Collins Hill Eagles 12u: 2008 Spring Game Recaps

On Sunday, June 8th, the Collins Hill 10u Eagles were crowned the 2008 Greater Gwinnett Baseball League Champions.

Full recap to follow...but for now congratulations on a job well done Eagles!

As of 6/5/08 (Bracket 1 only - to see the full bracket go to http://www.gwinnettbaseball.com )

Winner of this bracket plays the winner of Bracket 2 in a best of 3 championship series.

The Eagles took on all comers over the weekend and survived to claim the championship trophy on Sunday afternoon at the 2008 Clash of the Champions tournament in Jonesboro, Georgia.

Battling teams from all over Georgia, warm temps, and a bit of fatigue, the Eagles were able to overcome a sluggish start to the tournament.  But, as they've learned over the last 2 seasons, it's not how you start, but how you finish that's important.  And the Eagles did just that on Sunday - they finished what they started.

The tournament did not start out spectacularly for the Eagles, as they dropped their first game 13-6 against the Southern Jaguars.  And even though it may not have been one of their best performances of the season, the Eagles still refused to give up.  Trailing 13-2 in the 3^rd inning, the Eagles mounted a rally and put 4 more runs on the board, but that would be as close as they would get, as they Jaguars held on for the 13-6 win.  It would be the last time the Eagles would lose in the tournament.

The next morning had the Eagles squaring off against the Georgia Braves, and again it was a sluggish start for the Eagles.  But, trailing by one run, the Eagles scored twice in their last at bat to rally for the 4-3 victory. 

The game against the Braves seemed to wake up the Eagles’ bats, which had been unusually quiet for more than a week.  The Eagles came out against the Elite Force and finally displayed the offensive output their fans are used to seeing, as they doubled up the Force by a 14-7 score.

Sunday started off with the Eagles taking on the Elite Redwings, and the Eagles’ bats showed no signs of quieting down, as they pounded out 13 hits and hammered the Redwings 17-1.  That victory would set-up a rematch with the Force in the tournament semi-final game, and the result would be very similar to the previous meeting between the two teams.  This time, the Eagles were 12-4 winners and heading to the championship game.

The Eagles were able to watch the conclusion of the other semi-final game which pitted the Southern Jaguars against the EC Young Guns.  Would the Eagles get a rematch against the only team to beat them in the tournament?  Would it be a drama-filled championship game with a couple teams gettin’ jiggy?

In a very hard-fought, back and forth game, the Young Guns were able to pull off the upset over the Jaguars and advance to take on the Eagles in the championship game.  And while they came into the championship game ready to play, the Eagles had just been sitting idle for about 30 minutes.

The Eagles weren’t able to muster any offense in the first inning, while the Young Guns, still pumped up from their victory over the Jaguars, jumped on the board quickly in the bottom of the first, scoring twice to leave the score 2-0 after 1 inning. 

But the second inning would be a different story.  The Eagles bats once again would roar to life, as they “manned up” and pounded out 7 hits and plated 5 runs in the top of the second.  The Eagles defense settled down in the bottom of the second, and retired the Young Guns in order, to leave the score 5-2 after two innings.

The Eagles would add a run in the top of the third, 3 more in the fourth, and then one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, while holding the Young Guns to single runs in their half of the third and sixth innings, to bring the final score to 11-4.  The championship game was representative of the entire tournament, as it was won by a total team effort.  Each player contributed – whether it was a big defensive play, a clutch hit to drive in a run, strong pitching, or great base-running - everyone was involved in every game.

Both teams were exhausted from a long day of competition, as each team had been at the park since the early morning and played three games.  But the Eagles were able to focus and fight through the exhaustion. 

And it’s that focus that drives a team to finish.  And finishing is what champions do.

For more photos from the awards ceremony, see the "Albums" section of the website.  Thanks to Jennifer Jenkins for the pictures.

It wasn't exactly the way the Eagles had hoped to return to action after a lengthy Spring Break layoff. 

The Eagles completed their participation in the Battle at the Bridge Tournament at Webb Bridge Park in Alpharetta with a loss to the Wills Park Redhawks on Sunday, April 20^th.  The loss left the Eagles with a 1-3 record in the tournament. 

