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HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
TEAM
From page 4B
Position: Pitcher
Impact: Earned seven wins
and had an ERA of 2.35. Struck
out 63 while walking 33 and
helping to Demons earn a spot
in the GHSA AAAAA playoffs.
‘‘Chess was our second leading
pitcher as well as one of the
top pitchers in our region,” said
Beatty.
Other: Received the team's
Demon award and was named
to the Region 1 -AAAAA Second
Team.
Coach’s Corner: “Chess is a
bulldog on the mound. He has
great stuff and a lot of move
ment on every pitch. As he gets
stronger and his pitch velocity
increases, he will be a highly
sought lefty by many colleges.
We are looking for great things
from him over the next two
years.”
Nathan Poole
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Outfielder
Impact: Hit .333, which
included 27 hits. Also had 16
walks, stole 23 bases, and
scored 34 runs. Had an on base
percentage of .466 while help
ing the Demons earn a spot in
the GHSA AAAAA playoffs.
“Nathan led our team in sto
len bases and runs scored,"
said Beatty. “He was usually the
catalyst of our big innings with
his speed."
Other: Earned the team’s
Hustle award.
Coach’s Corner: “Nathan put
a lot of pressure on defenses
and pitchers with his speed. He
was a great guy to have near
the top of the order.”
Kevin Gifford
School: Northside
Year: Junior
Position: Shortstop
Impact: Hit .538 in 80 at
bats, which included 43 hits, 13
doubles, three triples and four
homeruns. Also had 20 RBI,
scored 35 runs and stole 12
bases. Helped the Eagles earn
a berth in the GHSA AAAA state
tournament.
Other: Earned the team’s
Most Outstanding Offensive
Player award for the third
straight year.
“He was respected as a hit
ter by every team we played,”
said Head Coach Kevin Kinsler,
“as evident by his 19 base on
balls this year. As a hitter, his
numbers reflect he can hit for
average and power. He is solid
as well with a .925 fielding per
centage. Kevin leads by doing,
as his numbers reflect.”
Taylor Ham
School: Northside
Year: Senior
Position: Outfielder/pitcher
Impact: Hit .337, which
included 28 hits and six
doubles. He also had 15 RBI,
scored 21 runs and had 10
stolen bases. On the mound he
was 4-2 with three saves and
a 1.39 ERA. That also included
two shutouts and opposing
team’s hit .180 against him.
Helped the Eagles earn a berth
in the GHSA AAAA state tourna
ment.
“Taylor had a 959 fielding per
centage and two errors in 179
innings,” said Kinsler.
Other: Earned the team’s
Most Valuable Player award
for 2008 and could have easily
won the defensive and pitching
awards, Kinsler said. "Taylor
had an outstanding year all
around hitting defense and
on the mound. Whenever we
needed a big play or a big hit or
a pitcher to come in and get big
outs Taylor was usually the one.
“One example of how he
played all year was versus
Warner Robins he pitched a
six-hit shutout and was 2-4 with
three RBI.
Joe Scott
School: Northside
Year: Junior
Position: Catcher
Impact: Hit .291, which
included 25 hits. Also had 31
RBI, while helping the Eagles
earn a berth in the GHSA AAAA
state tournament.
“Although Joe didn't hit for a
high average,” Kinsler said, “he
lead the team in RBI. Joe could
be counted on to put the ball
in play with runners in scoring
position to get the run in."
He also had a 974 fielding
percentage as a catcher, which,
Kinsler said, “is outstanding." ,
In 22 stolen base attempts he
threw out 11. He also had two
pick offs from behind the plate.
“Joe was a leader by doing
and was also a very vocal
leader. Joe’s ability to drive in
runs and his exceptional fielding
made him a valuable part of our
team this year.”
Other: Was voted team cap
tain.
Jeff Stewart
School: Perry
Year: Senior
Position: Catcher
Impact: Hit .402, which
included six doubles and two
homeruns. Also had 23 runs
batted in. Helped the Panthers
finish runner-up in the region
and earn a spot in the GHSA
AAA state tournament.
