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Recognized for award-winning sports coverage by Georgia Press Association and Georgia Sports Writers Association
Barrow Journal
Chris Bridges. Sports Editor
770-867-6397. phone
678-425-1435. FAX
cbridges@barrowjoumal.com
SPORTS
June 12, 2013
SECTION:
B
www.BarrowJournal.com
Sports Briefs
Knights players earn
postseason honors
Following its state
championship season,
the Bethlehem Christian
Academy baseball team
received several postsea
son honors.
All-state selections
included pitcher Jared
Martin, catcher Matt
Masters, pitcher/shortstop
Niko Mailloux and pitcher/
second baseman Jordan
Fountain.
In addition, BCA domi
nated the All-Region team,
just as the Knights dominat
ed region foes on the field
this spring. Those named
to the 1-A All-Region team
included outfielder Luke
Allen, Martin, Masters,
Mailloux, first baseman
Ramon Rivera, pitcher/out
fielder RJ. Klein, pitcher/
infielder Jacob Fincher and
Fountain.
Nick Pou, who guided
the BCA baseball team to
the state title for the 2013
season, was named Region
1-A Coach of the Year as
state Coach of the Year
for Class A. Pou was the
team's head coach during
the 2012 and 2013 baseball
seasons.
— Chris Bridges
Journal sports staff
recognized by GSWA
The sports department of
the Barrow Journal was
recognized as the best in
its division by judges in
the annual Georgia Sports
Writers Association con
test.
The Journal's sports
section was named best in
the state for Division III,
which includes all papers
published once, twice and
three times per week.
In addition, staff photog
rapher Jessica Brown won
second and third place in
the Best Photo category.
The paper's annual foot
ball preview contest earned
second place.
Judges for the contest
included Pat Forde, Yahoo
sports; John Adams,
sports editor, Knoxville
News Sentinel; Joey
Johnston, Tampa Tribune;
Malcolm Moran (former
writer USA Today, current
director of the National
Sports Journalism Center,
Indianapolis.
“We are always honored
by the awards we receive
from the GSWA,” said
sports editor Chris Bridges.
“This contest always fea
tures top-level judges each
year. It is always great
to be recognized by your
peers in the sports journal
ism field and this year is no
exception.”
The Barrow Journal's
sister publication. The
Commerce News, also
earned two awards in the
annual GSWA contest, one
each for feature writing
and photography.
This year's conven
tion was hosted by The
Marietta Daily Journal.
High School Baseball
Pou leaving Bethlehem Christian
State championship coach to direct Islands High School in Savannah
By Chris Bridges
cb ridges @ barrowjournal.com
After taking the Bethlehem Christian
Academy baseball team to the top of
the mountain, Nick Pou is set for a
new challenge.
Pou told the Barrow Journal last
week he has accepted the head baseball
coaching job at Islands High School
in Savannah, a Georgia High School
Association Class AAA program. He
began work at his new school Friday,
directing the team’s summer workouts.
“I had every intention of returning
to BCA,” Pou said. “It was not a case
of where I won a state championship
and was then looking to leave for
greener pastures. However, I felt it was
the right decision for my family and
myself as I try to continue to build my
coaching career.”
Pou took a new program with the
Knights and guided them to the GISA
Class A state championship in only
their second full season of varsity play.
The Knights, who were 21-5-1 this
spring, dominated at the Class A level
and did not lose to a team in the clas
sification in 2013.
BCA athletic director Mark Barth
said Monday the school has hired
Colby May, a former University of
Georgia baseball player, as its new
head coach. May began working with
the returning players last week in sum
mer play. May started in 153 games at
UGA as an infielder. He played first
base his senior year in all 62 games.
“It will be his first heading coaching
job, similar to how it was for Nick,”
Barth said. “He is already doing a
great job. He definitely knows the
game of baseball. His experience at a
high level will be a plus.”
Recently May has worked as an
instructor at Level 5 Baseball Academy
in Athens where he has instructed
players of all ages.
