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Knights Close Out 2014 by Advancing to the Semifinals of Boys of Summer Open Classic in South Carolina

Will the Thrill Nelson struck out 6 in 5 1/3 innings for the win against Charleston's St. Andrews Rocks

The Palmetto State made a great backdrop for the Marietta Knights final tournament of 2014. The boys got up bright and early on Sunday and left the historic architecture of downtown Charleston for the tree lined ball fields at Gahagan Sports Complex in Summerville. It would be a rematch with the St. Andrews Rocks in the Boys of Summer Classic, an Open Tournament in South Carolina.

Austin Schubert was awesome behind the plate.
 He caught all 6 innings, turned a beautiful
 1-2-3 Double Play and had an RBI Single.

On Sunday it was the Knights that manufactured a run to take an early lead. Austin Schubert reached on a fielder's choice in the first, stole 2nd and 3rd and scored on a ground out to 2nd to give Marietta an early 1-0 lead. The Knights added to their lead in the 2nd. Will Nelson walked and Mason Doyle singled and stole 2nd to put 2 runners in scoring position. On a ground out to the right side of the mound Will scored easily. Mason flew around 3rd and saw that the Catcher was several feet up the line towards first and never slowed down. The 1B threw home but Mason slid in ahead of the lunging Catcher for a rare 2 run, 1-3 putout. Garrett Wells singled and scored when Jackson Tysinger reached on an error. Jackson stole second and scored on a Schubie single to RF to push the Knights lead to 5-0 after 2.

Will Nelson started on the mound for the Knights and was on from the start. He was consistently hitting his spots with his fastball and curve and the Rocks had no answer. He set down 9 of the first 11 batters he faced. Schubie started behind the plate and ended up catching all 6 innings. Coach intended to rotate catchers every 2 innings due to the heat, but Schubie begged to continue catching because he and Will were working so well together as battery mates. The Knights and their fans went crazy when Will struck out a Rocks batter with a dominating curveball, fastball, curveball combination.



Will slides safely into 3rd

The Knights extended their lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the 3rd when Garrett Wells hit a 2 run single to RCF. St. Andrews finally got things going in the 4th when they strung together several seeing eye singles. It started with a ball that travelled about 40' but in the P-1-2 Bermuda Triangle for an IF hit. Next was a perfectly executed bunt. 2 walks, an error and another infield hit and the Rocks had closed the gap to 7-3 and had the bases loaded. With the tying run at the plate, the Knights pulled off a HUGE Defensive Play of the Game. The Rocks lead off hitter hit a curve off the end of his bat right back to Will at the mound. Will fired home to Schubie to get the lead runner. Schubie stepped forward and calmly threw a strike to Presley at 1st to complete the 1-2-3 double play and end the inning. It was the Knights 6th ground ball double play in the last 6 games and it couldn't have come at a better time.



Jackson Tysinger went 2 for 3 with a Double and
closed out the game on the mound.

Jackson blasted a double to lead off the 4th and came home on a ground out to give the Knights an 8-3 lead. St. Andrews continued to fight and loaded the bases again in the 4th with one out, but Will struck out the next 2 batters on 8 pitches and the lead remained intact. With 2 outs in the 5th, Mason laid down one of his famous perfect bunts for a single. He stole 2nd and had 3rd stolen but a foul ball forced him back. The Rocks called a pitch out on the next pitch, but Mason wasn't going. The pitch glanced off the catcher's glove and Mason took off for 3rd. The catcher grabbed the ball and fired it into LF and Mason took home easily. Mason has done a great job of putting pressure on the defense and creating runs every time he is one base.

After a fielding a sac bunt and getting the first out of the 6th, Will's day on the mound was done. Will had a big grin on his face and got a huge ovation from the Knights' faithful when he handed over the ball to Coach Rob and headed for the dugout. It was a great outing for Will. In 5 1/3 innings, he struck out 6, only allowed 3 earned runs and threw 51 strikes to only 28 balls. The Rocks scratched out 2 more runs but Jackson closed out the game with a strikeout. The Final Score: Marietta Knights 9 & the St. Andrews Rocks 5.



Garrett Wells was 2 for 2 with 2 RBI's, Mason was 2 for 3 with 4 stolen bases and 3 runs scored and Jackson was 2 for 3 with a double and 2 runs scored. The win advanced the Knights to the Silver Bracket Semifinals to take on the oddly named South Carolina Assailants.

Garrett Wells was 2 for 2 with 2 RBI's in the
win over St. Andrews.

