Pope Jr. Greyhounds: Team News

Pope Jr. Greyhounds Baseball is excited to announce its new 13U team under Head Coach Wesley Brock.  Like the 14U team, the new 13U team will be led by a coaching staff of parent volunteers and paid non-parent coaches, including current and former Pope Baseball players.  The team will play a regular season schedule in the North Georgia Feeder Baseball League and also play in open tournaments during the spring and summer.  Player development will focus on baseball fundamentals as well as speed, agility and conditioning. 

The 13U team will begin practice in December and start playing games in Spring 2012.  To be eligible for the team, players may be in 6th-8th grade but must be age 13 or younger on April 30, 2012.  Players should reside in the Pope district, however a select few non-district players will be considered.  Tryouts will be held on Saturday, December 3rd, at 1-3pm at Sewell Mill Field - 2550 Sewell Mill Rd.  To register for tryouts, please click the link below:

13U Tryouts Registration

Please note: A new window will open and you will need to enter an email address.  A link to your personal registration page will be sent to the email address you entered.  Registration ends Friday, December 2.  If you have any problems with your registration, please contact Cathy NeSmith at Jr.Greyhounds@gmail.com or 678-340-3353.

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Please Help Us "Light the Night" to Beat Leukemia & Lymphoma! 

Mike Buechner (pictured far left), one of our team fathers with the Jr. Greyhounds, is in recovery after a bone marrow transplant which will hopefully end his AML - Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  On Sat. Nov. 5 the Buechner Family will be participating in the Light the Night Walk to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).  Since Mike will not be able to participate in the walk because of his health status, the Jr. Greyhounds will help walk in his place.  Pope Jr. Greyhounds Baseball has joined as a member of "Team Beek" with a goal of raising $200 as a team total. We are hoping we can CRUSH this goal for Mike and all our other friends, colleagues and family who are affected by blood cancers. 
 
Please click the following link, read our story and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE donate even $1 to help our cause.  We also ask that you email this link, share on facebook, LinkedIn, etc. with at least 20 people and ask each recipient to visit the page and donate $1 or more.  Every little bit helps and any amount is greatly appreciated!  Simply go to "Make a Donation" on the right side of the page, enter the amount of your gift and click "Donate Now" - it's that easy...

     Click Here: Pope Jr. Greyhounds "Light the Night" Donation Page 
      
 
If your are in the metro Atlanta area and would like to participate in the actual Walk, it is the evening of Nov. 5.  Festivities start at 4pm in Centennial Park, and the walk itself is done at a leisurely pace.  For more info, visit http://www.lightthenight.org/ and click "What is Light the Night."  If you have any questions, please call Cathy NeSmith at 678-340-3353.  Thanks in advance for your support!

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The Jr. Greyhounds will be in the Parade of Teams on Wed June 15 with USSSA at Turner Field in honor of the late Darin McGahey, the youth coach who tragically died in Pensacola last summer trying to save his son and teammates.  If you would like to donate to the Darin McGahey Memorial Trust Fund, please contact Bubba Smith at Georgia USSSA Baseball - Tel: 678.794.8713 X102, Email: bsmith@gausssabaseball.com.

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The Jr. Greyhounds went 3-1-1 at beautiful Webb Bridge Park, losing the championship game to the Alpharetta A's.  For a tournament recap, please go to the Team News page. 

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After an exciting 6 innings of baseball, the Jr. Greyhounds defeated the #1 seeded Jr. Jackets in the Bracket Final and advance to the inaugural Championship Game of the North Georgia Feeder Baseball League.  Way to go Hounds!

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In an exciting night of baseball between the #4 Jr. Eagles and the #5 Jr. Greyhounds, the Hounds fought hard to come from behind and take the lead.  After the Eagles tied up the score at 7-7, the Hounds brought in the extra run then held the Eagles with solid defense.  Thanks to #2 Jarrod Howell for a great pitching performance.  The Jr. Greyhounds advance to play the #1 seed Sprayberry in the next round; winner moves on to the Championship Game.  Go Hounds!

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The Jr. Greyhounds defeated the Jr. Blue Devils in an exciting game that went to the 8th inning.  A walk-off RBI by #21 NeSmith-Hicks brought the victory, and the Hounds now advance to the bracket semifinal game versus Milton National.

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The Jr. Greyhounds suffered a tough loss to #1 Sprayberry  - an unfortunate end to Friday the 13th.  The Greyhounds now drop to the Elimination Bracket.  Next game will be Sunday 5/15 vs the winner of Game 15.

