Braves bounce back, blast Shorter
Carrollton, Ga. – March 1, 2005 – The West Georgia Braves took advantage of five Shorter errors Tuesday in claiming a 7-3 victory at Cole Field. It was a strong step forward after two losses over the weekend.
The Brave came out firing, scoring six runs in the first three innings and coasting from there on. The second inning was the biggest, as West Georgia put three runs on the board in that inning.
Kevin Benton had the big blow in the second, slapping a two-run single up the middle, scoring Alex Parker and Jim Baeumel on the play. The Hawks helped West Georgia out in the inning, committing three of their five errors in the second stanza.
Jared Rolen was the lone Brave with two hits on the day, going 2-for-5 with a single and a double in the contest. Jason Parker belted his fifth homer of the season in the third inning. Tyler Meigs had his longest outing of the season Tuesday, going eight strong innings, striking out five and walking just one.
West Georgia moves to 11-4 on the season with Minnesota State-Mankato coming to town on Thursday.
West Georgia takes two from Minnesota State
Carrollton, Ga. – March 3, 2005 – In the first game of a doubleheader Thursday, the West Georgia Braves needed 10 innings to beat Minnesota State-Mankato. Jason Parker’s game-winning single in the 10th proved to be the difference in the 5-4 win.
Joe White went the first six innings on the mound for West Georgia, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out six. Michael Kierce came on in the seventh, pitching the final four innings for the Braves. The senior had four strikeouts and picked off a runner.
With the game tied in the 10th and one out, Daniel Powell singled, then stole second. Three batters later, Parker smashed a single up the middle, driving in Powell for the game-winner.
In game two, Tim Grubbs, who had struggled early in the season, pitched a complete game, giving up one run on two hits in seven innings of work. Corey Consuegra provided the offense in the second game, blasting his second home run of the season.
The Braves are now 13-3 on the season with another doubleheader with Minnesota State tomorrow. First tip is at 2 p.m. The Braves are now 12-3 on the year.
Meigs comes up huge in ending losing streak
Southern Indiana 1
West Georgia 2
Carrollton, GA – March 6, 2005 – Baseball is a sport with a language all its own. Of the many words associated with the sport, none is misused more often than the word “stopper.”
Contrary to what you might hear from the marginal talents trotted out nightly on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, a stopper is not, and never has been, a relief pitcher. A stopper is a starting pitcher who puts his team on his back and stops a losing streak.
Sunday, Tyler Meigs strapped his West Georgia teammates on his back and slammed the door on the Braves’ four-game losing. The junior right-hander from Bowdon was nothing short of dominant in pitching the Braves to a 2-1 win in their series finale vs. Southern Indiana.
Meigs’ numbers in Sunday’s win more than justify “stopper” status. He went the distance, scattering five hits while striking out 13 and walking no one. Southern Indiana’s only run of the game was unearned.
Sunday’s performance moves Meigs’ record to 4-0 on the season, and dropped his ERA to 1.21. He has allowed only five earned runs in 37 and one-third innings of work. Also, Meigs has now struck out 53 batters while walking only five this season.
Despite Meigs’ performance, Sunday’s game was in doubt until the final pitch. Southern Indiana, led by a strong performance from starter Matt Keener, carried their 1-0 lead from the third until the bottom of the seventh.
Alex Parker started the Braves’ game-tying rally with a one out single to left. He then advanced to second when USI catcher Jed Davis sailed a superfluous pickoff attempt down the right field line. Steve Ryan then walked, followed by Daniel Powell being hit by a pitch. LaVeasey Carter then drove in Parker on a ground out to second.
UWG’s game winning rally in the eighth was of the two-out variety. A Jared Rolen single, followed by a Jim Beaumel two-out double to the gap in right center provided the game winner.
The win moved West Georgia to 14-6 on the season, while Southern Indiana fell to 3-2. West Georgia returns to action Wednesday when Columbus State visits Cole Field for a 4:00 game.
Cougars turn tables on Braves in rematch
Carrollton, GA – March 9, 2005 – A cold and blustery day provided the setting for a long, tough afternoon here Wednesday for the West Georgia Braves baseball team. Columbus State’s Cougars (10-10) defeated the Braves (14-8), 9-4. The win for CSU avenged a loss suffered to UWG earlier in the season in Columbus.
The Cougars took control of the game early, scoring three runs each in the second and third innings to take a 6-0 lead. Carrollton native Trent Bianco celebrated his homecoming with a two-run homer in the second to provide Columbus State with its first runs. Also, the Cougars took advantage of the Braves’ defense to plate a pair of unearned runs.
West Georgia’s top offensive outburst came in the seventh. Down 7-1, the Braves rallied for three runs. Jason Parker had an RBI single, while the other runs scored on an error and a wild pitch.