The Eagles started off Saturday morning facing the South Forsyth Renegades, and quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 2 innings.  However, the rust accumulated from not playing in 16 days began to show after that, and the Renegades proceeded to put up 15 runs in the next two innings to make the score 15-4.  The Eagles refused to quit, and tried to mount a comeback in their final at-bat, but were only able to score 3 runs, to make the final score 15-7.

In their next game, the Eagles squared off against the Wills Park Redhawks for the first time this season.  The Eagles had faced the Redhawks twice last year, losing both times, and were looking to finally notch a win against the team from Alpharetta.  Again, it would be the Eagles that would strike first, where in the 2nd inning, Crae LeBlanc would blast a two out double to the fence in left field, missing a homerun by inches.  The next batter, Alec Cargin, would drive in LeBlanc with a run-scoring single to put the Eagles up 1-0 after 2 innings.  The Redhawks would hold the Eagles scoreless the next inning, and then put up 3 runs of their own in the third, and then add another in the fourth.  Again, the Eagles refused to quit, and they tried to come back, putting up 2 more runs in the fifth.  But the Redhawks would score 3 more times in the bottom of the fifth and secured the win as the time limit expired.

The Eagles would play again immediately following the loss to the Redhawks, taking on the Forsyth Fire.  This would be the Eagles’ first elimination game of the weekend.  The Eagles wasted little time in this game setting the tone, as they put up five runs in the top of the first, and never looked back, as they would cruise to a 17-2 victory.  The Eagles pounded out 13 hits in the game, and for the first time in the weekend played error-free ball.  And while everyone contributed in the victory, the highlights of the game came in the way the Eagles clinched the win.  With 2 on in the top of the 4^th, Ian Jenkins would connect on a monstrous homerun, his fourth, and longest, of the season to give the Eagles a 16-2 lead.  Needing just one more to extinguish the Fire, Riley King would launch a missile that crashed into the scoreboard in left field, symbolically emphasizing the offensive outburst the Eagles had displayed.

The next morning brought a renewed sense of optimism, as the Eagles were set to square off again with the Redhawks.  The energy was back in the Eagles’ dugout, and the look in their eyes let everyone know they were ready to play.  The Eagles played one of, if not the best game they’ve played all season, but were unfortunately left on the wrong side of a 2-1 final score, as they were still unable to get a victory over the Redhawks in their fourth attempt in 2 seasons.  Defensively, the Eagles were at the top of their game.  Starting pitcher Alec Cargin pitched a complete game, scattered 6 hits, walked none, and kept the Redhawks off balance the entire game.  However, the offensive explosion from the day before did not carry over to this game, as the Eagles were limited to just 2 hits, and 4 total bases runners for the game.  Despite the outcome, it was a great game played by the Eagles.

While the tournament did not end the way the Eagles had hoped, there was plenty that stood out positively for the team, including:

·         The “never-say-die” attitude in the first game when they were trailing.

·         Reed Egan with 3 outfield assists over the course of the tournament.

·         Crae LeBlanc barely missing 2 homeruns.

·         Ian Jenkins’ mammoth homerun against the Fire.

·         Riley King’s walk-off scoreboard rattler against the Fire.

·         Alec Cargin’s pitching gem against the Redhawks.

·         The team’s defense against the Redhawks – which included getting 2 would-be base-stealers out and executing a pickle.

The Eagles’ next game is at home this Wednesday at 8:00, as they host the Norcross Blue Devils.

It should be noted that the Eagles played this tournament without a key member of the team, Caleb Bardin.  Caleb was unable to attend as his presence was needed as his mom, Shannon, married Eddy Watson on Saturday.  And while we all missed Caleb not just for his on-field contributions, but for his personality around the team in general, we certainly understand.  Congratulations to Shannon, Eddy & Caleb, and from all the Eagles we wish you all the best of luck!  

Oh What A Night!

It was cold.  It was damp.  It was exciting.  It was a bash.

On Thursday, April 3, 2008, the Collins Hill Eagles unloaded on the Dacula Blue Falcons, pounding out 12 hits on the way to a 21-6 victory.  And for one Eagle, the night was extra special.

Crae LeBlanc took the mound for his first start of the season, and kept the Falcons off the scoreboard.   When the Eagles came to bat in the bottom of the first, they wasted little time jumping out to a quick lead.  The Eagles sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring 5 runs.  The highlight of the inning was a 2-run homerun from Chandler Boles over the left-center field fence. 

