The annual DCSD Junior and Senior All-Star Baseball Classics return June 1 after being cancelled in 2020.
The annual DeKalb County Junior and Senior All-Star Baseball Classics return on Tuesday, June 15 (GHSA Dead Week Delaying Game a week and rain postponements) after being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Dunwoody High School plays host to the two games featuring the top juniors and seniors from across the county. The 12th Annual Junior All-Star Classic opens the day at 4:00 pm with a nine-inning affair to showcase the Top 30 Juniors from across the 19 DeKalb County high schools and Decatur.
The 2019 Junior game was a blowout win of 15-5 by the West over the East. The West leads the series 5-2 since the implementation of the East/West format in 2013. The West has won the last two matchups.
The Junior Classic was first a North vs. South series with the North holding a 3-1 advantage in the four games beginning in 2009.
Redan’s Donye Evans was the East MVP in 2019 while Cedar Grove’s Kolby Taylor garnered the West MVP honors.
Stephenson Head Coach Timothy Jones heads the East squad and will be assisted by Arabia Mountain’s Eric Hoxie and should send out a strong hitting lineup.
Redan’s Jason Avila was second in the county with a .481 batting average that included 22 RBI, 6 triples, 4 doubles and 3 homeruns on the year. Southwest DeKalb catcher Sadir Ryan has a strong resume at the plate hitting .418 with 24 RBI and 6 doubles on the season.
Stephenson’s Michael Wright drove in 19 runs on the season and Tucker’s Andre Hunter drove in 20 runs with 10 doubles and 2 homeruns.
The East pitching staff is led by Redan’s Anthony Mateo (3-3, 3.25 ERA, 55 Ks, 22 BBs) and Tucker’s Noah Grayson (3-5, 4.36 ERA, 32 Ks, 24 BBs).
Lakeside’s Brian Granger heads the coaching staff for the West and will be aided by Dunwoody’s Chan English which has some offensive firepower of its own with five players with over 20 RBI on the season.
The group includes Lakeside’s Malachi Cloud (29 RBI), Dunwoody’s Connor Haynes (27 RBI), Druid Hills’ Max Fishbein (24 RBI), Lakeside’s Lucas Uyeda (24 RBI) and Druid Hills’ Colin ross (22 RBI).
Lakeside’s Will Tansil (5-2, 65 Ks, 15 BB, 3.34 ERA) leads the pitching staff along with Chamblee’s Taylor Ross (6-4, 49 Ks, 26 BBs, 3.26 ERA) and Druid Hills’ Colin Ross (5-2, 37 Ks, 13 BBs, 3.78 ERA). Decatur’s Brady Jones went 7-1 with 80ks while adding 30 RBI and 5 homeruns at the plate.
Senior All-Star Classic
It will be the 18th Senior All-Star Classic and the 8th since going from a two-game format to one game in 2013. Game time is set for 7:00 pm at Dunwoody.
The East won the 2019 edition of the Senior game 5-2 to pull within a game in the series led by the West 4-3. Juston Jordan was the East MVP and Chamblee’s Travis Hammond won the West MVP award.
Redan’s Alexander Wyche leads the East squad in 2021 with help from Southwest DeKalb’s Tyrus Taylor.
The hitting lineup is led by Redan’s Addrain McNeal who hit .450 with 22 RBI and 6 triples on the season and Arabia Mountain’s Mitchell Hall (.400, 11 RBI). Stephenson’s Kameron Taylor adds a .392 average, 21 RBI and 5 triples to the lineup while Tucker’s Joshua Waller had 12 RBI and 6 doubles on the year.
Several different pitchers will be called up for the East as they battle to hold down the West bats.
Decatur’s Robby Gilbert heads up the West coaching staff with help from Chamblee’s Brian Ely and will rely on a solid pitching staff including Lakeside’s Joseph Garcia (10-1, 84Ks, 12 BBs, 2.26 ERA) and Chamblee’s Patrick Scott (3-0, 32 Ks, 14 BB, 1.52 ERA). Druid Hill’s Joseph Weingartner (4-4, 35 Ks, 25 BBs, 2.83) and Chamblee’s Pete Constandtinides (6-3, 28 Ks, 10 BB, 2.35 ERA) could also see some action on the mound.
Lakeside’s Zaylan Washington had 33 RBI along with 10 doubles and 3 homeruns. Dunwoody’s Gabriel Hernandez knocked home 21 runs during the season. Decatur’s Cole Turner had a DeKalb County Dugout Club leading 34 RBIs while hitting .369 and was 7-2 on the mound with 74 strikeouts.
See links below for All-Star rosters/records: