, Boucher was 2-for-3 with a homer and a triple.
VHS blanks Berrien

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-12 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — Valdosta High rebounded from its first loss of the season by shutting out Berrien 7-0 Friday night at home in the Wildcat Invitational.

All Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman really needed to do Friday was hand the ball to his ace, Drew Ruttinger, and let him pitch.

Ruttinger (3-0) tossed a two-hit shutout and struck out nine. Only four runners reached base against the senior southpaw, and only one reached second.

“Drew pitched a good ballgame,” Valdosta assistant coach Justin Henderson said. “He threw strikes, and shut them down. Berrien can hit the ball hard if you give them pitches to hit.”

“That was a good, well-coached Berrien team we beat tonight,” Shuman said. “Coach (Doug) Nix does a great job with that team. They played us tough those first few innings. Temples is an excellent pitcher for them. I’m pleased with the way we played tonight, and especially with the way Drew pitched.”

For the first half of the game, it was a pitcher’s duel between Ruttinger and Berrien’s John Temples, who traded zeroes on the scoreboard for three innings. Temples had pitched a no-hitter in his last start, Monday against Leon, and he continued that hitless streak for 3.2 innings Friday.

But in the fourth, Valdosta’s hitters finally solved Temples, and broke the scoreless tie.

Will Flail was hit by a pitch, and stole second. With two outs, Brett Chism singled to center field, and Flail came home, giving Valdosta a 1-0 lead. Jim Martin followed with a double just inside the line in left, putting runners at second and third.

Then Chad Gordon lined a single into left field, scoring Chism. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Martin rounded third and nearly ran over Shuman, the third base coach, coming home, but managed to avoid a big collision and kept his footing, and he crossed the plate to make it 3-0.

The Wildcats then tacked on three more runs in the fifth. With Brent Turner and Daniel Fowler on base, Scott Shuman launched a three-run home run to left field, his first of the season. That doubled Valdosta’s lead to 6-0.

Valdosta scored once more in the sixth. Martin reached on an error, then Ryan Danbury lined a two-out RBI single to right. Martin had no trouble coming home this time, making it 7-0.

At the plate, no player had more than one hit, thanks to the pitching of Ruttinger and Temples. Shuman drove in three runs and Gordon two for Valdosta. Valdosta (4-1) has scored at least six runs in every game this season.

“We hit the ball, especially with runners on base,” Henderson said. “We’ve hit the ball well every game this season, even the Lincoln (loss).”

Temples struck out four and limited Valdosta to five hits over 4.1 innings. Unfortunately for him, all five hits led to runs.
Win walks off with Lincoln

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-10 The Valdosta Daily Times
christian.malone@gaflnews.com

VALDOSTA — Too many walks and errors make it awfully hard to win a baseball game. Valdosta High saw that first-hand Wednesday.

Lincoln took advantage of 15 bases on balls issued by Valdosta pitchers, as well as four errors, and rallied from a 6-1 deficit to defeat VHS 14-7 Wednesday at Bazemore Field, in the third day of the Wildcat Invitational.

Of those 15 walks drawn by Lincoln batters, 11 came around to score. That played a big part in the VHS loss.

Things started well for Valdosta, which put three runs on the board in the first inning. Will Welch led off with a walk, and took second on a wild pitch. One out later, Scott Shuman hit a long double over the right fielder’s head, scoring Welch to make it 1-0. Jim Martin was hit with a pitch, then Will Flail singled to right, loading the bases. Then Drew Ruttinger singled just inside the foul line in left field, and Shuman and Martin raced home.

Lincoln came back with a run in the third. A single and two walks loaded the bases, then Kyle Delvecchio singled to single, scoring Dayne Warshaw. The Trojans could have had more, but Flail got Tyler Davis to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Valdosta padded its lead with three more runs in the fourth. Ruttinger walked, Chad Gordon bunted for a single, then Brent Turner hit a slow ground ball that third baseman Matt Culligan wound up throwing five feet over the first baseman’s head. Ruttinger scored, then Gordon scored on a wild pitch. Daniel Fowler singled home Turner to make it 6-1.

That was pretty much where the good news ended for Valdosta.

In the fifth, Delvecchio launched a three-run home run to right center, making it 6-4. Davis walked, then two two-out errors scored him.

Valdosta came back with a fifth-inning run. Ruttinger walked, then pinch runner Daniel Jefferson advanced on a ground out, and scored on Welch’s single to center, making it 7-5.

