Welcome to Mizuno Performances of the Week for April 9, 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:
*Carrollton senior shortstop Brandon Prince entered this week with 11 straight hits. He was 7-for-7 with four runs, four RBI and a triple in two games last week. In the game before, on March 30, Prince was 3-for-3 with a double, a triple and four runs scored. Prince last made an out in his third at-bat against Cass on March 28 in a game in which he was 2-for-4. Prince also has five stolen bases during his streak. Carrollton is 21-3 and ranked No. 3 in AAAAA.
*Dade County senior Greg Templeton pitched a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts in an 8-1 victory over second-ranked Rockmart in a Region 7-AA game on Friday. Templeton was 2-for-2 at the plate with two walks and three runs scored. It was the seventh straight victory for Dade (13-6, 8-2), which narrowly trails Rockmart (14-6, 8-1) in the region race.
*First Presbyterian senior outfielder/pitcher Gavin Bloodworth had five hits, a double and a home run in the Vikings’ 8-7 victory over George Walton Academy on Monday. Bloodworth’s single to right field scored Chet Thompson with the winning run in the 11th inning. Then on Tuesday, Bloodworth went 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBI and a double in First Presbyterian’s next game, a 10-3 win over Westfield School.
*Irwin County junior Zach Smith pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts Monday in a 12-0 victory over Turner County. At the plate, Smith was 2-for-3 with an RBI triple. Irwin County is 17-3 and ranked No. 4 in the Class A public-school division, but Smith’s pitching gem marked the Indians’ first shutout of the season.
*Loganville second baseman/pitcher Joseph Brandon was 4-for-7 with four RBI and a home run last week in three Red Devils victories. Brandon also pitched five scoreless innings against Marist on Friday while striking out eight, allowing two hits and walking none. Brandon has signed with Georgia State. Loganville, a defending state champion, is 17-6 and ranked No. 2 in AAAAA.
*Newnan senior outfielder Will Wilbanks was 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI in a 9-7 victory over Woodward Academy last week. Newnan (17-7, 10-0) leads Region 2-AAAAAAA after a recent sweep of second-place East Coweta in which junior Jake Martin threw the first no-hitter in the history of the county rivalry.
*North Hall junior right fielder/pitcher Caleb Clark was 9-for-14 with six runs, four RBI and a double as the leadoff hitter in a three-game sweep of East Hall last week. Clark, a left-handed pitcher, came within two outs of a seven-inning no-hitter in Wednesday’s game, an 8-3 victory. He struck out eight in 6.2 innings before tiring. North Hall is 17-3 and ranked No. 3 in AAA.
*Pike County junior pitcher/second baseman Noah Windhorst pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts in a 9-0 victory over then-No. 2 Jackson on Tuesday. Windhorst, a transfer from McCracken County in Kentucky, was 2-for-3 with two doubles at the plate. Windhorst had two more hits Friday in an 11-3 win over Jackson. Pike County (15-5, 8-0) took charge of Region 4-AAA with the sweep.
*Pope junior first baseman Caden Smith was 3-or-3 with a home run and five RBI in a 12-8 victory over eighth-ranked Walton of AAAAAAA on Friday. Smith, the cleanup hitter, also walked and scored two runs. Smith is committed to Mercer. Pope is ranked No. 1 in AAAAAA.
*Valdosta junior infielder Colby Thomas hit three home runs in a double-header sweep of Coffee on Friday. Thomas was 5-for-8 with six RBI in the two games. He also hit a double.
*Winder-Barrow sophomore first baseman/pitcher Hunter Marsh was 5-for-10 with two home runs and seven RBI in the Bulldoggs’ three victories last week. Marsh had two doubles, two walks, two stolen bases and two runs scored. He was hit by two pitches. He pitched in two games, striking out four in 2.2 innings.
Mizuno is a proud sponsor of GHSA Baseball. Based out of metro-Atlanta, Mizuno USA is dedicated to creating the best baseball gear in the world for players at all levels. See the latest lineup of Mizuno baseball gear at www.MizunoUSA.com/baseball.