The Falcons would claw their way back in the top of the second, scoring 5 runs of their own.  But the Eagles would come back in a big way in the bottom of the second, scoring 10 runs, to make the score 15-5 after 2 innings.   For the second inning in a row, Chandler Boles would smash a 2-run homerun, this time over the right field fence. 

The entire team would contribute to the offensive outburst in some fashion.  Caleb Watson went 2-2 with 4 RBI, and several Eagles would score multiple times.

But the hero on this evening was Boles, who celebrated his 10^th birthday in grand fashion.  He would finish his birthday bash going 2-3, with 2 homeruns, 4 RBI, and scored 3 times.  In his final at-bat, Boles just missed getting a 3^rd homerun, but was able to reach base on an error.  Happy Birthday, Chandler!

The Eagles continue to improve each game.  The pitching trio of LeBlanc, Alec Cargin, and Casey Marksberry allowed only 3 hits for the game.  The Eagles offense had their third highest hit total, and highest run output of the season.  And the defense played one of their best games of the season.

The Eagles finished the first portion of their season with a record of 13-4.  They’ve outscored their opponents by a combined score of 157-77.  The team heads into Spring Break on a very positive note, and will look to continue their winning ways after getting some much deserved R&R.

The Eagles needed this.

The Eagles needed this for several reasons.

They needed a win to keep their momentum going, and to keep them near the top of the GGBL standings.

They needed a solid all around game against a quality team to serve as a tune-up heading into their tournament in Lagrange this weekend.

They needed to prove to themselves they could not only play with, but also defeat North Gwinnett - a team that was a thorn in the Eagles collective side all last season.

What the Eagles got on Wednesday night was all of that.The Eagles played their best game of the season and produced a victory that should go a long way to building their confidence in the young season.  And it was a recipe for success the Eagles are very familiar with: strong pitching, great defense, and timely hitting.  It's a formula that works very well for the Eagles, and when they follow it, they are extremely tough to beat.

From the first pitch it was obvious that it was going to be a hard fought game, as the Eagles were retired in order in the first inning on only 6 pitches.  So it was time for the Eagles to return the favor to the Bulldogs.  Behind the dominant pitching of Chandler Boles, the Eagles retired the first 3 Bulldog batters in order, to leave the score tied at 0 after one inning.

That score wouldn't last long, though, as in the second inning Riley King came to the plate with one out, and sent a 1-2 pitch deep over the right field fence and into the batting cage to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.  It was King’s first homerun of the season.  Boles and the Eagles’ defense would again shut down the Bulldog offense to preserve the 1-0 lead after 2 innings.

In the 3^rd inning, Alec Cargin would reach base on a 1 out single.  With Caleb Watson at the plate, Cargin would steal second base, but an errant throw by the North Gwinnett catcher, which glanced off Cargin’s helmet all the way to the center field fence, would allow Cargin to score on the play.  North Gwinnett would score a run in the bottom of the inning, leaving the score 2-1 Collins Hill after 3.

Spencer Douches would lead off the 4^th inning for the Eagles by drawing a walk, but as is his norm, he wouldn’t remain at first for long.  Douches would steal 2^nd and 3^rd with Chandler Boles at the plate, and then in a clever bit of base-running, would avoid a pickle and steal home to plate the Eagles’ 4^th run of the evening.  Douches would take over the pitching duties in the bottom of the 4^th, and would keep the Bulldogs penned up, refusing to surrender any runs.

Entering the 5^th inning, the Eagles were leading 3-1, and despite the team being in control for most of the game, everyone knew some insurance would help.  That insurance would arrive in the form of a 3-run blast to center field from Alec Cargin.  It was Cargin’s 2^nd homerun of the season.  Spencer Douches would again keep the Bulldogs under control in the 5^th.  The Eagles would plate one final run in the top of the 6^th, giving them a 7-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 6^th. 

The Bulldogs would attempt to mount a comeback in their half of the 6^th, scoring twice to cut the Eagles lead to 7-3.  Cole Zabowski would enter the game in relief of Douches with one out in the 6^th.  Zabowski would get a huge lift from Douches, who made a stellar play at first base, fielding the ball right on the bag for the second out of the inning.  Zabowski and Douches would team up for the final out of the game, where Zabowski would field a come-backer to the mound and toss to Douches at first for the final out.

