Baseball: Week One Scores, Highlights

An impressive contingent of seven local teams burst out of the gates to undefeated records in a rainy opening week of baseball action.

Martin Luther King Jr. led the way in that group with a perfect 3-0 mark. Coach Richard Gaines and the Lions rolled past Towers (18-0) Feb. 18, Newton County (7-4) Feb. 20 and Riverdale (10-1) Feb. 21 by the combined margin of 35-5.

The Lakeside Vikings (2-0) registered a pair of impressive triumphs over Duluth (2-1) Feb. 18 and Riverwood (12-5) Feb. 21. Coach Bill Newsome’s squad opened some eyes with the big victory over a highly rated Riverwood squad entering the 2013 season.

Senior Andrew Doetsch tossed five impressive innings on the mound to key Lakeside in a 2-1 victory over Duluth Feb. 18, striking out five and allowing only one run. Junior Brad Earnest delivered a key RBI hit on the offensive end. The Vikings then erupted for nine runs in the top of the fourth inning to rally and defeat Riverwood by a 12-5 count Feb. 21.

Coach Terrence Canty’s Miller Grove Wolverines also stormed out of the blocks to a 2-0 start, knocking off McNair (10-0) Feb. 20 and then besting Sonoraville (8-5) in the Home Plate Bash Feb. 23.

Junior Quintin Turner finished 3-3 with three runs scored and nine stolen bases and junior Trey Nelson tossed a two-inning, no-hitter with six strikeouts for Miller Grove in a 10-0 blanking or McNair Feb. 20.

The Southwest DeKalb Panthers likewise enjoyed a strong 2-0 opening week, posting a pair of shutout triumphs over Cedar Grove (10-0) Feb. 18 and Galloway (11-0) Feb. 21. Coach Tyrus Taylor has his team preparing for atough Region 6-AAAAA schedule this spring.

Southwest DeKalb received a combined no-hit pitching performance in an 11-0 romp over Galloway Feb. 21. Junior Jason Davis started and struck out one against four walks over the first three innings in getting the victory. Sophomore Mario Alston then threw two perfect frames in relief, striking out three. Seniors Chad Sitten (3 hits; 2 RBI) and Rob Cosby (2 RBI) paced the offensive charge.

The Arabia Mountain Rams (1-0) opened the 2013 campaign with a 5-3 victory over Cambridge Feb. 20. Coach Eric Hoxie’s squad is stepping up from Class AAA to Class AAAAA this season.

The Columbia Eagles (1-0) pulled away from a tight early battle to defeat Tucker by a 13-3 margin Feb. 18 in their only game last week. Coach Steve Dennis and the Eagles are preparing for their run in Region 6-AAAA this season.

Columbia received several strong offensive efforts in its 13-3 romp over Tucker Feb. 18. Super sophomore Trenton Nash led the way with a perfect 4-4 showing that included four runs scored, three RBI, three doubles and one stolen base. Senior Tre Jester (2-3; 5 RBI; 2 2B), sophomore Jalen Atterbury (2-3; 3 RS; 1 RBI; 1 2B; 1 SB) and junior William Belcher (2-3; 3 RS; 1 2B; 2 SB) also turned in strong outings at the plate for the Eagles in the victory.

Tucker rebounded from the loss to Columbia to finish 2-1 on the week. The Tigers knocked off Luella by an 8-3 count Feb. 20 behind freshman Josh Dunson’s two hits. Freshman Booth Vogel ripped off two hits to help the Tigers rally past Cedar Grove (5-2) Feb. 21.

Coach Chan English and the Dunwoody Wildcats (1-0) served notice that they will again be a force in Region 6AAAAA with a 16-1 decision over neighborhood rival Chamblee Feb. 19.

DeKalb also registered a pair of no-hitters behind the pitching of Chamblee’s Jared McKay and Cedar Grove’s Joe Malcolm.

McKay’s no-hit performance on the mound enabled Chamblee to roll to a 12-0 blanking of North Springs Feb. 18 at Sequoyah Middle School. McKay, a junior, tossed five complete innings on the way to registering the no-hitter, striking out five and walking only one. McKay also came up big at the plate, going 3-4 with five RBI, three runs scored, a homer, a triple and one stolen base.

Cedar Grove continued the theme of opening week no-hitters on the mound during an 18-0 triumph over Clarkston Feb. 20. Malcolm, also a junior, notched the mound superlative in this case, registering six strikouts and three walks over three innings.

Several players shined at the plate for the Saints in the contest, led by freshman Antwan Jackson (4-4; 4 RBI; 2 RS; 1 2B). Junior two-sport star Deion Sellers also posted a huge offensive outing for Cedar Grove, going 3-4 with four RBI, three runs scored, a double and a triple. Junior Bryson Allen-Williams (2-3; 3 RBI; 1 3B) and freshman Travon Hardnett (2-3; 3 RS; 2 RBI; 1 SB) rounded out the Saint offensive standouts.

Mark Brock is the Information Officer/Statistician/Web Manager for DeKalb County Schools Athletics