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Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 9A
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Joe Parks Jr. was recently inducted into the Kennesaw State
University Hall of Fame along with the rest of the 1996 Col
lege World Series National Champions. He was a four-year
starter for the Pirates baseball team and graduated in 1992.
He was drafted in the 22nd round by the Cleveland Indians.
Joe Parks Jr. in KSU Hall of Fame
Pike County’s own,
Joe James Parks Jr., was
inducted into the Ken
nesaw State University
Hall of Fame along with
his 1996 baseball Nation
al Champion teammates,
on Oct. 29, 2021. Joe was
a vital piece to the KSU
baseball program and to
that National Champion
ship team. That year, in
his senior season, Joe
batted .356 and added 37
RBIs.
In addition, Joe also
set the Kennesaw State
University single season
stolen base record with
37 while batting second
in the order.
Adding to his clutch
play, Joe was selected
to the All-Regional team
that season.
During that historic
1996 season, KSU began
the campaign 5-6. They
then went on a dominant
stretch of baseball that
carried on the rest of the
way by finishing 43-11.
KSU came up clutch
when it mattered the
most by going 4-0 in the
College World Series to
win the National Champi
onship.
Joe graduated Pike
County High in 1992. He
was a four year starter
for the Pike County High
School baseball team and
hit close to .400 during
four years playing for the
Pirates. As a senior, Joe
was selected as one of
20 players to represent
Team Georgia to play in
a state by state tourna
ment. Joe also made the
State All Star team. Joe’s
spectacular high school
career did not go unno
ticed. On June 2, 1992, he
was drafted in the 22nd
round by the Cleveland
Indians.
Joe’s Pike County
roots run deep as Joe’s
parents (Joe Sr. and Bar
bara), live in Pike County
to this day and have
called Pike County home
all their lives.
PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL
Joe Parks Sr. and Barbara
Parks recently attended the
Hall of Fame induction cer
emony at KSU for their son
Joe Parks Jr.
PC Pirates finish their season with a 46-0 victory
The 8U Pike Coun
ty Pirates finished
their season with a
46-0 win over Man
chester on Nov. 6.
“These boys have
made such prog
ress this year,” said
Rodney Fillingim.
“They had a rough
start but ended the
season with a bang!”
Members of the
8U Pirates included
#00 Waylon Norton,
#1 Jace Camp, #2
Cooper Whitson, #3
Parks Herrington,
#4 Judah Fillingim,
#5 Kanye Vinson,
#6 Casen Hunley,
#7 Creed York, #9
Brooks Whitman,
#10 Knoxx Greene,
#11 Vincent Motes,
#12 Brisen Baxter,
#13 Easton Chap
pell, #14 Blake
Payne, #15 Robby
Readdy, #18 Ziek
Hunt, #21 Chad Hill,
#22 Blaine Saporita,
#23 Jack Lenard,
#27 Beau Williams,
#31 Kace Johnson,
#55 John Patrie and
#77 Levi Spence.
Coaches for the 8U
Pirates included
Brad Lenard, Will
Whitman and Jeffrey
Patrie.
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