Tucker’s impressive winning streak continued and Columbia’s Steve Dennis inched closer to another major coaching milestone to highlight DeKalb County baseball action over Spring break last week.
Coach Vince Byams and the Tucker Tigers swept a pair of home contests over Decatur (5-3) and Southwest DeKalb (12-2) April 8. The two triumphs ran Tucker’s overall winning streak to 15. The Tigers are now a perfect 12-0 in Region 4-AAAAAA and sit at 19-6 overall.
Coach Dennis, meanwhile, also enjoyed a beneficial spring break, as Columbia registered two victories over Stone Mountain (12-2) April 6 and Newton County (6-5) April 7. Dennis now sits at 396 victories in his 29 years as the head skipper at Columbia, just four away from that 400 win plateau. The Eagles are also a stellar 20-4 overall with the two triumphs last week.
Columbia pounded out 14 hits in a 12-2 triumph over Stone Mountain April 6, led by junior Elijah Hammonds (3-3; 2 RS; 2 RBI). Junior Tramane Calloway (2-2; 2 RBI; 1 3B) and senior Fred Chapman (2-3; 2 RS) also delivered multiple hits for the Eagles. Senior Jamal Huff shined on the pitching end, striking out nine and allowing only four walks and one hit over six innings. Columbia then rallied from a late two-run deficit to register an exciting 6-5 decision over Newton County April 7.
Huff turned in a strong outing on the offensive end, finishing 3-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Calloway (2-3; 1 RBI) and junior Kameron Marshall (2-4; 2 RS; 1 RBI; 1 3B) joined Huff in double figures in hits.
Redan is likewise on a similar roll as Tucker, having gone 10-0-1 over its last 11 games. Coach Alexander Wyche’s Raiders posted a 3-0 mark last week, besting Westminster (8-4) April 4, Westlake (by forfeit) April 7 and Parker, AL (13-0) April 8 to move to 15-8-1 overall on the year.
Redan scored a key 8-4 Region 5-AAA victory over Westminster April 4 at Westminster. Juniors Hunter Todd (2-4; 1 RS; 1 RBI) and Orlando Adams (2-3; 1 RBI; 1 2B) shined brightest for the Raiders on the offensive end. Senior Darius Pope picked up the mound triumph, striking out six and allowing five hits and four walks over five innings. Junior Taj Bradley added two strong innings of scoreless relief, with four strikeouts thrown in the mix.
Redan also pieced eight hits together on the way to blanking Parker, AL (13-0) April 8. Bradley (2-3; 3 RS; 1 RBI; 1 3B) and Pope (2-3; 2 RBI; 1 RS; 2 SB) delivered two hits each to lead the way.
Three pitchers teamed up to deliver five scoreless innings for the Raiders. Senior Jalan Daniels earned the victory, registering five strikeouts while allowing three walks over three innings. Senior James Parris (1 IP; 2 SO; 2 BB) and Todd (1 IP; 1 SO; 1 BB) completed the super pitching effort.
Chamblee used a stellar pitching performance to earn a split of doubleheader with North Springs April 8 at Chamblee. Seniors Adam Dixon (2 IP; 5 SO; 2 HA) and Carl Marwitz (3 IP; WP; 2 SO; 2 HA; 2 BB) teamed up to strike out seven and allow only two walks and four hits over five innings in the non-region triumph.
Dixon also posted a strong game at the plate, going 2-3 with three runs scored, three RBI, a triple and three stolen bases. Senior Joseph Brown (2-3; 2 RS; 2 RBI; 1 2B), sophomore Travis Hammond (2-3) and senior Teddy Ewing (2-2; 2 RBI; 1 RS) matched Dixon with two hits each in the contest.