WBHS Sports

The 2013 Major League Baseball Draft was not a round old when recent Winder-Barrow High School graduate Travis Demeritte received the call every player who steps on a baseball field hopes to get.

Demeritte was selected in the first round of the draft by the Texas Rangers. He was the 30th player selected overall. Demeritte, who helped lead the Diamond Doggs to the second round of the state playoffs this spring, said the Rangers are one of his favorite teams.

“I’m really thankful for everything,” Demeritte said. [Full Story »] 

Jim Stoudenmire helped lead the Apalachee High School wrestling team to a high level of success during his five years with the program.

Now the veteran wrestling coach will begin a new challenge as he takes over the Winder-Barrow High School Mat Bulldogg program.

“There were a lot of little things which went into the decision,” Stoudenmire said Sunday. “It will actually be a good bit less driving for me. Plus, Winder-Barrow is where I started. I always thought I might get back one day. Plus, the logistical things involved work a little better for me and my family.” [Full Story »] 

It won’t be long now.

Travis Demeritte, a recent graduate of Winder-Barrow High School, is expected to be selected in this week’s Major League Baseball draft, possibly as high as the first round.
Demeritte, who helped lead the Bulldoggs to a second-round state playoff appearance this spring, played in front of pro scouts throughout his senior season.

The 2013 MLB draft begins Thursday at 6 p.m. with the first and second rounds. Rounds 3-10 will begin Friday at noon with rounds 11-40 set for noon Saturday. [Full Story »] 

Winder-Barrow High School athletic director Justin Grant has resigned.

Grant, who submitted his letter of resignation to WBHS principal Al Darby Friday, had worked in the role for the past five years.

The Barrow Journal obtained a copy of Grant’s resignation letter which read:
“Thank you for the opportunity to work with you the past five years. You are a great leader, and I am truly going to miss working with you and your team at WB. WB is a great school, and I was glad to be a part of all the wonderful things you have going on here. At this time I unfortunately have to give you my resignation to be able to spend more time with my family. Thanks for all you have done for me.” [Full Story »] 

With the 2013 season now in the record books, the Winder-Barrow High School baseball team is already looking toward next spring.

Coach Brian Smith and the Diamond Doggs returned to the practice field Tuesday and will play several games throughout the remainder of May and for most of June. WBHS will host a tournament beginning Thursday with games continuing through Sunday. The Bulldoggs will be divided into red and black squads. WBHS will then play a doubleheader May 28 against Team Elite 14-year-olds. The teams will face again in another doubleheader June 4. The red and black teams will also host dacula June 5 before playing Team Elite again on June 6. [Full Story »] 

Winder-Barrow High School’s Caitlin Connell broke the school record in the 3,200-meter run while Apalachee’s High School’s Dennia Ernest finished tied for fourth in the high jump during the Georgia High School Association’s state meet in Albany last week.

Connell also made it to the podium by finishing sixth in the 3,200-meter run. Her time of 11:36.9 just eclipsed the school record of 11:37. Connell also finished ninth in the 1,600-meter run (5:17.62) and was just shy of a school record (5:17.22) in that event.

“She was about two tenths of a second from the school record and from being on the podium in the 1,600-meter,” WBHS coach Michael Lofton said. “She was a little disappointed at first because she thought she had finished eighth (in the 1,600). She also wanted the school record. Once she had time to put things in perspective, she realized what she had accomplished.” [Full Story »] 

Almost.

The Winder-Barrow High School baseball team was so close to advancing to the Elite Eight it could probably taste it.

However, Pope High School is the team which moves on after winning a best-of-three series against the Diamond Doggs two games to one. Pope rallied for a 10-9 win in the series opener last Thursday before WBHS took game two 10-6 setting the stage for a dramatic game three. [Full Story »] 

Even when looking elimination in the face, the Winder-Barrow High School baseball team never blinked.

The Diamond Doggs defeated South Paulding in a deciding game of a best-of-three series Tuesday after putting six runs on the board in the top of the seventh. WBHS (22-7) would go on to an 11-4 win in a game which the score was not indicative of how close the contest was.

The Bulldoggs, who will face Pope in the second round beginning Thursday, trailed South Paulding 4-3 after the fifth inning before scoring two runs in the six and six in the seventh. WBHS, despite playing on its home field, was the designated visiting team Monday after a coin flip.

Drew Dunagan worked the first 4.1 innings and while he did not earn the win, earned the praise of coach Brian Smith. [Full Story »]