Throughout the game you could see the confidence on the faces of all the Eagles.  They were all calm, and focused on their goal of the evening.  And whereas in the past they would fall victim to one bad inning, the Eagles defense made sure that didn’t happen on this occasion, and in doing so lifted a huge monkey off their back.  A monkey in the form of a Bulldog.

The weather hasn’t been completely cooperating with the Eagles’ 2008 season so far.  It seems that there’s been one cancellation after another.  But this weekend the weather remained clear, and the Eagles were able to get their games in and get back to their regular routine, which includes taking care of business in the GGBL.  And the good play on Saturday allowed the Eagles to enjoy their Easter Sunday that much more. 

Saturday began with the Eagles hosting a tough and determined Grayson Rams team.  The highlight of the game came in the bottom of the first inning, as Reed Egan led off the inning and blasted the first pitch he saw over the left field fence for his first homerun of the season.   The Eagles held the Rams off the scoreboard the first two innings, but had to hold off a late rally by the Rams to secure the 7-6 victory. 

Saturday evening saw the Eagles travel up the road to visit Dacula, as they took on the Dacula Blue Falcons.  This game was much more reminiscent of what we’ve come to expect from the Eagles, as they jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, grounding the Falcons  by a final tally of 15-9. The Eagles started quickly in the top of the first inning against Dacula, as the first 9 batters all reached base safely.  The Eagles would plate 7 runs in the first inning, and would score in every inning but the 4^th after that.  The Falcons would attempt to come back on two different occasions, but the Eagles kept the Falcons from taking flight and held on for the 15-9 victory. 

This week, the Eagles travel down Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, to take on their cross-town rivals North Gwinnett at 8:00 on Wednesday at George Pierce Park.

It was a tough weekend for the Eagles, as they tried to shake off the rust they've accumulated from not playing in a couple weeks.  And while there were some memorable highlights, ultimately the team came up short, losing both ends of a double-header on Sunday. 

The team was scheduled to play a game on Saturday against Peachtree Ridge, but that game was postponed due to the bad weather that moved through the area Friday night and Saturday morning. 

Sunday began with the team taking on the Parkview Panthers, a much improved team from a year ago.  The Panthers played great defense, and had clutch hitting throughout the game.  They proved to be a real challenge for the Eagles, and held off a last inning rally from Collins Hill to hold on to win 10-8. 

The Eagles were down 1-0 when they came to bat in the first inning, only to have the lead erased by Chandler Boles, who launched a shot off the scoreboard in center field for his first homerun of the season, to tie the game at 1-1.  The Eagles would add another run in the 2nd to take a brief 2-1 lead.  However, Parkview would battle back in the third, putting up 4 runs to take a lead they wouldn't surrender. 

Parkview would go on to add 5 runs over the next 3 innings, and Collins Hill would add 2, leaving the score 10-4 heading into the bottom of the 6th.  The Eagles first four batters would all single to reach base, and all would eventually come around to score.  However, that's as close as the rally came, as Parkview was able to cool off the Eagles just enough to hold on for the 10-8 win.

Immediately following the game with Parkview, the Eagles took on the Mill Creek Hawks, a team that the Eagles are very familiar with, having played them several times last season, and already having several scrimmages with them this season.  The two teams are very evenly matched, and have developed a very good, but respectful, rivalry.

The first inning would pass with neither team being able to plate a run.  That would change in the second, as Mill Creek would jump out to a 1-0 lead.  The Eagles would take the lead in the bottom of the second, as Ian Jenkins would lead off with a single, and be brought home on a 2-run homerun by Alec Cargin, his first of the season.  The Eagles would add another run in the third, as Trevor Powers led off with a single and would come around to score.

The Hawks would not give up, and would score 2 runs in the fourth to tie the game 3-3.  The lead was short-lived, though, as Cole Zabowski would blast his first homerun of the season.  Alec Cargin would double later in the inning, and come around to score on single by Jeremy Lewis, giving the Eagles a 5-3 lead over the Hawks.

That would be the last time the Eagles had the lead, as Mill Creek would score 5 runs in the fifth, and add another in the sixth.  The Eagles were unable to put together a rally this time, and wound up on the losing end of a 9-5 score.

Despite the losses, the Eagles had much to be proud of.  Aside from the 3 different players hitting homeruns, the Eagles also had some great defensive efforts.  Casey Marksberry, Trevor Powers, Caleb Bardin, and Spencer Douches each sacrificed their bodies, diving flat out in separate attempts to make an out.  The Eagles should also hold their heads up high for their refusal to quit. 