“Jeff was our most consis
tent player all year," said Head
Coach Shawn Masters, “at the
plate and in the field.
Other: Was awarded the
team’s Most Valuable Player
award for 2008.
Coach’s Corner: “Jeff has
a very strong work ethic that
the younger kids see and try to
emulate."
John Randall Lasseter
School: Perry
Year: Senior
Position: Outfielder
Impact: Hit .360, which
included six doubles and a
triple. Also had 22 RBI. Helped
the Panthers finish runner-up
in the region and earn a spot
in the GHSA AAA state tourna
ment.
“John Randall stepped up
as a senior this year,” Masters
said, “and filled an outfield hole
for us and hit in the two-hole
very successfully all year.”
Coach’s Corner: “John
Randall is a leader by example
and his confidence in his play
ing abilities is contagious.”
Sam Kinnas
School: Perry
Year: Junior
Position: Outfielder/pitcher
Impact: Hit .388, which
included three doubles, a triple
and a homerun. Also had 15
RBI and scored 25 runs. On
the mound he was 5-1 with a
1.63 earned run average. In 30
innings pitched, he struck out
31. Helped the Panthers fin
ish runner-up in the region and
earn a spot in the GHSA AAA
state tournament.
“Sam is probably our best
natural hitter,” said Masters,
“who uses all fields to spray the
ball around. Sam will probably
be the ace of the staff next year,
his mental toughness on the
mound makes him very hard to
beat.”
Adam Nelson
School: Perry
Year: Junior
Position: Outfielder/pitcher
Impact: Hit .411 with nine
doubles and a homerun. Let the
team in runs batted in with 26.
Helped the Panthers finish run
ner-up in the region and earn
a spot in the GHSA AAA state
tournament.
“Adam continually hit with
runners in scoring position.
Adam is a very good utility
player, he pitched played first
and played the outfield.”
Tony Albritton
School: Westfield
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher/infielder
Impact: Led team in hitting
with a .385 average. Led team
in runs scored and hits with 25.
On the mound, he had a 2.98
ERA. He recorded 76 strikeouts
in 54 innings pitched, while win
ning five games - including a
no-hitter in the state playoffs
versus Westminster-Augusta.
Other: Was named an All-
State player three times and
named to the All-Region team
four times.
Coach’s Corner: ‘Tony has
been a solid player for five
years for us and it will be hard
to not make out a line-up and
not have No. 17 in there some
where. Has signed a grant-in
aid with South Georgia College
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in Douglas. Played every posi
tion on the field at one point
or another throughout his five
years and will be sorely missed
next season."
Matt Weaver
School: Westfield
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher/Infielder
Impact: Was a solid first
baseman, Head Coach Billy
Sellers said, and had a 3.54
ERA as a pitcher. He recorded
78 strikeouts in 51 innings
pitched (led GISA). Won
six games while helping the
Hornets earn a spot in the GISA
AAA state playoffs.
Other: Was named to the All-
Region team twice.
Coach’s Corner: “Matt has
been a solid player for four
years and has really grown
into a great pitcher during the
last two seasons. Has signed a
grant-in-aid with Darton College
in Albany.”
All-Houston County
Second Team
Justin Burke
School: Warner Robins
Year: Sophomore
Position: Outfielder
Impact: Hit .337, which
included 33 hits and three
homeruns. Also had 19 RBI and
stole 13 bases. Had an on base
percentage of .409, while help
ing the Demons earn a spot in
the GHSA AAAAA playoffs.
“Justin is a young, talented
player, Beatty said. “He gained
a lot of confidence this year and
will be one of our leaders next
year.
Other: Received the team's
Gold Glove award and was
named to the Region 1 -AAAAA
Second Team.
Coach’s Corner: “Justin is
a fierce competitor, and contin
ues to work year-round on his
game. He is an unbelievable
outfielder and really solidified
our defense up the middle. He
has a promising career in base
ball.”