Daniel Powell had the Braves’ earlier RBI, plating Jared Rolen with a fourth inning sacrifice fly.
Jason Weaver worked the game¹s first seven innings to get the win for Columbus State. Tim Grubbs suffered the loss for West Georgia.
West Georgia returns to action here Thursday, hosting Adelphi (N.Y.) in the first of a three-game series.
West Georgia survives late rally
Carrollton, Ga. March 10, 2005 – Adelphi made the ninth inning interesting, but the Braves pulled out an 11-7 victory over the Panthers Thursday at Cole Field.
Adelphi was the team to come out of the gates quick on this day, scoring four runs on three hits in the first two innings while taking advantage of a West Georgia error.
But after that, UWG starter Grant Granthem settled down, throwing five straight scoreless innings while the Braves offense kicked into gear.
West Georgia tied the game in an exciting fourth inning. With Adelphi leading 4-2, Adam Pritchard led off with a walk, then scored just ahead of the throw after a Daniel Powell double. Two batters later, Jason Parkers single drove Powell in to tie the game at four.
But the big blow came in the eighth inning with the Braves leading 6-4. With two runners on and no out, Jared Rolen singled in the first run of the inning. Four batters later, Tyler Meigs broke his home run drought, this a grand slam over the wall in left-center field for a commanding 11-4.
In the ninth, reliever Alex Parker wa a little wild, allowing three runs on one hit while walking three and hitting two batters. Clay Dykes came on for the last out to collect his first save in a West Georgia uniform.
Five Braves had two hits on the day, led by Meigs, who was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBI. Daniel Powell was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Jason Parker was 2-for-4 with an RBI and his brother Alex was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.
West Georgia moves to 15-8 on the season with another nine-inning game scheduled for Friday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Braves pound Adelphi for second straight day
Carrollton, Ga. March 10, 2005 – Adelphi made the ninth inning interesting, but the Braves pulled out an 11-7 victory over the Panthers Thursday at Cole Field.
Adelphi was the team to come out of the gates quick on this day, scoring four runs on three hits in the first two innings while taking advantage of a West Georgia error.
But after that, UWG starter Grant Granthem settled down, throwing five straight scoreless innings while the Braves offense kicked into gear.
West Georgia tied the game in an exciting fourth inning. With Adelphi leading 4-2, Adam Pritchard led off with a walk, then scored just ahead of the throw after a Daniel Powell double. Two batters later, Jason Parkers single drove Powell in to tie the game at four.
But the big blow came in the eighth inning with the Braves leading 6-4. With two runners on and no out, Jared Rolen singled in the first run of the inning. Four batters later, Tyler Meigs broke his home run drought, this a grand slam over the wall in left-center field for a commanding 11-4.
In the ninth, reliever Alex Parker wa a little wild, allowing three runs on one hit while walking three and hitting two batters. Clay Dykes came on for the last out to collect his first save in a West Georgia uniform.
Five Braves had two hits on the day, led by Meigs, who was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBI. Daniel Powell was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Jason Parker was 2-for-4 with an RBI and his brother Alex was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.
West Georgia moves to 15-8 on the season with another nine-inning game scheduled for Friday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Braves sweep Panthers in three straight
Carrollton, Ga. – March 12, 2005 – It wasn’t his best performance of the season, but Tyler Meigs was still dominating on the mound Saturday, striking out nine in a 5-3 victory. The win completes West Georgia’s three-game sweep over the Adelphi Panthers.
Meigs continued his dominance over opposing hitters, although the game started off looking much different. On the third pitch of the game, Panthers’ leadoff hitter Tom Sicari belted a high fastball over the right field wall for an early 1-0 lead for Adelphi.
The big UWG junior settled down after that, going eight innings in the contest, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out nine. His strikeout-to-walk ratio sits now at 62-6 on the season.
But while Meigs was cruising, the Braves bats were baffled by UA starter Renaldo Fable over the first four innings. After scoring 27 runs over the last two days, the Braves were scoreless through four and Fable’s control really had UWG off balance.
But in the fifth, with a runner on and one out, Kevin Benton doubled to the gap in right-center, putting the Braves on the board for the first time on the afternoon. LaVeasey Carter followed up with a double of his own, tying the contest. Carter scored two batters later on a error by the UA shortstop Ralph Tropiano
One inning later, Benton was big at the plate yet again, this time with the bases loaded. The junior doubled down the right field line, scoring two and giving West Georgia a 5-3 lead.
Cason Britt came on in the ninth to secure West Georgia’s 17th win of the season. The Braves are now 17-8 on the year.
Meigs earns Player of the Week honor
Carrollton, GA – March 15, 2005 – Many West Georgia Braves players posted impressive numbers during the 2003 and 2004 baseball seasons. However, none were honored with GSC Player of the Week honors.
