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!

2 Comebacks in a Row! Knights Blast Past South Paulding Spartans 10-5

With Runners on, George, Will and Gil are on the fence encouraging the offense.

Big hitting and great defense including 2 double plays helped the Knights overcome a 3 run deficit to defeat the South Paulding Spartans 10-5. The Spartans came out strong getting the Knights out 3 up/3 down in the top of the first. In the bottom of the first the Spartans used 2 doubles, 2 singles and a squeeze bunt to jump out to a 3-0 lead. With runners on the corners and 1 out, Hunter Williamson stopped the bleeding with the first of two defensive plays of the game. Hunter ranged to his right and fielded a ground ball up the middle right behind 2B, touched the bag for one out and threw to Presley at 1B to complete the double play and get out of the inning.



Hunter turned 2 double plays and went 2 for
3 with a double in win over the Spartans.

The Knights manufactured a run in the 2nd. Mason Doyle reached on a fielder's choice, stole 2nd and 3rd and came home when Hunter hit a hard groundout to SS. Austin Hansell shut the Spartans out in the bottom of the 2nd 3 up and 3 down to keep it 3-1. After 3 walks and a Will Nelson single the Knights pulled into a 3-3 tie in the top of the 3rd. After Austin Schubert tossed a shutout 3rd, the Knights took control in the 4th inning. Hunter led off with a deep double to LCF and came home on a long single by George Krivsky that gave Marietta the lead. With 2 outs, the Knights got 3 straight singles from Will, Jackson Tysinger and Luke Martin that scored 2 more runs and the Knights led 6-3.

The Spartans cut it to 6-4 in the 4th on a triple and single and were threatening to take back over until the 2nd Defensive Play of the Game shut them down. The Spartans hit a hard grounder to SS where Jackson got into perfect position to make the play. The ball jumped off the hard packed infield right into Jackson's chest, but he somehow managed to field it cleanly and tossed to Hunter at 2nd. Hunter touched the bag and turned and fired to Presley who made a nice stretch to finish off a text book 6-4-3 double play to end the threat. As the players celebrated the great play, the coaches noted that they finally gained an advantage from practicing on the concrete like infield of Larry Bell Park.

George had 2 RBI's against South Paulding

As usual, the Knights followed up a great defensive play with a big offensive inning. Mason led off the 5th with a 2B followed by singles from Hunter and Austin. A walk to Presley, RBI ground outs from George and Will and an RBI single from Jackson and the Knights were comfortably ahead 10-4.

The Spartans added one in the 5th, but Schubie closed it out with a great pick off move to third to catch a Spartan runner and end the game. The 2nd straight comeback victory gave the Knights the #1 seed and a bye into the Semi Finals.

Several of the players and families stayed at the Hampton Inn in Carrollton and spent a nice evening by the pool. While the players and siblings splashed in the pool and terrorized the hotel hallways, the parents relived the big hits and double plays.

The Knights were in a position to make a run, but came out flat Sunday afternoon against Team Full Armor of Lagrange. The great defense was a distant memory as the Knights committed 4 first inning errors that led to 4 runs. After a shutout 2nd, another 4 errors in the 3rd and 4th gave Team Armor another 4 runs.



The resort in Carrollton had an outstanding
grocery delivery service.

The Knights finally got fired up after the most bizarre situation the Knights have ever faced. After warming up before the game, Hunter tossed his glove on his bat bag and went into the cage to hit. After BP, Hunter couldn't find his glove and he, Coach Rob and several parents searched the park for it before giving up. Hunter played the first 2 innings with Coach Rob's glove. In the 3rd, from his 3B position, Austin heard several Team Armor players laughing in their dugout about having the glove. Coach Rob asked the Team Armor coach after the inning and they determined that the Team Armor right fielder not only had the glove, but was using it in the field. Team Armor did not apologize but suggested to Coach Rob that his players should be more careful with their equipment in the future.

This got the guys going and they closed the gap to 1 run, but they left the bases loaded in the 6th and could not overcome their defensive lapses and fell 8-7. Jackson, Luke, Schubie, George and Will each had 2 hits. Jackson added 2 RBI's and Luke and Schubie had an RBI each.

In spite of the rough final game, it was a solid weekend for the Knights. They averaged over 8 runs a game and turned 3 double plays in picking up 2 comeback wins. Marietta continues to win games and get better.



The Knights Fan Club lounges poolside at the Hampton Inn Carrollton Resort.

Comeback Win Over West Georgia Rebels highlights Knights Memorial Day Weekend in Carrollton

The Knights replaced their usual jerseys with PT shirts representing the Armed Forces to honor all Veterans this Memorial Day
Weekend. The boys were extremely fired up with the jerseys and the meaning behind them. THANK YOU VETERANS!

The Marietta Knights picked up a pair of thrilling comeback wins in the Memorial Day Weekend tournament at the Carroll County Sports Complex in Carrollton, Georgia. The Knights opened with the same West Georgia Rebels that knocked them out of a tournament a few miles away 2 weeks ago. After shutting out the Rebels in the top of the 1st, the Knights took an early 3-0 lead thanks to a single by Luke Martin and doubles by Gil Hastings and Mason Doyle.

The lead was short-lived as the Rebels blew up for 7 runs in the 2nd. They then retired the next 6 Knights batters and seemed to be in control of the game. Luckily, Jackson Tysinger kept the Rebels within reach with 2 and a third great innings on the mound. Jackson only gave up 1 hit and didn't allow any runs. He also started the Defensive Play of the Game. With the bases loaded, Jackson fielded a hard comebacker at the mound. He threw to Austin Hansell at the plate for 1 out and Austin fired to Presley Field at first to complete the exciting 1-2-3 double play.

Will Nelson did everything but sell programs and popcorn. Will caught 2
innings, pitched 2 shutout innings for the win and hit the walk-off RBI single.

Still, the Rebels led 7-3 going into the bottom of the 4th. The Knights chipped away with 1 run in the 4th when Mason singled and came home on Austin's groundout to cut the lead to 7-4. Will "The Thrill" Nelson took the mound in the 5th and threw another shutout inning to keep it close so the Knights could come roaring back in the bottom of the inning. After Jackson and Will walked, Luke ripped a 2 run single into RF. Luke later came home on a bases loaded walk and the game was tied 7-7. Will tossed another shutout inning that gave the Knights a chance to win it in the bottom of the 6th.

George Krivsky led off the 6th nursing a very sore hamstring. Coach Rob took George aside in the on deck circle and told him to take it easy, not try to be a hero and not to try to leg out a double. George nodded his understanding, stepped into the batter's box and blasted a double to deep LF. Thankfully, George hit the ball so hard he had plenty of time to cruise into 2B. Presley singled to push George over to 3B and Will drove a 3-2 fastball into RF for the game winner. The Thrill was grinning ear to ear as his teammates mobbed him at first after the huge walk off hit.