Six Gilmer High Bobcats were recognized for their exemplary efforts on the baseball field.
All-Region 7-3A baseball squads were unveiled last week, and senior Ethan McCollum and juniors Eli Cooper and Noah Gutillo were selected to the first team.
Senior Dalton Crisp and junior Hayden Berry were voted to the second team, while senior Austin Zabala received a honorable mention.
All six Bobcats started every game on the season. They helped the Cats to a 16-15 record, which was their first winning season since 2013. GHS finished fourth in the region standings to achieve its fourth state playoff appearance in school history.
Gilmer faced Ringgold in the opening round, and the Bobcats’ 4-2 game one victory was the school’s first playoff win.
“Eli is a first-team selection as a junior, and we’re very happy he is going to be coming back to us next season,” said head coach Jeff Thurman. “Noah is definitely a slugger and hit a home run in our Ringgold playoff series that helped us solidify that win. Ethan has been a part of our program for four years and did an outstanding job on the mound and in the outfield for us.
“Hayden played behind the plate all season. He caught a lot of double headers and played 14 innings in every single one of those. Dalton moved here from Forsyth Central, and when I first looked him up, I knew he was going to be a big asset for us, and he’s also a great student. Austin comes from a great baseball family, and I really enjoyed having both him and his brother Blake in the program.”
McCollum was recognized for his play in the outfield and on the mound. He recorded a .340 batting average and totaled 33 hits (eight doubles), 19 RBIs and drew 13 walks. McCollum was one of three starting pitchers, and he posted a 4-3 record, 4.37 earned-run average, struck out 43, walked 34 and also earned a save while tossing 48 innings.
Gutillo played right field and was Gilmer’s No. 1 offensive weapon. He led GHS in batting average (.398), on-base plus slugging percentage (1.150), RBIs (30), home runs (four) and doubles (14). His 22 stolen bases tied him for most on the team, and he ranked second with 39 hits.
Cooper started at shortstop and was the team leader in hits (46) and tied Gutillo with 22 stolen bases while hitting .393. He added six doubles and drove in 18 runs.
Crisp played first base and posted a .318 batting average, 27 hits, 25 RBIs, and drew 21 walks. He was a starting pitcher as well and threw 55 2/3 innings and finished the season with a 3.14 ERA, 4-4 record and two saves. He fanned 51 batters, walked 24 and held opposing batters to a .238 average.
Berry caught every game of the season and collected 24 hits, mashed three home runs, nine doubles and drove in 18 runs. He drew 11 walks and had a .276 batting average.
Zabala spent time in the outfield when he was not the Bobcats’ ace. He led GHS in five statistical pitching categories including innings pitched (56 2/3), ERA (2.59), strikeouts (56), opposing batting average (.204) and wins (5-4 record). He issued 36 walks in 10 starts.
Zabala earned a complete game victory when Gilmer defeated Ringgold in game one of the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs.