Robert Griffin

Sports Writer

Talk about getting thrown into the fire.

Earlier this season, the Troup Tigers traveled to Cartersville, and they were without the services of their top two catchers.

They needed someone to fill in behind the plate, and junior Jim Reed got the call.

Reed did a stellar job that night in a 3-2, extra-inning loss to a team that won the past two Class AAA state championships.

“I told Jim, you’re going to be catching today, big guy,” Garner said. “We threw him into the fire, and he threw out two runners, and the tempo of the game was great.”

Garner was so impressed with Reed’s performance that he has left him behind the plate.

Although Reed hadn’t worked much at catcher, part of Troup’s practice regimen involves working players out at different positions.

“We’re going to work you out and put you in multiple positions,” Garner said. “You never know. You may make a pitching chance and have to swapthree different positions.

“We do a lot of competitive games, intersquad stuff, where we throw a lot of kids in different positions.”

STRONG LEFT SIDE: Going into a season with a small number of returning starters can be an uphill climb for any team, and it is something that the Lagrange Grangers have to find out the hard way.

The team headed into the 2010 season with only one starter (Joseph Mansour) from last year’s team, and a lot to learn.

For the Grangers, it’s learning by doing. With a new crop of talent on the field the team holds a 2-2 Region 2-AAA record and is pushing hard for a spot in the state playoffs.

The team has seen ups-and-downs this season, but the Grangers have been helped out by two underclassmen who have strengthened the left side of the field.

Sophomore shortstop Deshun Todd, and junior third basemen Bobby Moore are doing their part to help the team.

Before the season began, Granger head coach Donnie Branch thought that Todd would be the everyday shortstop for the junior varsity squad, and if needed would be used as a backup for the varsity team.

That was before practice started.

“I really thought he would be our JV shortstop and a backup varsity guy, said Branch. “Once we got going with practice, he was doing a such a good job we decided to start him at shortstop.”

With Todd taking over the duties at short, Bobby Moore, who was slated to play that position, was moved to third, a move that Branch said “really solidified that side of the field.”

Along with keeping the left side of the field locked down, Moore and Todd are also making their presence be known at the plate.

Moore, who is the Grangers lead off man is batting .457 and is making pitchers work hard to get him out.

“He makes every bat tough on the pitcher,” Branch said. Todd has also been a welcome surprise to Branch. “He’s little,” Branch said of Todd, “but he can handle the bat and bunt and possesses some power.

One other hidden gem for the Grangers this season has been the play of senior Kheldrick Williams, who provides power for the team when he is called upon. Williams was playing in the infield, but due to an arm injury is limited in his throwing, so he is called upon when the team needs to get a hit, or to serve as a designated hitter.

“He is a guy who is very unselfish, a great kid, and a hard worker,” said Branch. “Every game we are trying to find a spot to put him in there, He has got instant power off of the bench. He’s our go to guy and he executes when we need him. “

So far in this season Williams has come off the bench to hit three home runs for the Grangers, including one against Columbus this week.

BIG-TIME FRESHMEN: The Callaway Cavaliers are right where they want to be this season.

The team holds an 11-4 overall record this year and stands firmly in second place in Region 5-AA with a 7-2 record.

The Cavs have succeeded thanks largely to play of three freshmen, catcher Luke Burress, shortstop Josh Alise, and pitcher and first baseman Kane Keith.

“They have they have really helped us a lot, especially on the defensive side,” Cavaliers head coach Dusty Hubbard said. “They have all hit like freshman, but all of them have got some big hits for us.”

The “big hits” were shown when Keith and Alise went back-to-back for a double and single to lift the Cavs to a 5-4 victory over Central-Carrollton earlier in the season.

Another youngster who is making a name for himself is sophomore third baseman Tavin Thompson.

Though Thompson’s average doesn’t quite reflect that of a stereotypical big impact player, he has drawn 15 walks and is tops in runs scored for the team.

ONE-TWO PUNCH: The Troup Tigers are set at the top of the rotation.

With sophomore Brad Bartlett and right-hander Josh King, the Tigers have a solid one-two combination on the mound.

Both pitchers are having strong seasons.

Bartlett had a nice performance in a big Region 2-AAA win over Northside last week, and King had a 10-strikeout, complete-game effort against Shaw this week.

King also threw eight strong innings in a 3-2 loss to Cartersville earlier this season.

While Bartlett was a staff ace a year ago, King only threw a handful of innings in 2009.

But King had a big summer playing for Troup and for his Senior League team in West Point, so Garner figured he was ready to take on an increased role this spring.

“Josh, he had a good summer, and he had a great fall,” Garner said. “We felt coming into the season that Josh was going to be pushing Brad for that No. 1 spot. That’s pretty much what’s happened. We have two guys who we feel we can throw against anybody. We consider both of them aces.”

PITCHING FIND: If there is one thing that the Grangers needed improvement on in the start of the season it was pitching.

The Grangers found some help in that area in a guy who was only 90 feet away.

Three weeks ago sophomore Jacob Boccucci was working behind the plate as a catcher for the team.

Now, Boccucci is serving as a reliever for the team, and has been a major asset.

“It has been a smooth transition so far,” Branch said. “Fortunately for us he is a team guy and he is willing to do whatever it takes to contribute.”

SHELNUTT’S ARRIVAL: Caleb Shelnutt has given the Callaway offense a huge lift this season.

The junior second baseman is hitting over .400 for the year, well above his .300 average last year.

COMING UP: LaGrange and Troup are both in action today, and neither team should have much trouble picking up Region 2-AAA wins.

LaGrange is at Carver, and Troup is at home against Kendrick.

For both teams, it’ll be a tuneup for Monday’s county showdown at LaGrange High.

It’s big anytime the two teams play, but since they’re in the same region, the stakes are even higher.

Branch said when the two teams meet, “it becomes a playoff atmosphere, and it’s going to be good for the new starters to get a taste of it.”

Callaway plays Lamar County on Tuesday in a big Region 5-AA matchup.