Thanks to Tyler Meigs, the drought has been lifted. Meigs, a junior pitcher outfielder from Bowdon, was Tuesday named GSC East Player of the Week for his performance in the Braves’ sweep of Adelphi (N.Y.).
In Thursday’s series opener, Meigs had an RBI double and scored a run in his first at bat. In the eighth inning, with the bases loaded, he drilled a pitch over the left field fence to provide the winning margin in West Georgia’s 11-7 victory.
One day later, Meigs’ heroics came earlier in the game and in a different direction. This time the shot came to center, and again with the bases loaded, sparking a seven-run rally as the Braves rolled 16-4.
Saturday’s series finale was a more mainstream game for Meigs. He did what he’s done throughout the season: pitch the Braves to victory. Meigs worked eight innings, giving up only five hits, in UWG¹s 5-3 win. Also, for good measure, he helped his cause at the plate with a base hit and run scored.
The mound is where the towering right hander has done his most impressive work this season. He has posted a 5-0 record with a staggering 1.39 earned run average. Beyond, Meigs has struck out 62 hitters in 45 and one-third innings, compared to only six walks while holding opponents to a batting average of .167.
Meigs next outing comes Saturday as the Braves begin GSC East Division play. West Georgia hosts North Alabama in a three-game, weekend series. Play begins Saturday with a double header, with a single game set for Sunday. Action begins both days at 1:00 at Cole Field.
Pitching, defense propel Braves to two GSC wins
Carrollton, GA – March 19, 2005 – The 2005 GSC East baseball season could not have had a better beginning for the West Georgia Braves. West Georgia used the age-old combination of excellent pitching, strong defense and timely hitting here Saturday. That combination allowed the Braves to sweep a double header from the North Alabama Lions by scores of 6-2 and 2-1.
UWG was confident entering the first game, thanks to presence on the mound of ace Tyler Meigs. The junior righthander from Bowdon didn¹t disappoint, going the distance to push his record to 6-0 on the season. Meigs scattered seven hits while surrendering two runs. He also struck out nine while walking three.
Sophomore Alex Parker was the game¹s offensive hero. His three-run homer keyed a four-run, sixth inning rally that proved to be the difference maker.
The inning began with a Corey Consuegra double to right. One out later, Jared Rolen singled home Consuegra to tie the game at 1-1. Jason Parker then set the table for his twin brother as took an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field for a single.
After watching the first two deliveries miss the strike zone, Alex Parker was ready. The Carrollton native was sitting on a fast ball, and wasn¹t disappointed. He drilled the delivery from UNA’s Matt Hancock some 430 feet over the center field fence to give the Braves a 4-1 lead.
One inning later, the Braves struck for a pair of insurance runs. First, Consuegra brought home Adam Pritchard on a squeeze bunt. That was followed by a Jim Beaumel homer to left center, providing all the cushion Meigs would need.
Though Meigs gave up a ninth inning run to the Lions, the offensive outburst in the sixth and seventh meant that he, and the Braves were never threatened down the stretch.
As strong as Meigs’ effort was in the opener, Michael Kierce might have been better in the second game. A senior righthander, Kierce went the distance in the seven inning game to pick up his fifth victory of the season.
Kierce (5-2) allowed only five hits and one run, striking out eight and surrendering three walks. He also had four assists, including two outstanding defensive plays to supplement his own cause.
Just as in the first game, UNA struck first. The visitors claimed a 1-0 lead with a third inning run. At the same time, UNA starter Brock Hunton was zipping through the Braves” lineup, working three perfect innings in his first tour of the UWG order.
The fourth inning, however, belonged to the Braves. With two outs, Beaumel ended the perfect game when he has plucked by a pitch. Rolen then ended the no hitter, the shutout, and UNA lead with one swing of the bat. The senior All-GSC performer took Hunton’s offering over the left center field fence for his team-best sixth homer of the season.
Kierce’s brilliant work made the lead stand up. He surrendered no hits over the final three innings, and pitched around his own error to hold UNA from a one out, man-on-third situation in the fifth.
Saturday’s sweep pushes West Georgia’s record to 20-9, 2-0 in the GSC East. North Alabama fell to 15-10, 0-2 within the division.
The series concludes Sunday as the Braves and Lions play a 1:00 p.m. single game at Cole Field.
Lions bite back in series finale
Carrollton, Ga. – March 20, 2005 – West Georgia’s bid for a sweep on the first conference weekend of the season was spoiled Sunday in a 6-3 loss to the North Alabama Lions at Cole Field.
The Braves struggled with UNA starter Brian Jenkins’ tough curveball for the first three innings, breaking through with a three spot in the fourth to give West Georgia starting pitcher Tim Grubbs a cushion.
Grubbs kept the powerful UNA lineup off-balance for five innings, but the Lions finally got to him in the sixth. James Barksdale doubled to lead off the inning and the Lions had a run and the bases loaded with one out before head coach Doc Fowlkes brought in Grant Granthem in relief.