Then control problems hit Valdosta’s pitchers like an avalanche in the sixth, and Lincoln took the lead, and wound up pulling away.

Shuman, who’d relieved Flail in the fifth, started the inning by walking Pat Wells, Scot Schlein, Mike Donnellan and Ricky Moulton, forcing in a run. Will Pichard’s fly ball scored a run, then a wild pitch scored another one. One out later, Culligan and J.J. Blackburn walked, forcing in two more runs, to give Lincoln a 10-7 lead.

Ruttinger relieved, but hit a batter, then walked another one. Then he got Donnellan to hit a routine fly ball, but the right fielder dropped it, and three more runs crossed the plate.

The damage for the sixth inning: nine runs on zero hits, with one error. The result: Valdosta went from 7-5 leaders to 14-7 losers.

In the earlier game Wednesday, Colquitt County defeated Lincoln 2-1 on an infield single in the bottom of the eighth.
'Cats improve to 3-0

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-06 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Wildcats remain an undefeated baseball team.

Valdosta continued its early-season baseball renaissance, defeating Shiloh 10-2 Saturday afternoon at Bazemore Field. The win improved the Wildcats’ record to 3-0, and gave them two wins over Gwinnett County schools in less than 24 hours.

“It’s still early in the season. We’ve still got a long way to go,” Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman said. “But 3-0 is real nice. It’s been a while since that happened.”

Shuman would also have to go back a few years to remember the last time he had a lineup this productive. The Wildcats pounded out 11 hits and crossed the plate 10 times against Shiloh. That gives them 26 runs in their first three games — pretty good for a program that’s struggled on offense the last three years.

“We hit the ball. We got a lot of walks, got men on base, and scored (10) runs, which is good,” Shuman said. “I’m pleased with the way we played, and I’m hoping we continue to get better.”

The Wildcats thrived on the big inning Saturday, scoring three times in the second, four times in the third, and three more times in the fifth.

Shiloh got on the board first with a run in the second, when Zack Harris doubled to deep left center, scoring Jordan Oates.

But then Valdosta grabbed the lead in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Chad Gordon’s grounder to short scored Drew Ruttinger, then Will Welch’s single plated Brett Chism. Two batters later, Scott Shuman drew a bases-loaded walk, making it 3-1.

The Wildcats’ offense picked right back up in the third. Two walks and an error helped load the bases, then Will Flail scored on a passed ball. With the bases still loaded, Welch’s fly ball fell over the right fielder’s head, and Chism and courtesy runner Ryan Danbury raced home. Later, Jim Martin lifted a pop-up that the wind carried out of the third baseman’s reach and back into fair territory, scoring Welch to make it 7-1.

Shiloh manufactured a run in the fourth, with Antonio Calloway coming home on a Zach Harris single.

But that was all the Generals’ offense could get off of Ruttinger (2-0), who allowed seven hits and struck out six in five innings of work. Daniel Fowler pitched two shutout innings of relief.

“Drew pitched good. I think he walked just one hitter,” Shuman said. “And we had some good defense behind him.”

Valdosta added three more runs in the fifth. With one out, Martin’s single, Flail’s walk and Ruttinger’s single loaded the bases. Then Chism singled past a diving first baseman, scoring pinch runner Lee Mims. Gordon followed with an RBI single to left, scoring Flail, and Danbury drove in the Wildcats’ final run with a sacrifice fly to left, as courtesy runner Tuzer Chism came home.

At the plate, Welch, Shuman, Martin and Ruttinger all had two hits. Every Wildcat starter reached base at least twice. Welch had three RBIs, and Gordon had two.
Fowler delivers in Valdosta win

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-05 The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — Daniel Fowler’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh gave Valdosta High a 6-5 victory over South Gwinnett Friday night.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Fowler connected with a Chandler Snell pitch and drove a single over the second baseman’s head into right center. Drew Ruttinger trotted home easily from third with the winning run.

“We battled tonight, and earned a win,” Valdosta coach Bart Shuman said. “We got good pitching and some big hits. I’m proud of Daniel. He’s been playing well.

“We’re excited to win this game, and be 2-0 now.”

The Wildcats entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 5-3. Shuman had told his hitters to be smart at the plate, not to swing at bad pitches. In the seventh, the batters did that, and that wound up helping them win the game.

Jim Martin led off the inning by beating out an infield single. Then Comets pitcher Cory King hit Will Flail with a pitch. Snell came in to relieve. He struck out pinch hitter Tuzer Chism, but then his control betrayed him. Snell walked Ruttinger to load the bases. Then he walked Chad Gordon to force in a run. Then he walked Brent Turner, forcing in another run to tie the score.

