Trojan horse

Local Sports

May 26, 2007

By Jamie Wachter The Times Enterprise Sat May 26, 2007, 11:49 PM EDT

THOMASVILLE — Lee County is used to winning region championships.

So, after getting dethroned by Thomas County Central last season, the Trojans turned to their workhorse, ace Thomas Nichols to restore order this time around.

Nichols delivered the Region 1-AAAA title to Leesburg and earned the Times-Enterprise pitcher of the year and player of the year awards for the region. Heading into the Trojans’ series Monday against Heritage, Nichols is 11-1 with two saves and a 1.30 ERA on the mound. He has also struck out 86 in 75 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, he is batteing .457 with five home runs, 33 RBIs and 32 walks.

“For the top pitcher, he hits the ball mighty, mighty hard as well,” Lee County coach Rob Williams said of the Georgia Tech signee. “Wanting the ball on the mound in big game situations and he also wants to be at the plate in crucial situations. I think he’s the best player in the region.”

Bainbridge coach Scott Miller added: “He’s just a great ballplayer. He’s a great athlete. He was by far the best pitcher in our region.”

Nichols was at his best in the Trojans’ biggest games. He shut down the Yellow Jackets three times this year, guiding Lee County to a 3-1 record against Central this season.

“He’s just a good pitcher,” Central coach Chad Parkerson said. “He has three pitches he throw anywhere and he had them working against us.”

Americus-Sumter coach Kagan McClain added: “He’s just a tough out at the plate. He hits pretty much anything you throw at him. We tried to pitch around him most of the year and he still got some pretty good shots off of us.

“He’s a heck of a pitcher, too. He did a great job and he’s a pretty good shortstop, too. I mean, he’s going to Georgia Tech for a reason.”

Nichols wasn’t alone, though, in the Lee County lineup. The Trojans also featured Florida State signee Jack Posey and Elon signee Brock Bailey, as well as Matt Bacon and Jeremy Sheffield. That core produced three more all-region first-team performers and an honorable mention honoree in Bacon. Bailey, a third baseman, blasted eight home runs for the Trojans with 31 RBIs and a .390 average, while Posey, who serves as the designated hitter on the all-region squad, hit .363 with five home runs and 40 RBIs. Sheffield and Bacon split time at second base and designated hitter, and Sheffield finished with a .422 average in the leadoff spot, while striking out just seven times.

“Once we installed Jeremy as our leadoff hitter, our whole lineup just fell into place,” Williams, the coach of the year in the region, said.

While Nichols and the Trojans garned the region hardware, the Yellow Jackets were well-represented, led by shortstop Austin Taylor, who posted a .483 average with four home runs, 30 runs and 36 RBIs. Taylor also swiped all 16 of his stolen base attempts.

Rounding out the first-team were Yellow Jackets Mitchell Herring (catcher), Davis McDermond (first base) and Blake Williams (oufield), Bainbriodge outfielder Trey Faircloth and Americus-Sumter outfielder Caleb Cochran.

Herring hit .311 with 30 RBIs, while McDermond finished with a .350 average after a strong finish and Williams led Central with six home runs and scored 27 runs with 29 RBIs.

Miller added: “(Central) has so many good players. You take those guys and the core guys from Lee and that’s a pretty good region team there.”

Faircloth hit .333 for the Bearcats, and Cochran was the Panthers’ top hitter with a .403 average and hit two home runs and six doubles.

Honorable mention selections include Central’s Frank Burton, Cory Harrell and Gary Smith; Bainbridge’s Luke Barnard, Beau Parker and Chad Rathel; and Americus-Sumter’s Doc Bellflowers, David Parks and Nick Pitts.

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