As Buford High’s baseball team rolled along during the 2016 season, all the way to the Class AAAA state championship game, so did outfielder Brandon Marsh.
Marsh, a senior for the 2016 state runner-up Wolves, led the team in batting average, sporting a .559 mark at the plate. He also led in on-base percentage (.638), slugging percentage (.907), hits (66), doubles (16), triples (8) and runs scored (59). In 149 plate appearances, he struck out just nine times.
When the Major League Baseball draft came around in June, The Times’ 2016 All-Area baseball player of the year was taken off the board on the first day as the 60th pick to the Los Angeles Angels.
Marsh was drafted by the Angels on June 9, but didn’t sign his papers to join the club until just after 11 p.m. on July 8.
The deal took nearly a month to complete after reservations from the club during a physical check-up on the right-handed outfielder.
Marsh is now playing with the Arizona League Angels in Tempe, Ariz. at the in rookie league.
2016 All-Area Baseball
1st Team
Catcher
Fowler Brooks (North Hall) Batting average .321, on-base percentage .404, 6 doubles, 21 RBIs, 1st Team All-Region (8-AAAA)
First base
Brian Newman (West Hall) Batting average .387, .534 on-base percentage, .507 slugging percentage, 18 RBIs
Second base
Banks Griffith (Gainesville) Batting average .372, .453 on-base percentage, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 34 runs scored, 25 RBIs
Third base
Trevor Rider (East Hall) Batting average .306, 17 RBIs, 12 walks, 2nd Team All-Region (7-AAA)
Shortstop
Taber Mongero (North Hall) Batting average .383, .488 on-base percentage, 7 doubles, 4 strikeouts, led team in hits, on-base percentage and fewest strikeouts, 1st Team All-Region, 2nd Team All-State
Outfielders
Tucker Maxwell (Dawson County) Batting average .518, .656 on-base percentage, 14 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 37 RBIs, 51 runs scored, 37 walks
Nick Wilhite (Buford) Batting average .396, .477 on-base percentage, 8 doubles, 6 triples, 1 home run, 41 runs scored, 45 RBIs, 6 strikeouts
Brandon Marsh (Buford) Batting average .559, .638 on-base percentage, 16 doubles, 8 triples, 3 home runs, 59 runs scored, 25 RBIs, 9 strikeouts
Designated Hitter
Anthony Carrera (Gainesville) Batting average .333, .511 on-base percentage, 9 doubles, 8 home runs, 23 runs scored, 36 RBIs
Utility
Drew Atha (North Hall) Batting average .313, 7 doubles, 20 RBIs, 1st Team All-Region as an outfielder; Record: 5-3, 3 saves, 1.64 ERA, 37 strikeouts, 8 walks as a pitcher
Pitchers
Justin Glover (Buford) Record: 10-0, 1.52 ERA, 94 strikeouts, 20 walks, 5 complete games
Reese Olson (North Hall) Record: 7-1, 1.84 ERA, 46 strikeouts, 13 walks, 1st Team All-Region, 2nd Team All-State
Sam Carpenter (Gainesville) Record: 9-2, 2.07 ERA, 67 strikeouts
2nd Team
Catcher
James Basham (Riverside Military Academy) Batting average .390, 11 doubles, threw out 64 percent of base runners attempting to steal, 1st Team All-Region (8-AA)
First base
Luke Cooper (East Hall) Batting average .333, 16 RBIs, 14 runs scored, 1st Team All-Region (7-AAA)
Second base
Brannon Browner (Lakeview Academy) Batting average .324, .425 on-base percentage, 5 doubles
Third Base
Gabe McConnell (Lakeview Academy) Batting average .386, .471 on-base percentage, 3 doubles, 13 RBIs
Shortstop
Austin Wilhite (Buford) Batting average .455, .569 on-base percentage, 7 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, 57 runs scored, 37 RBIs
Outfielders
Levi Crocker (East Hall) Batting average .382, 1.000 on-base percentage, 13 RBIs, 19 runs scored, 1st Team All-Region
Ricky Jones (Riverside Military Academy) Batting average .413, 9 doubles, 15 stolen bases
Tanner Alexander (Buford) Batting average .368, .402 on-base percentage, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 18 runs scored, 19 RBIs
Designated Hitter
Farris Mance (Gainesville) Batting average .327, .419 on-base percentage, 1 home run, 23 runs scored, 18 RBIs
Utility
Noah Ledford (Buford) Batting average .326, .440 on-base percentage, 11 doubles, 3 home runs, 22 runs scored, 26 RBIs
Pitchers
Taylor Wilkes (Jefferson) Record: 6-2, 1.47 ERA, 77 strikeouts, 21 walks
Griffin Jolliff (Buford) Record: 9-1, 1.66 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 27 walks, 5 complete games
Collier Scott (Gainesville) Record: 7-1, 1.42 ERA, 41 strikeouts
Honorable Mention
Frank Bradshaw (Buford)
Palmer Sapp (Dawson County)
Austin Young (Dawson County)
Noah Davis Jr. (Dawson County)
Connor Bearden (Dawson County)
Jonah Crocker (East Hall)
Jack Langford (Gainesville)
A.J. Smallwood (Gainesville)
Fedrick Cardona (Gainesville)
Jared Smith (Gainesville)
Asher Standridge (Jefferson)
Josh Hutch (Jefferson)
Logan Barwick (Lakeview Academy)
Trevor Ballard (Riverside Military Academy)
Alex Kerns (Riverside Military Academy)
Tanner Ahmad (West Hall)
Jeffery Jenkins (West Hall)
Kyle Reynolds (West Hall)
Charlie Cochran (West Hall)
Merritt Gazaway (West Hall)
By ZACK MYERSzmyers@gainesvilletimes.comAs Buford High’s baseball team rolled along this season, all the way to the Class AAAA state championship game, so did outfielder Brandon Marsh.Marsh, a senior for the 2016 state runner-up Wolves, led the team in batting average this season, sporting a .559 mark at the plate. He also led in on-base percentage (.638), slugging percentage (.907), hits (66), doubles (16), triples (8) and runs scored (59). In 149 plate appearances, he struckout just nine times.When the Major League Baseball draft came around in June, The Times’ 2016 All-Area baseball player of the year was taken off the board on the first day as the 60th pick to the Los Angeles Angels.Marsh was drafted by the Angels on June 9, but didn’t sign his papers to join the club until just after 11 p.m. on July 8. The deal took nearly a month to complete after reservations from the club during a physical check-up on the right-handed outfielder.Marsh is now playing with the Arizona League Angels in Tempe, Ariz. at the in rookie league.
