Welcome to Mizuno Performances of the Week for March 19, highlighting some of the state’s best and hottest baseball players. This weekly feature is compiled and written by Todd Holcomb. Coaches can email weekly nominations to Todd at toddholcomb@bellsouth.net. Please include the nominee’s positon and year in school.
Here are some top individual performers from the recent games throughout the state:
*Arabia Mountain senior infielder/pitcher Corey King was 4-for-5 with four walks and five runs scored in two victories over Clarkston and one over Southwest DeKalb. King is hitting .600 (18-for-30) with seven extra-base hits, 16 stolen bases, 16 runs scored and 22 RBI. As a pitcher, he’s 2-0 with a 1.43 ERA.
*Campbell freshman pitcher/shortstop Michael Braswell has struck out 10 or more batters in each of his last three starts. He is 1-2 on the season with an 1.05 ERA over 20 innings in those starts, losing close matchups with Region 2-AAAAAAA leaders Newnan and East Coweta. He is hitting .371 with five doubles.
*Heritage-Ringgold senior Cole Wilcox pitched a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts in the Generals’ 3-1 victory over Northwest Whitfield on Tuesday. Wilcox allowed no earned runs. Heritage went on to sweep a three-game series during which Wilcox was 5-for-10 at the plate with three walks. Wilcox – who is 6 feet, 5 inches, 230 pounds and plays first base and outfield - is batting .536 (15-for-28) with two home runs. He’s 2-1 on the mound with an 0.82 ERA.
*Hillgrove junior outfielder Ethan Wright was 7-for-14 with four doubles and five runs scored in his team’s 4-0 week that included two walk-off game-winning hits for the Hawks. Wade Richardson had one in a 9-8 victory over second-ranked Brookwood while Jorden Powser had the other – scoring Wright, who led off with a double - in a 3-2 win over Kennesaw Mountain.
*Mount Zion-Jonesboro junior outfielder/shortstop Julius Wynn Jr. stole nine bases in four games last week. He nabbed four in one game, a 10-9 victory over Stephenson. His season high is five steals against Morrow last month. He has 20 stolen bases on the year. Wynn is batting .481 (13-for-27).
*North Cobb Christian senior Ronny Piepmeier was 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBI in a 12-0 victory over Mount Zion of Carroll County on Wednesday. Piepmeier is committed to Chattanooga State.
*Savannah Christian senior Tyler Richards pitched a five-inning no-hitter in a 10-0 victory over Claxton on Tuesday. Richards hit one batter, the only man to reach base. Savannah Christian was 3-0 for the week and had wins over Holy Innocents’ and Emanuel County Institute, two ranked teams. Leadoff batter Justin Anderson was 6-for-10 with seven runs scored in his team’s three games.
*St Pius senior Wesley Diamantis was 8-for-11 with seven RBI last week. He’s hitting .341 with two homers, six doubles and 15 RBI for the Lions, who are 11-4.
*South Forsyth got a 3-0 start in Region 5-AAAAAAA last week in large part because of strong starting pitchers who also swing the bat well. The War Eagles beat seventh-ranked North Forsyth 5-1 on Tuesday when Landon Sims, a junior committed to Mississippi State, allowed just one hit and struck out nine over 6.2 innings. Sims had a double and two RBI. On Wednesday, South beat North again, this time 3-2, as Cooper Davidson, an Austin Peay signee, pitched a complete-game five-hitter. Davidson was 2-for-3 at the plate. On Friday, South Forsyth defeated Lambert 5-3. Ben Ferrer, a USC-Upstate signee, went the distance on the mound and was 2-for-4 at the plate.
*Tattnall Square lowered its team ERA is 0.76 last week while allowing only one earned run in four games with four different starting pitchers. Brooks Gorman, a sophomore, pitched a two-hit shutout in a 7-0 victory over sixth-ranked Locust Grove of Class AAAAA. Gorman is 3-0 with a 0.52 ERA. Tattnall Square’s other starters are senior Luke Laskey (5-1, 0.81 ERA), senior Logan Fink (4-1, 0.27 ERA) and sophomore Dawson Brown (2-1, 2.02).
*Wayne County senior first baseman Ford Townsend struck out 11 straight batters in relief to finish a 7-5 victory over Brunswick last week. With his team trailing 5-1, Townsend hit a two-run homer to get the rally started, then got a bases-loaded walk to drive in the go-ahead run. Townsend has signed with Mercer.
*Woodstock senior pitcher Zach Manus allowed just three hits and struck out 12 in a 4-2 victory over fifth-ranked Walton.
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