After a visit to the mound, Snell struck out Will Welch for the second out. Up stepped Fowler, who drilled Snell’s second pitch for the game-winner.

“We put it in play, got a few walks, scored those runs at the end,” Shuman said. “We were selective with our pitches, and also put the ball in play when we had to.

“We made some mistakes, which is normal for this early in the season, but we’ll learn from it.”

Valdosta had grabbed the early lead with three runs in the third inning, when wildness again cost South Gwinnett. Starting pitcher Neil Rollins walked Gordon to start the inning, then two outs later, he issued free passes to Fowler and Scott Shuman, loading the bases. Martin got an easy RBI, taking four more balls to force in a run. Flail followed with a two-run single, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead and finishing Rollins’ day.

South Gwinnett rallied with three runs in the top of the fourth to tie the score. Jacob Williams had an RBI double, then advanced on a fly out, and came home on a wild pitch. Rollins later scored on a wild pitch as well, making it 3-3.

The Comets took the lead with two runs in the fifth. With two runners on, Rob Flanigan lined a ball just out of the reach of a diving Brett Chism in left, and Jackson Dean scored from second. Shuman’s wild pitch scored another run, making it 5-3.

The score remained that way until Valdosta’s rally in the bottom of the seventh.

At the plate for Valdosta, Gordon and Flail were both 2-for-2 and reached base all four times at bat. Fowler was 2-for-3. Shuman (1-0) got the win, allowing one unearned run in three innings of relief. Pitchers Flail and Shuman allowed just three hits.

Wildcats' 2005 debut stellar vs. Albany

Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: 2005-03-01 The Valdosta Daily Times

By Christian Malone
christian.malone@gaflnews.com

VALDOSTA — Winning a five-inning game decided by the mercy rule is a good way to start the baseball season.

Valdosta High opened the 2005 baseball season with a 10-0 win over Albany High on Monday at Bazemore Field.

The Wildcats got good pitching (a shutout), good hitting (10 runs) and good defense (no errors), which made for a good start to the season.

“It was a good first game,” Valdosta coach Bart Shuman said. “We played some pretty good defense, they committed a couple of errors and we scored some runs off them. It’s the start of the season, and we’re just glad to get a win.”

In the first inning, Daniel Fowler led off with a walk, was wild pitched to second and two outs later, scored on Will Flail’s single.

Then the Wildcats broke open the gates the next two innings, scoring five times in the second and four more in the third.

The bottom of the second began harmlessly, with the first two Wildcats popping up for easy outs. But then Briggs Smotherman walked, and Fowler followed with an RBI triple, making it 2-0. Albany pitcher Jason Blackstock walked Scott Shuman and Jim Martin to load the bases, then Flail’s ground ball was booted by second baseman Daniel Craft, allowing two more runs to score, making it 4-0. Brett Chism walked to reload the bases, then Drew Ruttinger ripped a two-run single to the fence in right-center. Martin and Flail scored standing up, giving Valdosta a 6-0 lead.

The runs kept coming in the third. Brent Turner and Smotherman reached to start the inning, and Shuman walked to load the bases. With two outs, Flail lifted a fly ball into the left field corner that should have been the third out. But left fielder Linvaul Lewis dropped the ball, and Turner and Smotherman scored. Chism followed with an RBI single to left, scoring Shuman. Then Ruttinger ripped an RBI double into the gap in right center, scoring Flail to make it 10-0.

That was more than enough for Ruttinger, the starting pitcher. The senior left-hander shut out the Indians over the first three innings. After a 1-2-3 first inning, he got out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the second with a 1-2-3 double play and a pop-up. In the third, he induced a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning, again with a runner on third.

Flail and Shuman pitched the final two innings. Flail struck out three of four hitters in the fourth, then Shuman fanned the side in the fifth.

For the game, the Wildcats had just six hits, but took advantage of two Albany errors and seven walks. Ruttinger was 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Flail was 1-for-3 but drove in five runs.

“It was a good warmup for us, opening the season,” Shuman said. “We scored (10 runs) and didn’t give up any.”

Valdosta plays its second game of the season Friday against South Gwinnett at 6 p.m. at home. The Wildcats then host Shiloh at noon on Saturday.

Former Valdosta baseball coach Charles Tarpley threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game Monday.

Tarpley was Valdosta’s coach in the 1980s and 1990s until his retirement in 1998. He was also a longtime assistant coach for the Wildcat football team.