The Knights had a several hour gap between games which got longer when the Charleston area heat gave way to long lightning storm. After an hour long delay to the preceding game, the Knights finally got to take the field. As expected in this open tournament, the Knights semifinal opponent was a very tough team. The South Carolina Assailants starting pitcher was fantastic from the beginning with a tough mix of fastballs, changes and curves. The Knights managed 2 baserunners in the first but a strikeout ended their threat with no runs. And just as the top of the first ended, more lightning came and the boys were stuck in the dugout for another delay.

The dark clouds finally moved out and the game got going again. Unfortunately, the Knights offense never could get started. Schubie and Hunter pitched well and the defense was solid. But the Assailants cobbled together several infield hits and took advantage of a couple of walks and errors to pull away for an 8-0 win.




The Knights did turn in 2 very strong Defensive Plays of the Game. Wild hops in the infield were 
common throughout the weekend and the Knights were well prepared thanks to their work at Larry Bell Park back home. In the first, an Assailant hit a hard shot towards Hunter at second. H moved into a good position but the ball jumped into his chest and fell into the dirt at his right. He hit a knee, grabbed the ball and fired from one knee just beating the runner to end the inning with help from a big stretch by Presley at 1B.



Coach Rob gets a special guest during the storm delay.

Presley was also a part of the 2nd Defensive Play of the Game. A South Carolina runner was on 2B and was telling all of the Knights, Willie Mays Hayes style, that he would be scoring soon. On a grounder to SS, Mason fielded and made a great throw to Presley for the second out of the inning. The runner advanced to 3rd on the throw and took a wide turn around the bag. After fielding the throw at 1B, Presley never hesitated and fired a laser across the diamond to Austin at 3B. Austin applied the tag amidst a storm of elbows, knees and spikes for out number 3. Despite the loss, the Knights played some big league defense.


The tournament was a great way to close out the 2014 season. It was an awesome trip for the players and families and the Knights picked up 2 huge wins and advanced in bracket play. The Knights, their parents and their siblings definitely earned the good time in Charleston and watching them have fun was a true blessing. Way to Knights!    

Big Game Hunter grabs a bad hop and throws out the Assailants batter from one knee.

Marietta Knights Invade Charleston

Knights Enjoy the Pier at Waterfront Park in Charleston

The Boys of Summer Classic in Summerville, South Carolina was a lot like a bowl game for the Marietta Knights. A fun trip to end the season and a reward for a year of great baseball. The players and their families stayed in downtown Charleston. As luck would have it, or actually due to careful planning by Kelly Hastings, the team hotel was next door to Joseph P. Riley Stadium. "The Joe" is the beautiful home of the Charleston Riverdogs on the banks of the Ashley River. Friday night several of the guys took in the Riverdogs game against the Kannapolis Intimidators and the impressive post game fireworks show over the river beyond the RF wall.
 
Saturday morning the boys hooked up with Will who had been at the beach just up the road at Isle of Palms. After back to back games Saturday the guys were back to Charleston to explore the historic City. The Knights cooled off in the hotel pool while unwittingly terrorizing the other guests that were trying to catch some sun. Meredith Doyle took several guys to a local batting cage for some extra BP and most of the crowd ended up in shifts at Fleet Landing, a great seafood spot on the water looking out at Patriots Point, the USS Yorktown and Fort Sumter. Ashley, Lily, Bridget and Ella went


Mason Claims the US Customs House in the
name of the Marietta Knights.

through several Shirley Temples. Players enjoyed exploring King and Meeting Streets, Waterfront Park and the rest of downtown Charleston as well as the Citadel and College of Charleston.

After a nice dinner, several of the guys were in a downtown ice cream shop when they got word that they had drawn the 8am game Sunday morning. The party was over and it was time to cab it back to the hotel to get a good night sleep and get ready to play.




Several Knights and their families took in the Charleston Riverdogs game against the Kannapolis Intimidators



Hunter's Sister Ella Made a Heck of Play in Center for the Riverdogs

Knights roll past St. Andrews on Opening Day of Boys Of Summer Classic in Summerville, SC

Austin Hansell had a huge game going 4 for 4 with 2 RBI's and 2 Runs
scored in the win over St. Andrews.

The Marietta Knights used a huge offensive explosion to cruise past Charleston's St. Andrews Rocks 17-7 in the opening round of the Boys of Summer Classic at the Gahagan Sports Complex in Summerville, South Carolina. The Knights made the trip to the tournament outside of Charleston to close out their 2014 season. They got off to a great start with the big win.

