Albany Herald

Photo by Danny Aller

2011 HERALD ALL-AREA BASEBALL TEAM --- FIRST TEAM:

Pedro Cruz, Jr., OF, Lee County

WHY HE'S HERE: Runner-up for Player of the Year, hit .409 with four home runs and eight doubles, and drove in 27 runs while scoring 30 runs. He also threw out four runners from the outfield.

Robert Daniel, Jr., P, Westover

WHY HE'S HERE: Led the entire state of Georgia for the second consecutive year in strikeouts, fanning 103 batters in just 48 innings, while walking only 23. He struck out 54 batters in only 26 innings in Region 1-AAA play, averaging more than two Ks an inning. He went 7-2 with a 2.19 ERA and also batted .333 for the season.

Sam Buczek, Sr., P/C, Seminole

WHY HE'S HERE: Went 6-0 with a 1.96 ERA during the regular season. Also hit .473 and drove in a team-high 31 runs.

Josh Buczek, Jr., P/SS, Seminole

WHY HE'S HERE: Led Seminole in hitting with a .574 batting average and six home runs, and also stole 12 of 13 bases. He went 2-0 with three saves and a 3.38 ERA on the mound.

Chase Patrick, Sr., SS, Lee County

WHY HE'S HERE: Was more than just a leadoff hitter, batting .387 with seven home runs, 10 doubles, two triples and 17 RBI. He led the team with 35 runs.

Daniel Nichols, Jr., 3B, Lee County

WHY HE'S HERE: Hit .404 with four home runs, 13 doubles and a triple. He drove in 27 runs and scored 26 runs.

Chase Griffin, Sr., C, Lee County

WHY HE'S HERE: Batted .309 with three homers, four doubles, three triples and 23 RBI.

Ricardo Pugh, Jr., SS, Westover

WHY HE'S HERE: Led Region 1-AAA in hitting with a .600 batting average, and had a .950 slugging percentage and a .630 on-base-percentage.

Banks Kinslow, Sr., SS/P, Deerfield

WHY HE'S HERE: Batted .389 with four homers and drove in 36 runs in 29 games. He also went 5-1 with a 2.10 ERA on the mound.

Rhett Cooper, Sr., OF/P, Deerfield

WHY HE'S HERE: Hit .420 with one home run and 22 RBI, and went 5-3 with a 1.95 ERA on the mound.

Harris Webb, So., 2B/SS, Deerfield

WHY HE'S HERE: Was the catalyst as the leadoff hitter, walking 28 times while hitting .402 and driving in 18 runs.

Chris Brown, Jr., 1B, Seminole

WHY HE'S HERE: Stole 20 of 21 attempts, batted .350, belted six homers and drove in 20 runs.

James Davis, Sr., P/OF,

Baconton Charter

WHY HE'S HERE: Hit .448 with five homers, five triples, four doubles and scored 34 runs while driving in 37. He also pitched two no-hitters and went 6-2 with a 2.75 ERA on the mound. He had 76 strikeouts in 51 innings.

Brock Pinson, So., P/3B,

Baconton Charter

WHY HE'S HERE: Hit .515 with eight doubles, a triple, and drove in 26 runs. Also went 4-3 with a 2.33 ERA on the mound.

Brandon Weaver, Jr., C, Worth County

WHY HE'S HERE: Batted .407, belted nine home runs and drove in 35 runs.

Ryan Hickox, Jr., 3B, Worth County

WHY HE'S HERE: Played third base and also pitched in relief. Led the team with his glove, and went through the entire season without making a defensive error at third base. Batted .305.

Jake Edore, Sr., IF/P, Westwood

WHY HE'S HERE: Senior leader for the state finalist Wildcats, hitting .421 at the plate and going 2-0 on the mound.

Douglas Nobles, Jr., P, Westwood

WHY HE'S HERE: Was the ace of the staff and led Westwood to the state finals with a 7-3 record on the mound. Also led the state in GISA with 10 home runs while batting .482.

Mason Worsham, Jr., C/P, Westwood

WHY HE'S HERE: Hit .446 and also pitched, going 4-0 on the mound.

Jon Floyd, Sr., SS/3B, Randolph So.

WHY HE'S HERE: Led the Patriots, hitting .500 for the season with three triples, nine doubles, one homer and 25 RBI.

Daylon Blanton, Sr., P/3B,

Randolph Southern

WHY HE'S HERE: Was the ace for the Final Four Patriots, batting .357 with three doubles, a home run and 14 RBI.

Dillon Driver, Jr., P/2B, SGA

WHY HE'S HERE: Hit .420 with two homers and drove in 21 runs in 22 games. Also went 9-2 with a 2.39 ERA on the mound.

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SECOND TEAM:

Nate Gay, Jr., C/DH, Lee County

WHY HE'S HERE: Hit .363 with a home run, eight doubles and 14 RBI.

Cole Goodwin, Sr., P, Lee County

WHY HE'S HERE: Went 6-3 with a 3.11 ERA and struck out 54 batters in 67 2/3 inning.

Chase Burnfin, Sr., P, Lee County

WHY HE'S HERE: Went 6-4 with a 4.56 ERA and struck out 39 in 58 innings.

Shannon Brown, Jr., C, Westover

WHY HE'S HERE: Batted .450 with one homer and 21 RBI.

Joshua Black, So., 1B, Westover

WHY HE'S HERE: Hit .464 with four triples and drove in 18 runs and had a .630 on-base-percentage.

Justin Burke, Sr., P/C, Seminole

WHY HE'S HERE: Batted .565 and drove in 27 runs while going 8-1 with a 2.19 ERA on the mound.

Dee Virgin, Jr., 2B, Seminole

WHY HE'S HERE: He batted .440 with five homers and stole 20-of-21 bases.

Caleb Morrell, Jr., SS/P, Westwood

WHY HE'S HERE: Hit .435 and went 4-0 on the mound.

Carson Ray, Sr., P/2B, SGA

WHY HE'S HERE: Batted .384 and drove in 27 runs, and also went 6-0 with a 2.41 ERA on the mound.