Honorable mentions
Baseball
Ralston Cash, Lakeview Academy: Struck out nine, 3-for-4 at the plate against Commerce last Friday.
Tyler Ward, Lakeview Academy: Pitched a complete game, 2-for-5 with two RBIs against Athens Christian last Thursday.
Chris Beck, Jefferson: Struck out 11 in Game 1 of a doubleheader against Rabun County last Friday.
Chris Swancey, Jefferson: Struck out 12 in Game 2 of a doubleheader against Rabun County last Friday.
Jamie Sexton, Jefferson: Three home runs and nine RBIs against East Jackson last Monday.
Fletcher Whiting, Johnson: Hit a walk-off single in the eighth inning against Chestatee last Friday.
Erik Tarnacki, Gainesville: 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs against East Hall last Friday.
Sloan Strickland, Gainesville: Homered and had three RBIs against Pickens last Wednesday.
Will Maddox: 4-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and two RBIs against Chestatee last Tuesday.
Colton Webber, Habersham Central: 4-for-4 with a double and three RBIs against Apalachee last Friday.
Ryan Farmer, North Georgia Christian: 3-for-4, hit a walk-off home run against Horizon Christian last Friday.
Nate Harris, North Georgia Christian: Pitched a no-hitter against Mount Zion Christian last Monday.
Cody Davidson, East Hall: 3-for-5 with six RBIs against Lumpkin County last Wednesday.
Drew Adams, East Hall: Pitched a complete game, 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs against Lumpkin County last Wednesday.
Jackson Coker, North Hall: 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs against West Hall last Wednesday.
Chad Fulton, Lumpkin County: 3-for-4, hit a walk-off single against Creekview last Tuesday.
Hayden Cummins: 4-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored against West Hall last Tuesday.
Brandon Grindle, West Hall: Two hits and four RBIs against Chestatee last Monday.
Soccer
Rudy Vazquez, West Hall: Two goals against Franklin County last Friday.
Tess Patton, North Hall: Four goals against Eastside last Thursday.
Joy Smith, Flowery Branch: Two goals against Oconee County last Thursday.
Golf
Landry Haynes, North Hall: Low-medalist with a 70 in the Region 7-AAA tournament last Thursday.
Lakeview Academy’s Brett Armour claims to be an ordinary baseball player, just having fun when he takes to the field every day.
His recent hitting stats, however, are anything but normal.
The Lions’ catcher has been one of the hottest hitters in the area during the second half of the season, belting nine home runs in his last 10 games.
Three of those home runs came last week, including a grand slam, to go along with 11 RBIs.
The week before was even more productive. In three games, Armour not only hit for cycle against Tallulah Falls, but had four home runs, seven runs scored and 12 RBIs over the week’s span.
“I’m just seeing the ball well,” Armour said. “I’ve been training for a long time, and it’s starting to click.
“It’s power I’ve had, and I finally found it.”
Armour is seeing the ball well enough to have a season of historic measures in Lakeview’s program. While leading the team with a .458 average and 50 RBIs in 22 games, the 6-1, 180-pound senior also holds the single-season school record with 14 home runs.
“I think he’s going to own pretty much every offensive record at Lakeview for his career,” Lions coach Deuce Roark said. “I’m very proud and honored to be able to coach a young man like him that has given so much to this program for four years.”
Roark believes that Armour’s ability to hit good and bad pitches in varying spots of the strike zone make him difficult for pitchers to figure out.
“He’s always been a good fastball hitter, but batting third, you’re going to see a lot breaking balls and off-speed pitches,” he said. “He’s made an adjustment to hit those when the pitcher makes a mistake with them. He’s started to hit those better.”
Where Armour has delivered with hits, Lakeview has delivered with wins. The Lions (21-1, 14-0 Region 8-A) have already clinched a Region 8-A title, their first since winning the state championship in 2004, and are currently riding a 14-game winning streak dating back to March 21.
With two games left to play in the regular season, Lakeview is currently ranked second in the state in Class A.
“One of our main goals in the preseason was a region championship,” Armour said. “It’s a big weight off our shoulders. We’re looking to win the next two games, then focus on state.
“We need to keep doing what we’re doing, and finish undefeated in the region.”
As Armour prepares to end a successful career at Lakeview, he begins a new one next year with Young Harris College. He will be part of the school’s first four-year team, playing at the Division-II level.
“It’s a great school,” Armour said. “They have a very prestigious coach, and that’s what I was looking for; someone who could prepare me for the next level.”
After Armour completes four years with Young Harris, he plans to pursue a professional baseball career.