1st TeamCatcherFowler Brooks (North Hall) Batting average .321, on-base percentage .404, 6 doubles, 21 RBIs, 1st Team All-Region (8-AAAA)First baseBrian Newman (West Hall) Batting average .387, .534 on-base percentage, .507 slugging percentage, 18 RBIsSecond baseBanks Griffith (Gainesville) Batting average .372, .453 on-base percentage, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 34 runs scored, 25 RBIsThird baseTrevor Rider (East Hall) Batting average .306, 17 RBIs, 12 walks, 2nd Team All-Region (7-AAA)ShortstopTaber Mongero (North Hall) Batting average .383, .488 on-base percentage, 7 doubles, 4 strikeouts, led team in hits, on-base percentage and fewest strikeouts, 1st Team All-Region, 2nd Team All-StateOutfieldersTucker Maxwell (Dawson County) Batting average .518, .656 on-base percentage, 14 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 37 RBIs, 51 runs scored, 37 walksNick Wilhite (Buford) Batting average .396, .477 on-base percentage, 8 doubles, 6 triples, 1 home run, 41 runs scored, 45 RBIs, 6 strikeoutsBrandon Marsh (Buford) Batting average .559, .638 on-base percentage, 16 doubles, 8 triples, 3 home runs, 59 runs scored, 25 RBIs, 9 strikeoutsDesignated HitterAnthony Carrera (Gainesville) Batting average .333, .511 on-base percentage, 9 doubles, 8 home runs, 23 runs scored, 36 RBIsUtilityDrew Atha (North Hall) Batting average .313, 7 doubles, 20 RBIs, 1st Team All-Region as an outfielder; Record: 5-3, 3 saves, 1.64 ERA, 37 strikeouts, 8 walks as a pitcherPitchersJustin Glover (Buford) Record: 10-0, 1.52 ERA, 94 strikeouts, 20 walks, 5 complete gamesReese Olson (North Hall) Record: 7-1, 1.84 ERA, 46 strikeouts, 13 walks, 1st Team All-Region, 2nd Team All-StateSam Carpenter (Gainesville) Record: 9-2, 2.07 ERA, 67 strikeouts
2nd TeamCatcherJames Basham (Riverside Military Academy) Batting average .390, 11 doubles, threw out 64 percent of base runners attempting to steal, 1st Team All-Region (8-AA)First baseLuke Cooper (East Hall) Batting average .333, 16 RBIs, 14 runs scored, 1st Team All-Region (7-AAA)Second baseBrannon Browner (Lakeview Academy) Batting average .324, .425 on-base percentage, 5 doublesThird BaseGabe McConnell (Lakeview Academy) Batting average .386, .471 on-base percentage, 3 doubles, 13 RBIsShortstopAustin Wilhite (Buford) Batting average .455, .569 on-base percentage, 7 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, 57 runs scored, 37 RBIsOutfieldersLevi Crocker (East Hall) Batting average .382, 1.000 on-base percentage, 13 RBIs, 19 runs scored, 1st Team All-RegionRicky Jones (Riverside Military Academy) Batting average .413, 9 doubles, 15 stolen basesTanner Alexander (Buford) Batting average .368, .402 on-base percentage, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 18 runs scored, 19 RBIsDesignated HitterFarris Mance (Gainesville) Batting average .327, .419 on-base percentage, 1 home run, 23 runs scored, 18 RBIsUtilityNoah Ledford (Buford) Batting average .326, .440 on-base percentage, 11 doubles, 3 home runs, 22 runs scored, 26 RBIsPitchersTaylor Wilkes (Jefferson) Record: 6-2, 1.47 ERA, 77 strikeouts, 21 walksGriffin Jolliff (Buford) Record: 9-1, 1.66 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 27 walks, 5 complete gamesCollier Scott (Gainesville) Record: 7-1, 1.42 ERA, 41 strikeouts
Honorable MentionFrank Bradshaw (Buford)Palmer Sapp (Dawson County)Austin Young (Dawson County)Noah Davis Jr. (Dawson County)Connor Bearden (Dawson County)Jonah Crocker (East Hall)Jack Langford (Gainesville)A.J. Smallwood (Gainesville)Fedrick Cardona (Gainesville)Jared Smith (Gainesville)Asher Standridge (Jefferson)Josh Hutch (Jefferson)Logan Barwick (Lakeview Academy)Trevor Ballard (Riverside Military Academy)Alex Kerns (Riverside Military Academy)Tanner Ahmad (West Hall)Jeffery Jenkins (West Hall)Kyle Reynolds (West Hall)Charlie Cochran (West Hall)Merritt Gazaway (West Hall)