2/12/2015 7:42:40 AM
On a beautiful Wednesday here in Emerson, GA the Georgia Highlands Chargers took on crosstown foe, the Piedmont Lions. The Chargers had a few costly fielding miscues early allowing the Lions to jump out in front, and they never recovered.
Highlands' Dillion Swaggerty (So, RHP, Canton,GA) was a bright spot making his season debut on the mound. Swaggerty went 3 innings with 5 strikeouts giving up no earned runs. He pitched in the 89-91 with his fastball which registered 1700-1900 spin rates courtesy of TrackMan. Pitchers with lower spin rates tend to generate a higher percentage of ground balls; if they can keep the ball down in the zone. Swaggerty flashed a few change ups with some sink in the low 80s and 2100+ spin rates. There could be big things come from the quick armed righty in 2015.
Chargers Ridge Hillhouse (So, 1B, Woodstock, GA) finished the day a perfect 2-2 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. He also walked in the contest.
The Lions used their entire lineup to get things done at the plate. Every player in the starting line up either scored, got a hit or drove in a run. It was quite the team effort.
Piedmont's Austin Gonzalez (Fr, OF, Lawrenceville, GA), Justin Groover (Fr, OF, Newnan, GA) and Michael Craig (Fr, OF, Lilburn, GA) all drove in 2 runs in support of Alex Astin (So, RHP, Santa Rosa Beach, FL) who got the win on the mound. Astin went 4 scoreless innings while giving up 1 hit and striking out 3.