Losses are never easy, but if the team is able to build on these positive aspects from these games, it will only help them with what lies ahead.

The 2008 GGBL regular season started for the 10u Eagles on Saturday, March 1, and the Eagles wasted little time in letting the rest of the league know that they are looking to repeat their march to the championship this year.  The Eagles played 3 GGBL games this weekend, winning all 3 by a combined score of 33-8.  

Saturday's first game was against the Duluth Wildcats.  After the first inning, the game was tied 1-1, but the Eagles cranked up the offense in the 2nd, scoring 6 runs on 6 hits, highlighted by Ian Jenkins' first homerun of the season.  The hits continued in the 3rd, as the Eagles pounded out 6 more hits to produce 7 more runs.  The Wildcats would scrape out a couple runs in the top of the 4th, but not enough to prevent the game from being called after the top of the 4th, with the Eagles winning 14-3.

In Saturday's second game, the Eagles faced a tough North Gwinnett Bulldogs team that was determined to make the Eagles earn everything they got.  The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after one inning, but the Eagles fought back with 2 in the 2nd, 3 in the 3rd, and 2 more in the fifth, all the while holding the Bulldogs scoreless, to lead 7-2 going into the 6th inning.  The Bulldogs managed 1 more run in the top of the 6th, but the Eagles squashed any thoughts the Bulldogs had of a comeback to win 7-3.  Trevor Powers and Ian Jenkins both homered for the Eagles.

Sunday afternoon saw the Grayson Gunners come to Collins Hill to take on the Eagles, and the result was more of the same.  Grayson scored a run early in the first, only to see the Eagles tie it up in the bottom of the first and not look back.  The Eagles would put up 5 in the 2nd, 4 in the 3rd, and 2 in the fourth, to end the game at 12-2.  Ian Jenkins homered for the 3rd straight game for the Eagles.

This week the Eagles will travel to Bogan Park Wednesday night (7:30 game time) to face the Mill Creek Hawks in a non-GGBL tune-up game.  The Eagles then will travel to the East Cobb Baseball Complex for the weekend "Tournament of Champions".

The Collins Hill Eagles started their season by winning the 2008 County Seat Kickoff Classic in Lawrenceville over the weekend.  The championship was earned by the Eagles using the same formula that brought them much success last season: solid pitching, timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, and stout defense.  In addition to solid opponents, the Eagles also had to battle a basketball tournament and various illnesses that forced several players to miss games.

The Eagles had a record of 3-1 in the tournament.  They defeated the Georgia Grip on a very chilly and damp Saturday morning 12-2, playing shorthanded with only 8 players.  Later in the day the Norcross Blue Devils held the Eagles to 2 runs, defeating them 8-2. 

Sundays are championship days, and the Eagles came out on Sunday determined to make it to "the 'ship."  In a rematch with the Grip, the Eagles jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking an 11-3 victory to move on to the championship game, and a rematch with Norcross.  The Eagles avenged their earlier loss with a 10-2 team victory.  Every player in some way contributed in the win.  Whether it was pitching, a big hit, a great defensive play, or alert baserunning, the Eagles were the best TEAM in the tournament.

The next week brings a scrimmage on Wednesday, and then the start of the GGBL regular season.  If the Eagles continue to play as a TEAM, big things loom on the horizon.

The 2008 Eagles began their pre-season tune-up over the weekend, playing rival North Gwinnett in a scrimmage on a bright but blustery mid-February Sunday afternoon.  The style of play that carried the Eagles to an extremely successful 2007 season was on display at times, but eventually the Eagles fell to the Bulldogs, 13-7.

The Eagles' next pre-season action will be this coming weeking, as travel to Sharon Springs Park to take on the South Forsyth War Eagles in double-header action on Saturday, and then take on the Mill Creek Hawks on Sunday.

The roster is set for the 2008 Collins Hill Eagles Spring 10U Travel Team. 

The 2008 10U Eagles are:

• Riley King 
• Jeremy Lewis
• Cole Zabowski
• Reed Egan
• Alec Cargin
• Spencer Douches
• Casey Marksberry
• Trevor Powers
• Chandler Boles
• Ian Jenkins
• Caleb Bardin
• Crae LeBlanc

Congratulations to all and good luck as you set out for what should be another successful season!

Please check back here over the next few days for news regarding upcoming team meetings and practice information.