While Barth said it was a loss for the
program to see Pou move on, he said
it wasn’t shocking that opportunities
came up.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to
figure out he would get opportunities,”
Barth said. “We spent hours talking
about his future and where he wants
to go. He has to take advantage of his
opportunities. With the success we
were having, there were some inqui
ries coming in. In mid-May, I knew
there was a possibility to it. I was not
going to step in his way. I encouraged
him to listen. That’s a smart thing to
do for anyone in any profession.
“Nick is a bright young mind in
baseball. He’s good and he knows
what he’s doing. It’s never easy for
someone to leave. We then heard about
Colby and I believe our kids will
grow to love him like they did Nick.
I believe the kids will respond to him
like they did Nick. This is an excit
ing time for BCA and we appreciate
everything Nick did for us and look
forward to hearing how he does in
Savannah.”
See BCA on Page 4B
NEW CHALLENGE
Nick Pou, shown during the
2013 baseball season, has been
hired as the new head baseball
coach at Islands High School
in Savannah. Pou began direct
ing summer baseball for his new
school last week.
Photo by Jessica Brown
HARD WORK PAYS OFF
Recent Winder-Barrow High School graduates Travis Demeritte (LEFT) and Dalton Carter were selected in the recent Major League Baseball
draft. Demeritte was taken in the first round by the Texas Rangers (the 30th overall pick) while Carter was taken by the Cincinnati Reds in
the 17th round (the 525th overall pick.) Photos by Jessica Brown
Getting The Call
Diamond Dogg standouts selected in MLB Draft
By Chris Bridges
cbridges @ barrowjournal. com
T he 2013 Major League
Baseball Draft was not a round
old when recent Winder-Barrow High
School graduate Travis Demeritte
received the call every player who
steps on a baseball field hopes to get.
Demeritte was selected in the
first round of the draft by the Texas
Rangers. He was the 30th player
selected overall. Demeritte, who
helped lead the Diamond Doggs to
the second round of the state playoffs
this spring, said the Rangers are one
of his favorite teams.
“I’m really thankful for every
thing,” Demeritte said.
Demeritte, who pitched and played
shortstop for WBHS this spring, drew
the attention of numerous profession
al scouts. He had committed to South
Carolina, but the approximately $1.75
million signing bonus he is expected
to receive might be too much to turn
down.
Demeritte said he will make the
decision with the help of his family.
“I’m very proud of everything I
have accomplished, but I’m not fin
ished yet,” Demeritte said.
Ironically, when the scouts were
attending WBHS games and practices
to watch Demeritte, teammate Dalton
Carter was also noticed. Carter took
batting practice after Demeritte and
scouts began to notice him as well.
Carter was selected in the 17th
round of the draft by the Cincinnati
Reds, the 525th selection overall.
Carter batted .400 as Winder-
Barrow’s cleanup hitter and right
fielder the past two years. He has
signed to play at Kennesaw State, but
could re-think his options to include
the Reds, coach Brian Smith said.
See Draft Choices on Page 4B
High School Wrestling
From a Wildcat to a Bulldogg: Stoudenmire to coach WBHS wrestling
By Chris Bridges
cbridges @ barrowjournal. com
Jim Stoudenmire helped lead the
Apalachee High School wrestling
team to a high level of success dur
ing his five years with the program.
Now the veteran wrestling coach
will begin a new challenge as he
takes over the Winder-Barrow High
School Mat Bulldogg program.
“There were a lot of little things
which went into the decision.”
Stoudenmire said Sunday. “It will
actually be a good bit less driv
ing for me. Plus, Winder-Barrow is
where I started. I always thought I
might get back one day. Plus, the
logistical things involved work a
little better for me and my family.”
Stoudenmire has jumped into
his new role, already holding
some summer workouts. Various
WBHS wrestlers also competed in
a Takedown Tournament at Jackson
County this past weekend.
“We are just getting our feet wet.”
Stoudenmire said. “We hope to
have a few more show up for sum
mer work. Some are working in
the mornings for football and then
working with us. After this month,
we’ll go back to work in September
for those not playing a fall sport.”
Working during the summer has
always been a key for Stoudenmire’s
wrestling teams and it will be no
different as the coach returns to
WBHS.
See Wrestling on Page 4B