If chicks dig the long ball, Savannah Country Day’s Cole Meyer may need to carry repellent with him from here on out.
The senior leadoff man for coach Nate Ward and the Hornets was crucial in SCDS’ first-round series win over visiting Eagle’s Landing Christian on Thursday and Friday in the GHSA Class A Private state playoffs.
Country Day (21-12) won Friday’s decisive Game 3 by a score of 9-8 in nine innings and Meyer hit two homers in the victory. He launched four home runs in the three-game set and drove in seven runners in total.
Meyer has now hit 13 home runs this season, shattering the previous school record of eight homers in a single season. He is hitting .426 with a .580 on-
base percentage in 33 games this year.
“He has hit so many big homers for us this season,” Ward said of Meyer, one of four seniors on the roster. “He is just an absolute stud of a person and a pretty good (baseball) player too.”
The Hornets won Game 1, 11-2 before a setback in Game 2 Thursday afternoon forced the third game in the best-of-three series.
“We’ve had a few games like that this season,” said Ward of the back-and-forth finale. “Games where we’d gain some ground then give some back. But this was the first time in a long time that we’ve done it in a three-game series. That made it even more special.”
Freshman Leiden Van Abshoven's bunt in the bottom of ninth on Friday brought in the winning run. He was only in the lineup this weekend because of a sick senior, Ward said after Game 3.
“It’s the next man up mentality and (Van Abshoven) was working in the cage 10 minutes before the game started to get ready,” said Ward. “He was ready when his teammates needed him and we are proud of the way he responded.”
Luke Everett homered twice in the series for the Hornets.
Country Day plays in Macon at Tattnall Square Academy in a Sweet 16 doubleheader on Tuesday (3 p.m. Game 1 first pitch). The “if” game would be played Wednesday afternoon.
Tattnall Square finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in Class A Private by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
“I haven’t looked at them too much yet,” Meyer said of TSA in a phone call with PSR Friday night. “I do know that they are one of the best baseball programs in Class A in the state every year and they’ll be tough I’m sure.
“We’ll be ready. We’re going to give them everything we have and try to make it back to the Elite 8 and see what happens.”
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Photo credit - Savannah Country Day Atletics on Instagram
Optim Orthopedics supports Savannah Country Day School athletics. Dr. Thomas Alexander is the team doctor for Savannah Country Day. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