North Alabama scored four more runs in the inning before Granthem could get the third out. The Lions had five runs on five hits in the stanza.
After UNA tacked on another run in the ninth, the Braves loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning. Corey Consuegra came up with two outs and hit the ball 380 feet to the warning track in left center field. Barksdale tracked it down and ended the game with a running catch.
The Braves win the series 2-1 and move to 20-10 on the season. Next up is a single game with Georgia College and State University on Tuesday.
Rolen gets GSC East Player of the Week nod
Carrollton, GA – March 22, 2005 – After going two seasons without winning a baseball player of the week honor, the West Georgia Braves have claimed their second straight. Jared Rolen was Monday honored as GSC East Player of the Week for his performance in last week’s UWG action.
The honor came just one week after teammate Tyler Meigs claimed UWG¹s first weekly league honor since the 2002 season.
Rolen, a senior catcher from Griffin, posted impressive numbers for the week. He went seven-for-18 (.389) at the plate, including two homers, a triple, and five runs scored. Also, his biggest blow of the week may also have been the biggest for the Braves.
It was Rolen’s two-out, two-run homer that provided the winning margin in West Georgia’s 2-1 win over North Alabama in the second game of Saturday’s double header. Beyond being the game winner, Rolen’s shot also guaranteed the Braves a series win over UNA in their first conference weekend of the season.
A look at the current stat sheet shows Rolen as UWG’s leader in two major categories. His .367 batting average is best on the team, among those with enough at bats to qualify. Also, last week’s pair of homers gives Rolen a team-best six for the season.
Though the honor is the first player of the week prize of Rolen’s career, it is not his first time he has been recognized by the GSC. He was a member of the 2004 All-GSC East First Team.
West Georgia returns to action Friday for their first GSC East road series of the season. The Braves travel to Harrogate, Tenn., for a three game series vs. Lincoln Memorial.
UWG Splits with Lincoln Memorial
Harrogate, TN – March 25, 2005 – The West Georgia Braves are walking a fine line heading to Saturday’s finale with Lincoln Memorial after squeaking by 7-6 in 10 innings in Friday’s opener and falling 10-8 in the nightcap.
With ace Tyler Meigs on the mound in the ninth with a 6-3 lead, the Braves seemed to be headed to a relatively easy win. The Bowdon native walked the leadoff hitter and was replaced by Michael Kierce. Kierce promptly hit a batter and threw two wild pitches in succession. By the time the dust cleared in the inning, the Railsplitters had tied the contest at six, forcing a 10th inning.
Alex Parker revived the West Georgia offensive with a double to lead off the 10th and moved to third on Daniel Powell’s fly-out to right center. Two batters later, LaVeasey Carter’s sacrifice fly sent the winning run home.
In game two, the Braves brough out the big sticks, collecting five extra-base hits in the game, but it wasn’t enough. LMU used a six-run third to take full control of the contest and propelled the Railsplitters to the win.
Parker led the effort on the day, going 4-for-10 with four RBI and two runs scored in the two games. Jared Rolen was 3-for-10 on the day with five RBI and two runs scored as well. In his starting role, Meigs went eight innings, allowing seven hits and four runs. He continued to master hitters, striking out nine while walking only two.
The Braves are now 21-11 on the year and 3-2 in the GSC East while LMU moves to 11-18 on the season and 1-4 in conference play.
Braves lose three-run lead, series to LMU
Harrogate, TN – March 26, 2005 – The plan was simple, win Saturday and the West Georgia Braves continue the trend of taking 2-of-3 in each conference series. But the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters had other ideas, using a four-run sixth led the comeback to a 10-9 victory over the West Georgia Braves in the series finale.
The Braves came out firing, building an 8-4 lead in the first five innings. But a pair of errors in the bottom of the sixth led to four LMU runs in the inning, tying the contest. Errors were tough on the Braves’ starter Tim Grubbs. The Railsplitters took advantage of five UWG errors, scoring seven runs in innings where the Braves committed an error.
With two outs and Jared Rolen on in the top of the fifth, Robert Cooper blasted his first home run of the year to give West Georgia a 6-3 cushion. Laveasey Carter followed, reaching on an error by the shortstop. Daniel Powell singled, then the pair scored on an error by the LMU left fielder to give the Braves a commanding 8-3 lead.
But the Railsplitters scored a run in the bottom of the fifth and four in the bottom of the sixth to tie the contest at eight.
Both teams scored another run to set up the ninth, where the Braves left Jay Austin on third when the inning ended. LMU took full advantage, scoring the game-winner on a walk-off single.
The Braves fall to 21-12 and 3-3 in the GSC East. Conference powerhouse West Florida comes to town next weekend.