Alpharetta Bangs Its Way Back From Game One Loss to Defeat Greenbrier
May 12, 2018
Alpharetta, GA- Greenbrier High School and Alpharetta High School locked horns this week in the Elite Eight of the Georgia 6A state playoffs. It was a hard fought series, as it needed all 3 games to determine a winner. After Greenbrier took game one behind strong pitching, Alpharetta countered with strong pitching and a lineup that is absolutely on fire. Winning games two and three in convincing fashion, Alpharetta advances to the Final Four. Next, they will travel to Allatoona in a series that looks to be a shootout!
Game 1
Greenbrier defeated Alpharetta 10-3 on Wednesday, thanks to a timely six runs in a big fifth inning. Ashton Thomas, Zach Thurman and John Waters each had RBIs in the frame. Bryce Melear, a 2019 Georgia commit, was on the mound. He held down a very good Alpharetta lineup only giving up three runs on five hits over six and two-thirds innings, while fanning ten Raider hitters.
Sam Stratton got the start for Alpharetta. He surrendered seven runs on six hits over four and a third innings, striking out four. Drew Sutton and Chris Burgett entered the game as relief, throwing two and two-thirds of an inning, respectively. Justin Kirby went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead Alpharetta in hits.
Game 2
Left-hander Charlie Goldstein, uncommitted 2019, threw a shutout to lead Alpharetta past Greenbrier 16-0 in Game two. He lasted five innings, allowing two hits and zero runs while striking out ten.
Charlie Goldstein LHP / Alpharetta, GA / 2019Mature and sturdy framed left-hander has a good idea of what he is doing. Features a solid fast ball at 83-86 that is able to use north and south, due to his ability to spin and land a big curveball that hitters give up on. Goldstein showed the breaking ball was there for him on command in this outing. On top of the maturity of his pitches, he uses good front side deception and is a tough look for hitters. College coaches love left-handed pitcher that can spin and land a curveball and this one will be no exception. |
Santiago Montiel, 2018 South Alabama signee, led the offense by driving in six runs. He went 2-for-4 and drove in six runs on a grand slam in the second and a two run single in the fourth.
Projectable and young, 2020 Chase Dollander, started the game for Greenbrier. He lasted one and one-third innings, allowing three hits and six runs while striking out three and walking one
Chase Dollander RHP / Greenbrier, GA / 2020Med framed sophomore with good composure and actions. He is the definition of projectable, Young and under control with a compact arm action, life to the fastball, good delivery and the ability to spin. Though he may be just a pocket follow at this point, I am very confident with natural strength gains this young right-hander will establish himself on the Georgia high school scene. Did not get the results he was looking for on this day, but all the ingredients are present. Excited about watching this one progress. |
Game 3
Alpharetta defeated Greenbrier 12-4 in the winner take all third game, thanks in large part to South Alabama signee, Santiago Montiel, who drove in five runs. The shortstop drove in runs on a home run in the third, a bases loaded hit-by-pitch in the fourth, a triple in the fifth, and another home run in the seventh.
Santiago Montiel SS / Alpharetta, GA / 2018Could not of bumped into Montiel at a better time. He was on fire this week. He is a smallish quick middle infielder with good actions in the field and at the plate. It is always fun to watch a player when the way he plays, matches his overall profile. Did not get to see all I wanted to defensively, but saw enough to know he has good middle infield actions and knows how to play. At the plate he is balanced with a straight away approach, and has good feel for the barrel. More than just a solid at bat kind of guy, Montiel has sneaky power that he is growing into, but remains under control and does not sell out for it. I look for this one to have a strong career at South Alabama and possibly beyond. |
The Raiders eventually pulled away for good with four runs in the fourth inning. Montiel was hit by a pitch, driving in a run. Justin Kirby singled on a 2-1 count, scoring one run, and Ben Browning singled on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs. The Raiders put up another four spot in the fifth inning. Montiel, Kirby, and Big Drew Beiger each had RBIs in the frame.
Cole Hamel got the win on the bump for Alpharetta. He went the distance, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out five.
Jackson Rosier took the loss for Greenbrier. He went four and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs on ten hits and striking out four. John Waters led the offense for Greenbrier with two hits in four at bats.
Aside from Montiel's big day, Alpharetta collected 12 hits. Beiger, Noah Mendlinger, Matthew Wilson, and Kirby each racked up multiple hits for the Raiders. The defense was also strong behind Hamel, not committing a single error in the field.