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MAY 14,1998 AUGUSTA FOCUS
Greenbrier poised for state title run...again!
You can hear the confidence in
Lamar Leverett's voice and sense
it deep within his eyes. The hulk
ing Greenbrier senior, who ?':he
way is headed to Savannah State
next fall to join the ranks of the
Tigers baseball program, believes
this 1998 Wolfpack team has the
talent and mental toughness to
secure the Georgia Class AAA base
ball championship for the second
straight year. Yes, when you watch
“The Pack” in action on the prep
diamond, it’s clearly evident that
this Terry Holder-led troop of stu
dent-athletesisindeed loaded with
talent, pois.e,anda“touginsmils”
competitive attitude. Currently
sporting a record of 21-3, Green
brier is now just four wins away
from their second state title. The
Wolfpack are achieving what many
thought wasimpossible at the start
of the season.
The fact that the Wolfpack has
“once again” reached the state
semi-finals is no great surprise.
That'’s just an indication of how
the expectation level is for a Terry
Holder-coached team. After all,
Holder is a man who has six state
baseball titles listed on his coach
ing resume. Holder knows how to
cultivate and develop talent. The
defending state champs open up
their best-of-three semi-finals se
ries against Dalton in Celumbia
County. The “Men in Green,” who
have enjoyed a decisive homefield
advantage throughout the play
offs, sport a starting roster con
sisting of five battle-tested seniors
in catcher James Rushing, first
baseman Chris Parker, pitcher Will
Anderson, shortstop Tim Fries,
and Leverett in left field. Rushing
1. an exceptional defensive talent
who has taken a lot ofheat over the
Look for the African-American Astronaut display at Augusta State University Reese Library, 2nd floor!
It’s OK To Tell Your Guests It’s Homemade.
Just Don’t Tell Them Who Made It.
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Hey, homemade doesn’t always meanm
i . . it was made in my house. It just means it ——
;;‘. was made the same way I would make it at home.
" That’s why Publix Bakery cakes are made with the
=y . : R same ingredients you use in your own kitchen.
&RO F.rm fresh eggs. Real butter. Real cream. And
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* 3
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Timeout
years. from Holder (by. his own
admission). That extra motivation
by the veteran coach has paid big
dividends this season. Rushing is
having a stellar year with the bat
(batting over .350 for the season)
and his leadership behind the plate
has helped the Greenbrier pitch
ing staff progress at an amazing
pace. Leverett meanwhile has de
ceptive quickness for a young man
his size (6’2”/255 lbs.) and excel
lent hands. After a slow start at
the plate at the beginning of the
season, Leverett has led by ex
ample while raising his batting
average near the .380 mark during
the playoffs.
Junior Tony Smith, hampered
with a pulled hamstring for most
of the year, isbatting in the neigh
borhood of .400. Smith has shown
flashes of power at the plate that
has mesmerized Wolfpack fans
throughout the playoffs. Smith
went 3 for 3 (1 home run, adouble,
and 3 RBl's) at the plate against
Sports
the Warhawks of Henry County
during last weekend’s second
round match-up. Smith wins this
;Ml;;: “Courage Award” hands
wn for not allowing his injury to
hamper his efforts both in the field
and at the plate. Pitcher Hampton
Rowland (9-1) has shown flashes
of brilliance on the mound.
Rowland’s abilities to make ad
justments during tough stretches
of ballgames is phenomenal for an
underclassman. Thistalented jun
ior refuses to let opposing batters
rattle him and affect his overall
performance. Combined with se
nior Will Smith, Holder and his
coaching staff have a formidable
“one-two punch” on the hill that
have proven they can be counted
on during big games. Sophomore
Jon Johnson fits the role of the
ultimate designated hitter for
Greenbrier. Johnson has had the
hottest bat on the club (.400 plus
batting average) throughout the
playoffs and seems unfazed by the
level of competition he has faced so
far. Whenever Greenbrier needs a
clutch hit, Johnson has been the
man todeliver. Freshman Bradley
Key is also a rising star on the
diamond worth watching. Key may
easily wind up as a Prep All-Ameri
canoneday. Yes, this cagey second
baseman has that kind of potential
as his batting average (over .400)
will indicate upon careful review.
It’s scary to imagine how much
better Key will be after not one,
not two, but three more seasons of
coaching under the watchful eye of
Holder (one of the best prep base
ball gurus in the entire South
east). Greenbrier’s keen mixture
of seasoned veterans, talented jun
iors, “up and coming” underclass
men, and excellent coaching will
prove to be too much for Dalton
after the dust has cleared at “The
Brierpatch” this weekend.
The Wolfpack has picked up the
championship scent and are on the
title trail. If they can maintain
their composureasaunit (i.e. avoid
all distractions), remained focused
on defense (especially in the in
field), and keep slugging the base
ball with power (keep a watchful
eye on cousins Leverett and
Johnson), Greenbrier baseball fans
and boosters will once again find
themselves celebrating a champi
onship year at the true “field of
dreams!”
Kudos’ to Frankie!
ASU sports information direc
tor Frank “the Ultimate Stat-Man”
Mercogliano is moving on to
greener pastures after four years
in the Jaguar camp. Mercogliano
has been a true force in keeping
the media (and the public at large)
informed regarding every aspect
of ASU athletics. After more than
a decade of working with SlD’s
from around the country, I can
honestly report that ASU certainly
will be losing one of the very best.
Mercogliano is a professional who
goes about his job with a true pas
sion, professionalism, and consis
tency. Mr. Mercogliano, all the
best, to you (and your family) as
youdepart for Big Sky countryand
Idaho State University. Good luck
Frank, and by the way, don’t for
get to send me a 20 pound sack of
Idaho potatoes for Christmas!
Tony Cornish Jr. is a freelance
sports columnistand host of Sports
Talk Live with Tony Claired wece: -
nights at 10 p.m., exclusively on
UPN 67.
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