The visiting Knights were tense as they trailed 1-0 going into the 3rd inning. They left the bases loaded in the 1st and left a runner on 2nd in the 2nd. But concerns of a shutout were extinguished after Jackson Tysinger and Austin Schubert led off the 3rd with back to back doubles to tie the game. George Krivsky followed up with a triple to score Schubie and came home on a single by Austin Hansell. Hunter Williamson brought Austin home with a single and the Knights led 4-1. Gil Hastings singled and Will Nelson took a curve ball off the arm to load the bases. Hunter came home on a bases loaded walk to Presley Field and Garrett Wells singled in Gil to push the lead to 6-1. Jackson singled to pick up his second hit of the inning and an RBI. Schubie grounded out to 3rd to score another and it was 8-1. George followed with a 2 out, 2 run single and scored on Austin's second RBI single of the inning to give the Knights an 11-1 lead. Coach Rob believes the 11 runs scored is the most runs in an inning in franchise history.



George Krivsky led the offensive onslaught
going 3 for 4 with a triple and 3 RBI's.

Give the Rocks credit because they didn't let the big inning or the brutal heat get them down. They came right back in the bottom of the inning with 4 runs to cut the Knights lead to 11-5. Gil walked and stole 2nd and 3rd in the top of the 4th and scored on a single by Presley to push the lead to 12-5. The Rocks cut it to 12-6 in the bottom of the 4th with back to back singles and an OF error. Jackson delivered the Defensive Play of the game to stop the threat. With a runner on 1st, he fielded a hot grounder at the mound and gunned to Mason Doyle covering 2nd to get the lead runner. He then got 2 more ground ball outs to Hunter and Presley to preserve the 6 run lead going to the 5th.

The Knights put things out of reach in the 5th with 5 more runs thanks to hits by Schubie, Austin, Mason and Will (2 RBI's). The Rocks added one more run and Presley came in to close out the win with 2 ground ball outs. For the second time this season, every Knights player scored in the game. Austin Hansell was 4 for 4 with 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored. George was 3 for 4 with a triple and 3 RBI's and Schubie was 3 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI's.



Presley Field was solid in 2 appearances on the mound.

After the Rocks win, the Knights faced off against the talented Beaufort Beast. The Beast were big and intense and jumped on the Knights early. The Knights didn't play poorly, but when their pitchers couldn't find the strike zone, the disciplined Beast took the walks and pounced on the pitches that did find the plate. Meanwhile, the bats that were so hot in the early game went cold and the Beast cruised to a shutout win. Nonetheless, the Knights made two great Defensive Plays of the Game against the big hitting Beast. The outfield was playing deep when a Beaufort player hit a flare into shallow CF. Jackson took off on a sprint, dove and caught the ball just before it hit the ground for a big out. The second came when Hunter ranged to his left from his 2B position and made a diving catch of a line drive that Beaufort's #5 hitter scorched towards RF.

It was a good day for the Knights in the Open tournament. They picked up a solid victory out of state and played good baseball.

Austin Hansell slides in just ahead of the tag in a bang bang play at the plate to extend the Knights
lead over St. Andrews lead as Coach Steven looks on.

Stuff Knights Say



Sniper! - When a player falls down in the field
for no apparent reason as if taken down by a sharp shooter.

One of the best things about being on the field with the Marietta Knights is the baseball talk. As these guys grow, being on the field with them becomes more and more like being with a college or pro team. This is often most evident in their language. Some of it is borrowed from the team's favorite web videos, "(Stuff) Baseball Players Say I & II," and some of it comes from being around the game for so many years. Some is self explanatory and some needs defining. The point of this post is to preserve all of this great vernacular to enjoy many years from now.

Buckets!
Making Buckets! 
Coach is watching.
Coach, can I bunt today?
Coach, can I switch hit today?
I'm totally feeling this start.
Swag!
Dude!


Do you guys even know the signs? - When a player has just
been thrown out trying to steal or swings through a take sign.

Dude, this is so swag.
Schube's running.
Sniper!
Coach, I can totally steal on this guy.
Sick!
Can I use your bat?
Filthy!
Let's go KIIIID!
We got ice.
We got soap.
Did you hear what Landon said?
Coach, can I throw a knuckleball in the game today?
Check out this pitch I made up. 
My soft toss is on point today.
7 innings.
Way to wear it.
Get dirty.
Attaboy, Seven.
Roll it.



Nobody, Nobody, Nobody, Shooorrrrt - When neither middle
infielder is holding a teammate on 2nd base...there is still no
infielder covering 2nd...Still all clear...the Short Stop is
now moving over to cover 2nd base.   

You're up.
Get down!
I'm going bomb squad today.
On the fence.
Please don't pinch run for me, Coach.
Got heeem!
Pick 'em up.
Nobody, Nobody, Nobody, Shooorrrrt.
Ballin'.
Brah.
Brah!
Brah?
Coach, I can totally play first.
I love baseball.
I hate baseball.
This guy's throwing ched.
Do you even know the signs?
The baseball gods know.
It's in the group text.
I think I'm going to get my glove relaced.
I can't hit without my Evoshield.
I was hitting bombs in the cage.
I think I need Tommy John.
Cut 2!
Cheddar.



