FCA East-West Baseball Classic
at Horace Jackson Field
Jefferson High
West Roster
Name School Position
Brian Newman West Hall 1B
Kyle Reynolds West Hall Pitcher
Merrit Gazaway West Hall OF
Clark Hill North Hall 2B
Drew Atha North Hall P/OF
Fowler Brooks North Hall C
Drew Hulsey Commerce P/C
Jonathan Ray Commerce P/OF
Sam Carpenter Gainesville P/1B
Anthony Carrera Gainesville OF
Fedrick Cardona Gainesville SS
Jack Langford Gainesville Utility
Farris Mance Gainesville Utility
Joel Ellis Jackson County 1B
Tyler Sartain Jackson County 3B/C
Brett Bowen Jackson County Utility
Coleman Barbee Jackson County P
Jeremy Cook Jackson County P
Trip Lemay Chestatee P
Logan Barwick Lakeview OF
Rob Collison Lakeview C/P/1B
Coaches
Deuce Roark Lakeview Academy
Kyle Counts Chestatee
Steve Cottrell Commerce
Tommy Fountain Jackson County
Jeremy Kemp Gainesville
Chad Sage West Hall
Brian Vance Jackson County
East Roster
Tanner Hamby East Jackson 1B/OF
Dylan Patrick Banks County P/SS
Taylor Boisclair Banks County P
Alex Lewis Banks County OF/2B
Cody Parker Banks County P/1B
Trey Groves Flowery Branch IF
Jackson Harrell Flowery Branch P/1B
Kohlton Hamann Flowery Branch P/OF
Hunter Thompson Jefferson OF
Asher Standridge Jefferson P
Joshua Hutch Jefferson P/OF
Will Breese Jefferson IF
Devin Humphries Jefferson C
Eli Stuart East Hall P/OF
Jonah Crocker East Hall P/OF
Jesse Cooper East Hall C/IF
Cole Smith East Hall P/IF
Mark McGraw Johnson OF
Trevor Ballard Riverside P/OF
Russ McAfee Riverside P/IF
Justin Law N. Ga. Christian P
Coaches
Tommy Knight Jefferson
Jared Hodges Johnson
Wes Crow East Hall
Mike Hutch Riverside
Scott Myers Flowery Branch
Tom Kelley Banks County
Jack Langford is going to enjoy every second of his final baseball game with four of his teammates in the same dugout.
On Saturday, Langford, who was part of Gainesville High’s state semifinal run in 2016, will take part in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes East-West Baseball Classic.
Many of the players representing the 14 high schools will be going on to play college baseball next season. Langford expects this to be his last game before starting school at the University of Georgia in the fall.
“I’m really looking forward to having a good time out there,” said Langford, who is part of the 21-player West roster.
The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. at Jefferson High’s Horace Jackson Field. Players representing every school in Hall and Jackson County, along with Banks County High, will take part in the nine-inning game. Gainesville and Jackson County High, both semifinalists in their classification in 2016, lead the way with five players for the West.
For the East, Jefferson High leads the way with five players, too. Tickets for the game cost $5 at the gate. The evening begins with a home run derby at 5:30 p.m., said FCA area representative Clint Fair.
According to Fair, the only logistical hurdle to put on the game in its second season was the fact that many players already had vacation plans. The Georgia High School Association mandates all All-Star games take place after the state championship is completed.
“We’d love for people to come out on Saturday to Jefferson and see some really good baseball,” said Fair.
The Greater Hall County FCA operates All-Star Games in other sports, including football, basketball and soccer. The title sponsor for the game is Chick-fil-A.
Drawing from so many local schools, the players for most school have friends who will be in both dugouts. Langford said he’s also looking forward to playing on the same team with his friends Rob Collison (Lakeview Academy) and Fowler Brooks (North Hall).
Lakeview Academy coach Deuce Roark will head the staff for the West squad, while Jefferson coach Tommy Knight leads the East roster.
With the All-Star draw, all players are expected to get in the game, according to Fair. Gainesville High senior left-hander Sam Carpenter said he expects to pitch one inning, based on his conversation with Roark.
“It’s going to be cool to get together and all play together,” said Carpenter, who will play at Piedmont College next year. “There’s going to be a lot of good players out there.”
Fair said the game will rotate its location each year in an attempt to highlight all the quality facilities for baseball. Next year, the game will be held at North Hall’s Jody Davis Field. In 2015, the game was at Lakeview Academy.