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In tonight's 2nd round game of playoffs, the Jr. Greyhounds brought the heat and gained a strong lead against Milton National.  But the Eagles battled back to bring the runs and close the gap to within 2.  The final two innings were nailbiters, but the #5 Hounds prevailed, beating the #4 Eagles 10-9.  The Greyhounds advance to Round 3 of the winners bracket to play the winner of Game 5 - #9 Sequoyah @ #1 Sprayberry. Go Hounds!

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Congratulations to the Jr. Greyhounds for finishing 2nd place in Division 1 and tying for 3rd place overall at the end of the inaugural season of the North Georgia Feeder Baseball League!!  Our Hounds worked very hard to get here as one of 3 first-year feeder programs in a league with twelve 8G/14U teams and we are so very proud of all our players and coaches!  Now to get ready for playoffs...  Go Hounds!

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The Jr. Greyhounds would like to thank all our moms, stepmoms and grandmoms for carpooling us, cheering for and supporting us through a great first season for our program.  And what better way to show our appreciation than to give them a 17-2 victory over the Allatoona Jr. Buccaneers?  #15 Taylor Waddilove delivered a bonus gift to his mom with a huge 2-run HR in the trees.  Great job Greyhounds!

Update on the Home Run race:

3 - #15 Taylor Waddilove (Pope, Bell Memorial Park, Big Shanty Park)

2 - #21 Brandon NeSmith-Hicks (Mt. Paran, Shaw Park)

1 - #25 Eric Bryant (Bell Memorial Park)

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The Jr. Greyhounds swept the Jr. Falcons 17-8 and 8-7 in a doubleheader at sunny Wallace Park.  Pitching duos #22 Parker + #19 Banik and #4 Adams + #21 NeSmith delivered 15 Ks in 10 innings between the 2 games.

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On a balmy Thursday night at Northview High School, the Jr. Greyhounds defeated the Jr. Titans 14-4.  It was a great game of offense and defense for everyone.  Notably, the Hounds scored 14 runs on 18 hits and made 0 errors in the field.

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This was a gorgeous day for a doubleheader at Pope Field!  

Game 1 - Sprayberry Jr. Yellow Jackets: The Jr. Greyhounds came out strong with 4 runs in the first inning, then maintained the lead through 5 innings.  The Jackets made a comeback to tie up the game in the 6^th inning, but the Hounds prevailed with the winning run to defeat the #2 ranked Jackets. 

Game 2 – Milton Jr. Eagles American: This game against the #1 ranked Eagles was close all the way through, ending when the Hounds scored the winning run with bases loaded in the 7^th inning.

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Congratulations to #25 Eric Bryant and #15 Taylor Waddilove for each hitting 2-run homers last night against Milton National!  Way to go Greyhounds!

Current HR leaders:

2 - #15 Waddilove (Bell Memorial Park, Pope H.S.)

2 - #21 NeSmith (Shaw Park, Mt. Paran)

1 - #25 Bryant (Bell Memorial Park)

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The Hillgrove Jr. Hawks hosted this feeder tournament at beautiful Hillgrove High School.

Team Highlights:

.432 OBP overall tournament

.313 SLG overall tournament

.299 BA overall tournament

Finished 3^rd place overall

Lost semifinal 4-3 in 8^th inning to tournament runner-up South Paulding

Individual Highlights:

#22 Travis Parker (P) - retired 3 batters in 5 pitches in semifinal vs South Paulding

#3 Mickey Buechner (2B) – worked through injury to score a run vs North Paulding

#15 Taylor Waddilove (CF) – sprint reverse catch for flyout vs South Paulding

#11 Corbin Bailey (OF) – big double to far RF vs North Paulding to lead off the inning

# 2 Jarrod Howell (P) – 2.170 ERA overall tournament, only 3 ER & 2 BB in 9.2 innings

#25 Eric Bryant (1B) – 16 put outs + 1 assist in 17 chances overall tournament

#21 Brandon NeSmith-Hicks (C) – 4 stolen bases in semifinal vs South Paulding

#6 Hunter Lyons (SS) - unassisted DP vs North Paulding

#21 Brandon NeSmith-Hicks (C) - .625 BA overall tournament 

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USSSA October Shootout 14U Silver Bracket Champs!

Tournament Highlights:

·      2nd place overall 14U for total runs scored in tournament.

·      3rd place overall 14U for avg runs allowed

·      2-pitcher no hitter in Game 6 by #21 Brandon NeSmith-Hicks & #13 Logan Cooperman.

·      Near impossible flyout catch from #15 Taylor Waddilove resulting in 8-4 double play.

·      Line drive snag by #7 Reed Williams leading to 6-3 double play.

·      .457 team BA in bracket play.

·      .548 team OBP in bracket play.

Go Hounds!

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Become a fan of the Pope Jr Greyhounds page or join our group! .

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Pope Baseball Spirit Wear Store

Greyhounds Gear

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