Sports

Then there were two, Part II

• The Deerfield-Windsor baseball program, which won the GISA Class AAA title in 2003 and last reached the championship series in 2005, is finally back, only this time the Knights will be facing their old nemesis Tattnall Square — the only team to beat DWS all year.

Derek Barichello

The 2003 Deerfield-Windsor season will not soon be forgotten.

Not only was it the last time the Knights won a GISA AAA state championship in baseball, but when the final out was recorded against Region 3 rival Southland Academy in Game 3 of the series, it completed the triple crown of state titles for DWS, which won titles in football and basketball earlier that school year.

“That whole year, the whole school was one together,” said Chris Harris, who was a member of the baseball program’s 2003 title team. “Everyone was there to support us. We were playing for the school. It wasn’t only our title but everyone felt like it was their own. That’s the main thing that sticks out to me.”

This weekend, the Knights will try to capture their first baseball title since that 2003 season when they host Tattnall Square — the same opponent that defeated them in the 2005 championship, and the only team to beat the 24-1 Knights this year — in the best-of-three state championship series starting today at 4 p.m. in Albany and concluding Saturday with Game 2 starting at 1 p.m. and Game 3 immediately following, if necessary.

While winning this weekend's state championship would not clinch the triple crown for the Knights this season, they will try to capture at least one piece of it after coming so close in the other sports.

In football, the Knights made it to the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champions Tattnall, 26-6. Then in basketball, the Knights advanced all the way to state title game against North Cobb Christian, only to lose, 66-64.

Now the Knights must do what no other GISA school has done this baseball season even once: defeat Tattnall (32-2) in two out of three games.

And they appear to be up for the challenge.

“I see the look in their eyes,” DWS coach Rod Murray said of his players earlier this week during practice. “We’ve been practicing for awhile and now we’re ready to play. If we could, we’d play them (Thursday). We’re ready.”

Just like this year's squad, that 2003 Knights team won behind a strong senior nucleus of Harris, Lance Walker, Wayne Riles, Riner Gay, Joey Carroll and Jimmy Hotz.

“We were clicking at the right time,” said former DWS coach Brad Cowart, who coached both the 2003 state title team and last year's squad before leaving in favor of teaching at Lee County High School. “Everyone talked about achieving three sports titles in the same year, so in a way we were expected to win it.”

In the first two games of the championship series, each side exchanged blowout victories. Then in Game 3, the excitement grew.

DWS pulled ahead, 9-6, in the final inning with Southland up to bat — one out — and runners at the corners.

The Knights felt they turned the game-ending double play and started to celebrate but since the ball made contact with an umpire before it reached the Knights fielder, the umpires incorrectly called it a dead ball. As a result, the premature celebration was halted, there was no double play and the confusion made the game 9-7.

Then, the next batter came up and hit a Taylor-made groundball to the shortstop, only this time the Knights overthrew the first baseman, causing a Southland runner to score and consequently making it a one-run game. But after a long conference by coaches and umpires, the officials ruled the Raiders’ base runner out for interference and the celebration began again as the Knights captured the state title.

“I’ll always remember that because it was such a crazy way to end a game,” Harris said.

Another memory of that championship series was the Deerfield fans.

Earlier in the week, Murray noted home-field advantage would be a key to this year's series as the Knights did not play in Albany in 2005 when they finished state runner-up.

“Oh, it was packed,” Cowart recalled. “It was a really good rivalry too. It seemed like everyone in the school wanted to us to get the triple crown."

Like that 2003 run, this year’s DWS team is made up of a strong senior core, which includes ace pitcher and No. 3 hitter Justin Lott, who has thrown a no-hitter and hit three home runs in a game during the playoffs; catcher Culin Brown, who recorded a game-winner in Game 1 of the second round; right fielder Stephen Mann, who hit a go-ahead three-run home run in Game 2 of the semifinals; and first baseman/ team leader Patrick Golden.

And Cowart sees the similarities in the two teams.

"Both classes had expectations put on them," Cowart said. "I expected that group of (2008 seniors) to be a special group and so did a lot of people. I'm happy for them. At the same time, every team is different, whether you win a championship or not, there are special moments and characteristics. I just think (coach) Murray has been able to bring out the best in them."

And it certainly will take the Knights’ best to win.

The Trojans have outscored their opponents, 62-4, in the playoffs. They are led by sophomore ace and Game 1 probable DeAndre Smelter, who throws in the low 90s and is in the midst of a 17-inning scoreless streak, recording two no-hitters in the playoffs thus far, with the most recent coming against North Cobb Christian in Game 1 of the Final Four.

Senior Blake Hobby, who sports a big leg kick, is another menacing ace of the staff and the likely Game 2 starter. He has allowed only three runs this postseason and has a no-hitter of his own. Hobby recorded the win in the only meeting against DWS this season, 11-1, back on March 29 as Grant Massey took the loss for Deerfield.

"That was way back in March," said Tattnall Square coach Joey Hiller of his team’s only losses to Macon East Montgomery (Ala.), 3-1, and North Florida Christian, 10-4. "I don't think that means much because there will be two different, much more improved teams on the field this weekend."

To go along with their aces, the Trojans’ lineup packs a punch in each spot in the order. While Tattnall’s power comes from No. 3 hitter Jake Massey — who has 10 home runs — and clean-up hitter Michael Avery, who has 10 doubles and five home runs, the lineup is just as potent at the bottom with No. 7 hitter Ridge Brown hitting .692 in the playoffs and Jordan Brooks hitting .621.

Still, given those daunting statistics, Murray did not break his phonograph-needle like response this week.

"We just have to keep doing what we've been doing well all season," Murray said. "We have to play good defense, hit the ball in all counts and throw strikes. And we'll be fine."

And if it's any consolation, Harris feels that’s exactly the ticket to victory.

“Treat it like it’s just another game,” Harris said. “You’ve played baseball your whole life, just do what you did all season to get there and you'll be all right.”

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