Brandon Etheridge and Chaz Wilson of Cass High School, Tripp Jamieson of Cartersville High, and Camden McGill of Woodland High will be evaluated by professional and college scouts and participate in a showcase game next week because of their selections.
Etheridge, Wilson and Jamieson will play for Georgia against Tennessee at Marietta High School Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. McGill’s game is Thursday at Marietta High and also starts at 10:30 a.m.
The four, who will be seniors in the fall, were selected based on their tryouts at locations around the state.
Cass head coach Adam Williams said the selections are more than just an honor. “This is a great opportunity for Brandon and Chaz to showcase their talents to college and professional scouts and show what they have. This will help them further their careers as baseball players.
“Also, we are extremely proud to have them represent our program at the state level. It’s a testament to what we’re doing at Cass High. These two kids work hard, and they’re starting to see their work pay off.”
He said Etheridge tried out at Mill Creek on June 19 while Wilson’s tryout was at Cass High.
Etheridge is an outfielder and Wilson a catcher for the Colonels, and Williams said both also will be available to pitch for the Georgia team.
He said both need only perform to the best of their abilities at the showcase.
“It’s the same game they’ve played their whole life,” Williams said. “They just need to do their best and showcase their talents and abilities and let the scouts see what they’re capable of.”
Kyle Tucker, Cartersville assistant coach, said Jamieson, a third baseman, has a lot to show scouts, too.
“Tripp obviously has a lot of talent,” Tucker said.
He said Jamieson also has the grades for college. “He’s probably a better student than he is baseball player.
“He’s just a good guy to have in our program. He’s just one of those players who’s easy to coach. He’s a good kid who works hard, has good talent and is good at everything he does.”
Corey Gochee said McGill is expected to contribute at the showcase at an infield position and added he is an offensive weapon.
“He hit something like .380 in the leadoff spot,” Gochee said. “He’s a great left-handed leadoff hitter and runs very well, plays shortstop and was named to the all-county team.
“He’s starting to get some recognition and this showcase should help him make his decision on where to go to school after next year.”
The shortstop is another in a long line of Woodland players earning recognition for their ball skills.
“They are helping put Woodland on the map,” Gochee added. “We’re making strides in the right direction and he’s another of the kids who work hard.”
McGill said he is excited about his selection and the opportunities it presents. He added he didn’t know much about the tryouts until he was approached by Gochee just before school let out in the spring with a flyer about them.
“He said he wanted me to try out because it could provide me with a lot of opportunities,” McGill said.
Now he finds himself with a lot of opportunities.
“I’m glad to have my name before about a hundred college scouts and 26 professional baseball scouts,” he said.
The Woodland baseball star said after deciding to attend the tryout at Cass, he started concentrating on his play with a travel baseball team in Rome. “I’ve been doing nothing but baseball since then,” he said.
He added that two Taylorsville families — Angie and Scott McDaniel and Mary Leigh and Doug Hood — helped him make all the games of the Double Day Giants, based in Rome.
“If I hadn’t played with the Giants, I don’t think I’d be as good as I am and I want to thank the families for helping me.”
McGill said he also uses some advice given by Jimmy Ward, his “Paw Paw,” when it’s game time.
“He told me to just do the best I can and perform to my ability,” McGill recalled. “As long as I do that, I’ll do well.”