Got Heeem! - Used in a high pitch tone when a Knight
makes a play resulting in an opposing player being called
out. May also be used after successfully
pranking a teammate. 

I hate hitting doubles.
Did coach see that?
First swing of the day.
Can we do onfield?
Got to end on a good one.
My two seam is really moving today.
Did somebody mess with my bill?
Who got my seeds?
That's a base knock.
Who's starting today?
He's hitting his spots.
Have you seen Schube's Eefus pitch?
Pitcher gets bucket.
Turnt Up.


Filthy! - When Schubie has just thrown a particularly well executed curve ball. "Sick!" "Dude!" "Buckets!" and
(if the pitch is strike 3) "Got heeem!"may also be used in this case. 



Special thanks to Marietta High School for Giving the Knights Field Time at Smallwood Field

The Knights got in some great work at Marietta HS's Smallwood Field, Home of the Blue Devils

George Krivsky digs in the plate.

While trying to prepare for their final tournament of the season, the Marietta Knights were bumped from practicing on their home field by a 12 year old All Star tournament. Luckily, the Marietta High Blue Devils, fresh off of another appearance in the AAAAAA State Playoffs stepped in and generously loaned the Knights their awesome facility at Smallwood Field.

It was clear from the beginning of practice that the boys were fired up to be on the HS field. Warm up
throws were flat and exploded in gloves. The guys looked like they belonged on the big field and they filled it up. The Knights blasted a lot of balls deep into the big outfield and they took quite a bit of Smallwood Field infield dirt home with them on the front of their uniforms. It was a fun evening and the Knights got in some great work in preparation for their Charleston trip.  

The Knights would like to thank Blue Devils' Coach Chris Stafford and Kelly Hastings with the Marietta High School Athletic Department for the great opportunity.

The Knights hustle in to take infield at MHS.

Knights Get Great Big League Instruction from College Flamethrower Landon Hughes and MLB First Round Pick Michael Chavis

The Knights with special instructors, former Sprayberry stars and Big League prospects Landon Hughes & Michael Chavis

The Marietta Knights received a special treat along with some great baseball insight when Austin Hansell's family friend Landon Hughes came out to work with the team. Landon just finished his freshman season as the Closer at Wallace State C.C. in Alabama (a position formerly held by current Brave Craig Kimbrel). He is currently being recruited by several D1 schools including Mississippi State University. Landon worked extremely hard all year and had a great season for Wallace State so the Knights felt remarkably lucky that he's chosen to spend hours and hours of his down time helping to make these 13 year olds better at the game.

Michael Chavis, the Boston Red Sox 1st round pick, works with Hunter in
the cage. Michael analyzed each player's swing and offered great advice.
 

Landon works with the boys on every aspect of the game including pre-workout stretching routines, IF/OF drills, pre-pitch approach by infielders and of course pitching. He also shares his immense knowledge of mechanics and mental approach to the game. Landon is able to tell the boys things they've never heard before but even when he tells them things they have heard from the coaches the boys seem to hear it much more clearly when it comes from a star college pitcher. The boys also work incredibly hard for Landon and he pushes them to the limit. One highlight was the Superman drill when Landon had our infielders diving back and forth to field balls thrown rapid fire to their right and left. Mason, Austin and Hunter were covered in dirt and Presley was covered in dirt and blood. They looked like champions.

As an extra treat, Landon brought his former Sprayberry H.S. teammate Michael Chavis to work with the boys on hitting and infield. Michael, a Clemson University signee, just finished his senior season at Sprayberry as the USA Today Player of the Year in Georgia. Michael worked with each Knights hitter in the cage and joined them on the field for infield drills and work with the catchers. Michael was very candid when talking about his preparation for the MLB draft and was grinning from ear to ear during the entire practice. At one point Michael told Coach Rob without an ounce of irony that he worked out for the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday and the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday and since he didn't work out for anyone on Thursday he came out to work with the Marietta Knights. Once again, the boys loved working with Michael and soaked up every bit of advice he gave them. The boys understood how fortunate they were that a great player that was just days away from being taken in the first round of the draft spent 2 hours working with them at Larry Bell Park. On Thursday, Michael became the 26th player selected in the Major League Baseball Draft as the First Round Pick of the Boston Red Sox (Mason is thrilled). He will begin playing professionally in just a week.

Austin Hansell works on throwing out base runners around
guest instructor, the Red Sox' Michael Chavis.

Working with these great players has been a real blessing for the Knights. The boys have worked hard, learned a ton and had a great time. Many thanks and continued good luck to Landon and Michael!