Region 7-3A’s top baseball players have been voted upon, and five from Gilmer High School received an honorable mention.
All-region selections were based on coaches’ votes, and those recognized from Gilmer included senior first baseman and catcher Brock Titus, senior pitcher Carter Jones, junior pitcher Ethan McCollum, junior center fielder Austin Zabala and sophomore shortstop Eli Cooper.
The only statistics considered were those from region games. The Bobcats had a tough time versus region foes and posted a 1-17 record.
“Obviously, we struggled in region play, so our stats as a team were not where they needed to be in order to get on the first or second team,” said head coach Jeff Thurman.
“We’re happy we were able to get five guys an honorable mention, and three of them are coming back next season. To get on the all-region list is really good in such a good region.”
Zabala was Gilmer’s top hitter with a .313 batting average and an on-base plus slugging percentage of .785. He also drew 14 walks, stole four bases and hit a triple.
Cooper was there for a .276 average and .744 OPS. He knocked in 14 runs and had four doubles to go with a triple.
Titus posted a .247 average across 81 at-bats. He also recorded eight RBIs and two doubles.
McCollum finished region play with a 4.23 earned-run average and pitched 43 innings. He won three games overall, struck out 57 and walked 21.
Jones secured two wins on the season. In region play, he had a 5.47 ERA, fanned 29 hitters and walked 23 in 46 innings.
Region runner-up Wesleyan had eight combined first and second team players. Region champion Pickens had six players selected, and the Dragons’ Adam Williams was named coach of the year.
Pickens’ A.J. Rice and James Tilly were voted co-pitchers of the year, while Wesleyan’s Schley Gordy was named player of the year.