2009 Region 7AAAAA Champions

AAAAA State Playoffs: 2007, 2008, 2009  

2009 AAAAA State Runner-up

On September 9th Coach Bayer held an informational baseball meeting to review the following topics and the details can be found in the below handout:

ü      Overview of the Baseball Program presented by Russ Bayer

ü      Meet your Dug Out Board Members

ü      Review of upcoming Fundraising Programs

ü      Get Involved with the Program

Please welcome Russ Bayer to South Forsyth High School as he will be leading the War Eagles baseball program!!

Bio:

A native of Naperville, Illinois where he graduated from Naperville North High School in 1998. While in High School, he was 2nd team All-American in 1997 and a two time All-State selection as a first baseman and pitcher.  He was a 35th round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1998 June amateur draft following his senior year in high school.  Bi passing the draft, he was also a member of the 1998 Connie Mack World Series Champion Midland Redskins. He then played and lettered four years at Miami of Ohio as a pitcher and first baseman.  While at Miami of Ohio he finished second all-time at Miami in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts.  He also has the 6th most wins in a career all time for any Mid-American Conference player with 28.  He posted the 3rd highest single season record for strikeouts with 88. He also was a member of the 2001 Cape Cod League Champions, Wareham Gateman.  While there, he won the Cape Cod League "Francis Tripp" Award for charitable work off the field.  He posted a 7 - 1 record with a 1.19 ERA.  He was also member of the MAC Conference Champions and started game #3 of the NCAA regional at Arizona State vs. Texas.  Coach Bayer was then selected as a 20th round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the June, 2002 amateur draft.  He played three seasons with the Pirates and was a member of the 2003 New York Penn League champions Williamsport Crosscutters.  He was awarded the "Max Border" Good Guy award for performance on and off the field. During one point from June through July in 2003 he was leading all of minor league baseball in E.R.A. 

After his playing days he went on to be an assistant coach and strength coach at Roswell High School. Coach Bayer worked with multiple draft picks and over 15 kids under him went on to play Div 1 college baseball in his 5 year stint.

Coach Bayer is married to Jessica Rayburg who was a scholarship athlete as well at Miami of Ohio (Volleyball).  Jessica currently is a volleyball coach at Harrison High School.  Russ and Jessica have 2 sons Tyler 3 and Jacob 1. 

Zack Alvord has been selected to the Aflac All-Star team!!

The 2009 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place at PETCO Park in San Diego on Aug. 16.

The event is an annual all-star game showcasing 40 of the best high school seniors in the country.

Click on the above link to see the entire roster.

Congratulations to our War Eagles for being selected in the 2009 MLB draft:

     Chase Fowler:  16^th round - Cincinnati Reds

     Brian Adams:  45^th round - Cincinnati Reds

John Rigg (2007 War Eagle) was drafted in the 47^th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.  He has signed to play for Florida Atlantic University.

South Forsyth fell in two games Saturday to Pope for the state Class AAAAA high school baseball title.

The champion Greyhounds from Cobb County won Game 2 of a doubleheader 7-3 after blanking South 3-0 in the opener of the best-of-three series.

The sweep brings to a close the most successful baseball season in the history of South (30-7), which was making its first-ever appearance in the state final.

The War Eagles won the Region 7-AAAAA title and swept their first three postseason opponents -- Grayson, Harrison and Newnan -- en route to the semifinals.

It took three games, but South then bested East Paulding to advance to Saturday‘s showdown.

South was the top-ranked team in the state entering the series, its first road test of the postseason, with Pope at No. 2.

Click on the above link to see the complete 5/27/09 national poll.

Memorial Day at War Eagle Field

An amazing crowd estimated to be 2,000 fans packed War Eagle Field to watch East Paulding and South Forsyth split the playoff double header.  East Paulding won the first game 5 - 3 and the War Eagles won the second game 16 - 5.  South went on to win the series with an exciting 5 - 2 come from behind victory to make it to the State AAAAA finals. 

1. Pope
2. South Forsyth
3. East Paulding
4. Brookwood
5. Newnan