Zack Watson
School: Warner Robins
Year: Junior
Position: Catcher
Impact: Hit .364, which
included 28 hits and five
homeruns. Also had 24 RBI and
scored 23 runs. Had an on base
percentage of .468 while help
ing the Demons earn a spot in
the GHSA AAAAA playoffs.
“Zack was one of our offen
sive leaders and also had a
great year behind the plate,”
Beatty said.
Other: Received the team’s
Slugger award and was named
to the Region 1 -AAAAA Second
Team.”
Coach’s Corner: “Zack gives
you everything he has both
offensively and defensively. I
look for him to be one of our top
hitters and run producers next
year. His continued work on his
defense will help him achieve
his goal of playing at the next
level.”
Alex Fant
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Second baseman
Impact: Hit .326, which
included 28 hits and two
homeruns. Also had 21 RBI and
scored 31 runs. Had an on base
percentage of .473 while help
ing the Demons earn a spot in
the GHSA AAAAA playoffs.
“Alex worked really hard dur
ing the off-season to improve
offensively and defensively,”
Beatty said. “He helped us
defensively up the middle and
was one of our offensive lead- ,
ers.”
Other: Received the team’s
Coach’s award.
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Coach's Corner: “Alex had
a solid year. He was our vocal
leader and one that everyone
in the program looked up to.
He was a pleasure to coach for
three years."
Chris Thompson
School: Houston County
Year: Senior
Position: Shortstop/pitcher
Impact: Hit .304, which
included three homeruns. Also
had 18 RBI and an on base per
centage of .400. On the mound,
' he recorded three saves. ‘The
three saves,” said Head Coach
Kenny Yanzetich, “were all
recorded with the game in the
seventh with winning runs on
and three to one outs to get.
He battled back from a career
threatening ankle injury he suf
fered last June sliding into the
plate in a summer league game
at Collins Hill. He spent the
following months in pain rehab
bing hoping he would be able
to play at all let alone as well as
he did."
Other: Was named to the
Region 1 -AAAAA Second Team
All-Region. Will be attending
South Georgia Junior College
on a baseball scholarship.
Coach’s Corner: “I have
never had some one go through
the ups and downs Chris has
with his ankle injury. He has
shown all of us what the will to
succeed can do."
Damian Phillips
School: Houston County
Year: Sophomore
Position: Outfielder
Impact: Hit .345, which
included four homeruns and
seven doubles. Had an on base
percentage of .446. He also had
six assists from right field this
spring. .
“It seemed like Damian either
had the game winning hit or
hit a homerun to put us up in
almost all of our wins at the
end of the season,” Yanzetich
said. ‘That includes the monster
homerun he hit at Lowndes the
last game of the year."
Other: Was named to the
Region 1 -AAAAA Second
Team and earned the team’s.
Silver Slugger and Gold Glove
awards.
Coach’s Corner: “I believe
Damian could be one of the
best hitters to ever come out
of HOCO if he puts the work in
over the next couple of years.”
Kyle Davis
School: Houston County
Year: Senior
Position: Outfielder/pitcher
Impact: Hit .292, which
included four extra base hits.
Had an on base percentage,
stole eight bases and scored
11 runs. On the mound, he was
4-7 with 41 strikeouts in 45
innings.
“(He) pitched well in his four
key region wins,” Yanzetich
said. “He was a big part of us
staying alive in the playoff hunt
until the last day.”
Other: Earned the team's
Most Valuable Player award
and was named to the Region
1 -AAAAA Honorable Mention
Team. Signed a letter of intent
with Piedmont College.
Coach’s Corner: “Kyle is a
very well rounded student /ath
lete. He has been a leader by
example as much in the class
room as he has on the field.”
Philip Knauer
School: Houston County
Year: Senior
Position: Outfielder
Impact: Hit .357, which
included seven doubles. Had
an on base percentage of .451,
drove in 10 runs and scored 15.
