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Calvary Day School Cavaliers and Savannah Christian Preparatory Raiders are two highly competitive baseball teams in Georgia High School Association Class 3 Region 3. Over the last two seasons, they have been neck-in-neck in the race for the region title, with the Raiders coming out ahead by just one game to win the region championship both years.

 

The Cavaliers are leading the region with a perfect record of 4-0 and an overall record of 10-3. They are ranked at number four in Class 3A for region play by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. On the other hand, the Raiders have an overall record of 7-7, with a region record of 1-1. They are ranked at number five, just behind Calvary by the AJC.

 

The Prep Sports Report caught up with SCPS Head Coach Matt Oglesby and Calvary Day Head Coach Philip Lee ahead of their highly anticipated baseball series this week on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Calvary Day and then on March 28, 2024, at SCPS. Both teams are vying for the region's number one slot, making this a crucial matchup for players and fans.

 

Calvary Day School

Head Coach: Phillip Lee

Current record: 10-3, 4-0

State Rankings: AJC #4, Score Atlanta #4, Coachsbox.org #4

Notable Players: Caden Arnold, SS, sr., Will Hampton, OF/INF/P, sr., Brian Lowery, P, sr., Cutter Powell, P/OF, jr., Max Arnold, jr., Ryan Wallace, P/3B, jr., Quinn Johnson, P, so.

 

The Cavaliers' leading hitters are as follows: Will Hampton has 20 hits in 43 at-bats with the highest batting average of .476 and 13 RBIs. Carter Powell follows him with a .440 batting average, going 11 for 25. Max Arnold boasts an impressive batting average of .390, having hit the ball 16 out 41 times at the plate. Ryan Wallace's next has a batting average of .372, going 16 for 43 hits with 15 RBIs. Lastly, Caden Arnold has a batting average of .333 (15-45) with nine RBIs.

 

The Cavaliers pitching staff is anchored by Ryan Wallace, who boasts an unblemished 3-0 record with a stellar ERA of 0.34 after pitching 20 2/3 innings. He has an impressive 25 strikeouts to go with just three walks. Meanwhile, Quinn Johnson has a 2-1 record and a 1.56 ERA, having racked up 27 strikeouts while issuing nine walks in his 18 innings.

 

 

Savannah Christian Preparatory School

Head Coach: Matt Oglesby

Current record: 7-7/1-1

State Rankings: AJC #5, Score Atlanta #5

Notable Players: Jayden White, P/1B, sr., Blaine Burnsed, P/OF, sr., Harding Dennis, P/INF, jr., Cardin Patrick, C/3B, so.

 

Harding Dennis leads the Raiders in hitting, going 17 for 42 with a batting average of .405. Next is Cardin Patrick, who is 10 for 27 with a batting average of .370. Jayden Wright follows, going 12 for 39 at the plate with a .358 average. 

 

Blaine Burnside leads the Raiders on the mound with an ERA of 1.34. He has a record of 1-2 and has pitched 26 innings, striking out 25 batters while walking only 11. Harding Dennis has started six games and struck out 27 in 20 innings, while Jayden White has recorded 26 strikeouts in 15 and 2/3 innings and has a 2-0 record.

 

The Prep Sports Report asked SCPS Head Coach Matt Oglesby and Calvary Head Coach Philip Lee some key questions going into the series, and here is what they had to say.

 

Rivalry Renewed

"This is always a week circled on the calendar," says Coach Oglesby. "Both schools embrace the rivalry, and in the past few seasons, it has been the deciding series for the region." Coach Lee echoes the sentiment, highlighting the opportunity to "compete against a quality opponent."

 

Spotlight on Young Talent

While both coaches acknowledge their teams' overall talent, they highlight specific players who could make a difference. Coach Oglesby points to his sophomores, led by Harding Dennis and is eager to see how they handle their "first taste of this rivalry." Coach Lee emphasizes the contributions of his seniors and the continued development of younger players.

 

Strengths and Strategies

Strengths are less clear-cut. Coach Oglesby acknowledges some inconsistency, stating, "We have kind of been a Jekyll and Hyde-type team in terms of strength." Coach Lee highlights a "pretty balanced attack this season in every phase of the game," hoping to maintain that balance.

 

Home Field Advantage

The series features contrasting playing fields. Coach Oglesby acknowledges the difference between their "fairly small park" and the expansive Grayson Stadium, potentially impacting pitching decisions. He adds, "Our players really enjoy the chance to play at Grayson Stadium and tend to play well there." Coach Lee, however, downplays the impact, stating, "We have had a road warriors mentality all season, so playing on the road is fairly common for us."

 

Key to Victory

Both coaches agree on a crucial factor beyond talent. Coach Oglesby emphasizes minimizing "free bases," believing "whichever team gives up the least amount of free bases will most likely win the series." Coach Lee simply states, "Execution!"

 

A Series to Watch

With both teams prepared and fans excited, the stage is set for an intense series. The outcome could significantly impact the region's final standings. As the Cavaliers and Raiders clash on the field, one thing is sure: Georgia high school baseball fans are in for a treat.

 

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