The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 296

36 GWINNETT EXTRA, JUNE 12, 1986 Broncos already rebuilding to defend state crown By David Johnson Sports Editor 'v- A I' A I ffiiAA-. A A HO AD TO STATS ATLANTA METRO DUGOUT TOURNAMENT Brookwood 7 Redan 6 Brookwood 7 Pebblebrook 2 Brookwood 15 Towers 3 Brookwood 7 Douglas Co. 6 Brookwood 13 South Cobb 2 Brookwood 9 North Cobb 5 Semifinal: Brookwood 9 Osborne 4 Final: Forest Park 23 Brookwood 9 REGULAR 8EAS0N JOHNNY CRAWFOROStaX FILLIM3 TK2 GAPS: Brookwood shortstop Scott Moseley (left) prepares to lob the ball to second baseman Steve Erickson to start a double play. Below, Britt Martin shows the ball in the mit after tagging out a runner at the plate. Both Martin and Moseley will be back next season but Erickson will be gone.

Fresh off a Class AAAA state championship, the Brookwood baseball team, minus its seniors, will be back in action this week in the Connie Mack Summer League the same place it began its trek to the 1986 state Last summer, the Broncos were one of two high school teams to earn a playoff berth in the metro-Atlanta league. The other was Roswell, who incidently won the Class AAA state championship. After a six-month layoff between the end of the summer and the beginning of baseball season, the Broncos hit the ground running. They finished runnerup to Forest Park in the Atlanta Metro Dugout Tournament After the loss to the Panthers, Brookwood went through the regular season unbeaten and won the 8-AAAA region championship in three games. The Broncos didn't lose their second game until the second game of the state playoffs, a 7-Jf decision to Osborne.

7 After losing their second straight to Forest Park, the Broncos swept the next two games to win the North Georgia Championship. They followed the same pattern against Columbus before winning the state title. "We won every trophy we could possibly win," said Brookwood Head Coach Rob English, The 1986 Broncos also rewrote the school record book. They broke the team record' for batting average average runs per game (10), runs in a season (289), games played (37), best record (33-4) and national ranking (10th). Individually, senior Tom Green broke records for highest batting average most most runs scored (46) and most doubles (16).

Junior Scott Moseley set new marks for most singles (46) and most stolen bases (23). Ricky Halama broke the single season RBI mark with 46. "It was an extremely gratifying season," English said. "But it's the same thing after every season. You lose some key people and you think, Oh my, how am I going to replace these guys." Considering who the Broncos are losing, even the most optimistic Brookwood fan has to wonder.

Gone will be leftfielder Green, center-fielder Allen Messick and second baseman Steve Erickson. Both Green and Messick hit well over .400 while Erickson hit .370. Also lost will be 14 game winner Roger Landress. After pitching only four innings his junior year, Landress became the ace of the Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood Brookwood 10 Norcross 3 6 Berkmar 4 9 Parkview 3 13 Duluth 5 2 Newton Co. 1 12 Duluth 3 6 Cedar Shoals 0 11 Berkmar 3 16 Central Gw.

1 15 South Gw. 0 5 Marist 4 15 Newton Co. 5 7 Norcross 1 6 Cedar Shoals 3 10 Central Gw. 3 12 South Gw. 5 6 Parkview 1 A A-'" A j---j- via 'sr Air AAAAAAIfA 8-AAAA REGION TOURNAMENT Brookwood 2 Parkview 1 Brookwood 3 Clarke Central 1 Brookwood 4 Parkview 0 STATE TOURNAMENT First Round: Brookwood 4 Osborne 1 Osborne 7 Brookwood 6 Brookwood 11 Osborne 1 North Georgia Championship: Forest Park 5 Brookwood 0 Brookwood 9 Forest Park 3 Brookwood 4 Forest Park 3 Finale Columbus 14 Brookwood 5 Brookwood 7 Columbus 0 Brookwood 15 Columbus 9 NEW SCHOOL RECORDS: Team: Batting average .378 i Runs per game 10 Runs scored 289 Games played 37 Most wins, fewest losses 33-4 Highest National ranking (heading into state finals) 10th IndhiduaJ: Tom Green: batting average hits 61; runs scored 46; doubles 16.

Scott Moseley: singles 46; stolen Bronco pitching staff this season. "When you lose a couple of .400 hitters plus a 14 game winner that really hurts," English said. However, Brookwood will return the majority of its starting infield, an outfielder and several pitchers. Back will be third baseman Jeff Finch, shortstop Scott Moseley, first basemanoutfielder Ricky Halama and catcher Britt Martin. Dodd will no doubt be the ace on the mound while Tom Hart wig is the top candidate to fill the starting vacancy.

However, even though the defense seems well intact, there is no guarantee each player will remain in the same spot In order to have the most experience at the key positions, EegSsh said he may have to move some peo- pie around. The fifth-year coach will begin making decisions this summer which will effect next years team. "The purpose of us playing in the summer league is to keep the kids together," English said. "It's a chance to play some strong competition and see what we've got" The summer league is divided into several divisions and consists of about 20 high school teams along with some college and scout teams. Offensively, English said next years team will be hard pressed to match this past years squad.

"Realistically, I wouldn't expect them to hit as well as this team did," English said. "But well have back -one big nucleus of last years team so well be okay." V- As for repeating the successes of this past season, English said he expects next years team to be more hungry than the state champions. "Once you've had a taste of success you can't help but want some more," English said. "I think the desire of next years team to get back will be as great or greater than this years team. "As far as motivation goes, I don't think FlI have to say much.

The desire to get back will be motivation enough." English denies that his team was the uncontested favorite heading into the 1986 campaign. But there is no denying they will be atop everyone's hit list next season. think, we. surprised people this-year," English said. -m'' oases K3.

i Ricky Halama: RBI 46..