Georgia State University is playing host to the 2013 DeKalb County Junior and Senior All-Star Baseball Classics on Tuesday, May 28 at GSU's Baseball Complex next to Panthersville Stadium.
The format is different this year as the teams will be split from the East and West sides of the county instead of North and South. The squads will be made up of the top 18 juniors and seniors from each side.
The Juniors kick off the new format at 4 p.m. in a single nine inning game in the fifth annual contest.
The East will be coached by Arabia Mountain’s Eric Hoxie and assisted by Stephenson’s Marco Jackson. The West squad is led by Columbia’s Steve Dennis and assisted by Chamblee’s Brian Ely.
The All-Stars from the East team feature some of the best hitters in DeKalb County for 2013 including Southwest DeKalb’s Kevin Wimbish (.467), Tucker’s Aaron Perry (.456), Martin Luther King Jr.’s Marquis Cain (.453) and Alique Ivery (.412) and Redan’s Miles Fore (.419). Corderius Dorsey of Redan leads the East’s pitching staff with a 2.09 earned run average and a 5-1 record.
The West offense will be led by Columbia’s William Belcher (.424), Lakeside’s Tyler Povlsen (.378) and Chamblee’s Drew Henry (.339). Chamblee’s Jared McKay and Malik Jones combined for six wins and 66 strikeouts during the regular season as the leaders on the pitching staff for the West.
The 11th annual Seniors’ game is set for a 7 p.m. start depending on the length of the Juniors’ game.
Southwest DeKalb’s Tyrus Taylor coaches the East while being assisted by Tucker’s Bobby Gonzalez. Dunwoody’s Chan English heads up the coaching staff for the West while Lakeside’s Bill Newsome assists.
The East Seniors are led by pitchers Brandon Baker of Redan (5-1, 1.57 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings in the regular season) and Arabia Mountain’s Eugene Mabota (3-0, 2.02 ERA, 21 strikeouts and only eight walks in 27 2/3 innings).
Arabia Mountain’s Jordan Scott hit .475 in the regular season with 24 RBIs and nine doubles and Clarkston’s LaMarcus Mattox (.488 batting average) lead the offense.
The West offense has Lakeside’s Chad Sitten (.503, 28 RBI, 7 doubles, 5 triples), Dunwoody’s Charlie Madden (.508, 19 RBI, 5 homeruns) and Columbia’s Tre Jester (.492, 33 RBI, 10 doubles) leading the way.
The pitching staff for the West has several candidates available to take the mound including Dunwoody’s Ryan Gaines (6-2) and Logan Elliott (5-2) and Lakeside’s Andrew Doetsch (3-2) and Kenny Ajello (6-0).
Admission is $7 per person for the day.
Mark Brock is the Information Officer/Statistician/Web Manager for DeKalb County Schools Athletics