“Played a terrific centerfield
for us," Yanzetich said, “and
we started to score more runs
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when he moved to the three
hole.”
Other: Earned the team's
Academic and Gold Glove and
Wendy's Heisman awards. Was
named to the Region 1 -AAAAA
Honorable Mention Team.
Coach’s Corner: “Ranked
number 10 in his class with a
4.0 (GPA), Philip is attending
Georgia Southern on a full aca
demic scholarship.”
Chance Kitchens
School: Northside
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Impact: Had a 6-1 record on
the mound. Helped the Eagles
earn a berth in the GHSA AAAA
state tournament. “Chance used
his experience and talent on
the mound to set the tone early
in the season and continued
to give quality starts all year,”
Kinsler said. “His wins included
victories over Perry, Warner
Robins and Jones County.
“Chance was a solid perform
er ail year his experience kept
us in many games this year.”
Other: Earned the team’s
Most Outstanding Pitcher award
for 2008.
Daniel Sandavol
School: Northside
Year: Senior
Position: Third baseman
Impact: Hit .338, which
included 27 hits, which included
23 singles, three doubles and
one triple. He also had 11 RBI
and scored 24 runs. Had a field
percentage of .914 and helped
the Eagles earn a berth in the
GHSA AAAA state tournament.
“Daniel was a solid lead-off
hitter with a .400 on base per
centage,” Kinsler said. “His 24
runs scored was second on the
team and is characteristic of
what a leadoff hitter should do
- be on base to score runs."
On defense he had six errors
all year with two of those com
ing in one game.
“Daniel was always making a
diving stop or putting his body
in front of a hard shot to third,”
Kinsler said. “Daniel played
third with no fear. Daniel made
several outstanding plays for us
this year including starting five
double plays from third base
which is high for high school.”
Other: Earned the team’s
Most Outstanding Defensive
Player award.
Matt Phillips
School: Perry
Year: Junior
Position: Shortstop
Impact: Hit .240. A|so led the
team in runs scored with 36.
Helped the Panthers finish run
ner-up in the region and earn
a spot in the GHSA AAA state
tournament.'
“Matt is a two-year starter at
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shortstop and is the leader df
our defense,” Masters said.
"I expect Matt to be a very
good player for us in the future
because of his ’love of the
game’. He plays hard everyday.”
John David Howard
School: Perry
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Impact: Was 5-3 with a 3.21
EAR. In 52.1 innings pitched, he
struck out 54 while walking 24.
Helped the Panthers finish run
ner-up in the region and earn
a spot in the GHSA AAA state
tournament.
“J.D.’s pitching record does
not reflect the pitcher that he
is,” said Masters. “He pitched a
lot of tough draws this year.”
Other: Will be attending
Tusculum college in Greenville,
Tenn., where he will play base
ball and continue his education.
All-Houston County
Honorable Mention
Robby Hinson
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher/third base
man
Impact: Earned two wins on
the mound and had an ERA of
4.25. At third, he had a .931
fielding percentage - only two
errors all year - while helping
the Demons earn a spot in the
GHSA AAAAA playoffs.
Other: Signed with Brewton
Parker College and earned the
team’s Gold Glove award.
Coach's Corner: “Robby had
two starts on the mound where
he threw a complete game on
hitter and a three-hitter through
6 innings. He was our go-to
guy in middle relief and is a
fierce competitor on the mound.
He will have a fine career at
Brewton Parker."
Tyler Brooks
School: Westfield
Year: Senior
Position: Infielder
Impact: Led the team in
homeruns and in RBl’s. Was
second on the team in runs
scored, batting average and
base hits while helping the
Hornets earn a spot in the GISA
AAA state playoffs.
Other: Was named to the All-
Region team twice.
Coach’s Corner: ‘Tyler had
another solid year for us at
shortstop. He attacked the ball
well at the plate and hit it hard
throughout the year. Hopefully
will be able to play at the next
level in college.”
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