2019 players, coaches of the year

Posted 6/2/19

Parkview's Jonathan French was named the Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine's Class 7A Player of the Year.

 

Editor's Note for media outlets: Feel free to use any information on Players of the Year and the 2019 All-State teams. However, please credit the Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine.

 

Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine announces all-state teams, players of the year

The Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine unveils its players and coaches of the year in each classification today.

After helping lead Parkview to a second straight state championship, versatile standout Jonathan French was named the Class 7A Player of the Year. 

Other players of the year are Heritage-Conyers' Nick Watson-Garcia (Class 6A), Loganville's Jacob Boyd (Class 5A), Northside-Columbus' Mack Williams (Class 4A), Pike County's Coleman Crow (Class 3A), Jeff Davis' Britt Metts (Class 2A), Gordon Lee's Chris Potter (Class 1A Public) and Tattnall Square's Brooks Gorman (Class 1A Private).

The magazine also named its coaches of the year which include Parkview's Chan Brown (7A), Heritage-Conyers' Shane Ramsey (6A), Loganville's Jeff Segars (5A), Northside-Columbus' Dee Miller (4A), Pike County's Don Hanson (3A), Jeff Davis' Paul Glass (2A), Gordon Lee's Mike Dunfee (Class 1A Public) and Tattnall Square's Joey Hiller (Class 1A Private). It was the third consecutive coach of the year honor for Segars, who guided his program to its third consecutive state title.

French returned to his catching role after playing in the outfield in 2018. The All-American not only provided strong defense behind the plate, but his bat provided plenty of pop for the Panthers. French, known for his power, could also be counted upon to deliver a base hit in a tight situation. 

Watson-Garcia provided strong play on the mound and at the plate, but his leadership skills were a big reason for Heritage's success. The senior went 7-3 with two saves and a 2.24 ERA in 65 2/3 innings. He struck out 87. On offense, he batted .308 with 10 doubles, two homers and 35 RBIs.

Boyd was one of the many bright spots on a young Loganville team that matured and became the first team since Columbus High in 2010-12 to win three straight state baseball titles. Whatever Boyd was asked to do, the senior did it -- and did it well.  

Williams was just one of many stars on a Northside-Columbus squad that played well all season. The junior batted .397 with 13 doubles, two triples, five homers and 40 RBIs. He had a .478 on-base percentage.

Crow was the leader of a lethal pitching rotation that was the backbone of the Pirates' state championship run. The senior not only handcuffed his opponents at the plate, but he also did his part on offense. His versatility was a big reason for Pike County's success. He finished with an 11-0 record and a 0.99 earned run average. Offensively, he batted .454 with 15 doubles, nine homers and 45 RBIs.

Metts exceled in everything he did this past season for Jeff Davis to help the Jackets to the state championship. The leadoff hitter provided contact and power at the plate, but his pitching in clutch situations was just as valuable. Metts recorded saves in both Games 2 and 3 to help Jeff Davis defeat Rockmart in the best-of-three state championship series.

Potter terrorized opposing pitchers all season and provided strong defense behind the plate. The senior batted .398 with 10 doubles, a triple, five homers and 37 RBIs.

Gorman established himself as Tattnall Square's ace pitcher and he never disappointed. The junior right-hander went 15-1 on the mound with a 0.96 ERA in 94 2/3 innings. Gorman struck out 125 batters. But he may have been just as valuable on offense. The third-baseman led the team with a .465 avg. with 11 doubles, six homers and 47 RBIs.

Brown helped Parkview to its second consecutive Class 7A title and third state title in five seasons. The Panthers also set a state record for most wins in a season at 36.

Ramsey helped Heritage-Conyers to its first state baseball title in school history. The Patriots captured the Region 3-6A title, then took down two-time defending Class 6A champion Pope in the championship series.

Segars guided Loganville to its third straight title and fifth in 11 seasons, establishing the Walnut County powerhouse as a dynasty in the Georgia High School Association. The Red Devils, after heavy graduation losses, weren't expected to win their region in 2019. But in what was labeled as a rebuilding season, Segars and his his staff did perhaps their best coaching job ever.

Miller guided Northside to its first state baseball championship in school history. The Patriots, who finished as the third seed from Region 1-4A, played just one postseason series at home. Then Miller had to beat his old boss (Denmark coach David Smart) in the Class 4A state championship series.

Hanson took Pike County to its first state title in school history, using a strong pitching rotation and gutsy hitting to hoist the championship trophy.

Glass guided Jeff Davis to the Class 2A title in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season in Hazlehurst. The young Yellow Jackets captured their second state championship in three years.

Dunfee took Gordon Lee to a second straight state title in Class 1A Public. In the past three seasons, Dunfee has led the Trojans to back-to-back titles and a state runner-up finish in 2017.

Hiller has established Tattnall Square as a state power and the most-dominant program in the Class 1A Private Division. Hiller took the Trojans to their second straight state title and third in four years. Since becoming a GHSA member in 2015, Tattnall Square has won three state titles, finished as the state runner-up (2017) and made the semifinals (2015).
 

      

     

Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine players of the year in each classification include, Top row (l-r), Heritage-Conyers' Nick Watson-Garcia (Class 6A), Loganville's Jacob Boyd (Class 5A), Northside-Columbus' Mack Williams (Class 4A) and Pike County's Coleman Crow (Class 3A). Bottom row (l-r), Jeff Davis' Britt Metts (Class 2A), Gordon Lee's Chris Potter (Class 1A Public) and Tattnall Square's Brooks Gorman (Class 1A Private).