The Campus United Gryphons won the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association state baseball championship with a May 16 doubleheader sweep of Praise Academy’s Lions from Douglasville, winning 13-1 and 12-2.
“I could not be prouder of my guys for exemplifying what our school stands for and taking our team to the top,” said head baseball coach KC Lorow.
The team captured the crown in front of its home fans at “The Chuck,” or Home Plate Baseball in Peachtree City.
This is only the third season of varsity baseball at the school. After winning only one game the first season, the team reached the first round of the playoffs in 2013 under first-year manager Lorow. This season they compiled a record of 17 wins and 3 losses.
In the first game of the championship series, junior Cody Simmons went the distance in a five-inning game shortened by the run rule. Simmons struck out three, gave up six hits and had one walk in the victory.
Leadoff hitter and second baseman Connor Simmons was 2-for-4 with a run scored and sophomore catcher Seth Thomason was 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Every player in The Campus’ starting lineup had at least one hit in the game.
Junior hurler Capers Williams toed the rubber in the nightcap and threw a seven-inning complete game, giving up only one hit. He struck out four, walked five and gave up no earned runs. His toughest inning was the fourth, where he walked the bases full but got out of the jam with only one run allowed.
At the plate, senior Jack Taylor was 3-for-4 driving in three runs. Senior Karson Brown was 2-for-3 with a triple in his last high school at-bat. Sophomore Seth Thomason was 3-for-4 with two doubles. Senior Kel Johnson was walked intentionally seven times in a row on the day after hitting a triple in the first game.
With only three seniors graduating, The Campus United looks to defend its title with most of the same lineup in 2015.
