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Knights End Inaugural Season at Braves Classic

George, Hunter and JD enjoy their time
in the show.

The Marietta Knights got a deserving reward with a parade around Turner Field to end their inaugural season. Although they lost a tough game earlier in the day to the Middle Georgia Tigers, the boys were all smiles as they paraded around Turner Field before the Braves vs. Astros game Saturday night. The Knights got a big cheer from their adoring fans above the CF wall and they earned at least one new fan behind home plate when a young lady gave a hearty "Go Knights!" as the team walked by. Of course, each of the kids tested out the padding on the outfield wall. It was a real treat to see the wide eyes of the boys as they made their way around the field, particularly when they came upon Brian McCann stretching in the outfield. Until JD shouted "I love you, Brian!" and then it just got kind of awkward. It was also a great sight seeing the team sitting together cheering on the Braves. The camaraderie and friendship created over a season of baseball was clearly evident and wonderful.

Sunday morning the Knights took the field for the final time to battled the Dublin Bulls, winner of the Triple Crown World Series in Myrtle Beach. The Knights played the Bulls tough but ultimately came up short losing 9-2. Back to back hits by Hunter Williamson and Garrett Wells gave the Knights an early 1-0 lead causing the Bulls to call on their ace who they had hoped to save for the championship game. There were two Defensive Players of the Game. JD Rinehimer was perfect at short stop with 5 assists. The thicket of infield grass caused balls to speed up, slow down and change directions but JD made it look easy by making great adjustments and laser throws to 1B. Tristan Herrera made 2 great plays stealing extra base hits in LF. On one he ranged back and towards center to haul in a deep line drive that appeared to be headed to the fence. The other was a looping line drive that Tristan lunged and scooped just above the grass. Coach Rob was very proud of the solid effort to end the season against a very good team. 

It was great seeing all the teams parade: The Marietta Knights, Knoxville Thunder,
Houston Astros...Astros? Hey, what's Javier Bracamonte doing in our parade!?

The 2012 Marietta Knights at the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy

Explosive First Inning Powers Knights to Victory over the Braves

 

Gil Hastings went 2 for 2
with 2 RBI's

The Marietta Knights blasted their way to 7 runs in the first and cruised to an impressive 9-2 victory over the Atlanta Jr. Braves in the opening round of the Braves Youth Baseball Classic at the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy. Gil Hastings led the way for the Knights' offense going 2 for 2 with 2 RBI's, 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases. JD Rinehimer also had 2 hits and Patrick Reddick and Tristan Herrera each added an RBI double. Robby Bryan went the distance on the mound for the win with 9 strikeouts and no walks. The Knights also played great defense throughout the night. There were 3 defensive plays of the game. In the first, Catcher George Krivsky made a great hustle play to track down a foul fly ball to end the inning. In the second, after a Braves' baserunner got too agressive at 2B, Robby made a great pickoff move and threw to Hunter Williamson at 2B. The runner broke for third and Hunter threw a strike to JD Rinehimer who applied the tag for third out of the inning. In the third, it appeared that a Braves runner would score on a wild pitch, but Patrick Reddick scooped the ball at the backstop and flipped back to Robby covering who made the tag just before the Brave reached the plate. It was a great overall effort by the Knights and a well earned victory. The Knights will take on the Middle Georgia Tigers in the second round Saturday morning. 

George Krivsky turned in another solid
performance behind the plate

Jack second guesses his decision to sell the family cow for
a bag of magic beans.

Knights to Take Part in Post-Season Braves Youth Baseball Classic!

Your Marietta Knights are excited to be competing in the Braves Youth Baseball Classic August 3rd,4th and 5th at the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy. After an awesome Summer break this tournament is a great opportunity for the Knights to get back together to have some fun and take the field one last time before going back to school and hitting the books the following week.

The beautiful Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy is in the Carver Community near Turner Field and opened in 2006. Each of the park's 4 fields is named for a player that helped fund it. The Knights will play on the John Smoltz Field. The other fields are named for Brian Jordan, Mike Hampton and Chipper Jones.

The schedule was announced Friday morning and includes 8 teams hailing from Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. There will be 2 pools of 4 teams each. Every team will play the other 3 teams in their pool with the pool winners advancing to a Sunday evening championship game. Marietta will compete in a pool with the host Atlanta Junior Braves, the Middle Georgia Tigers (Eatonton) and the Dublin Bulls. The opposite pool includes the Knoxville Thunder, the Carroll County Lions, Georgia Crush (Hartwell) and the Carolina Magic (Lexington, SC).

As part of the tournament, the Knights are invited to walk the field at Turner Field prior to that Saturday night's Braves vs. Astros game and enjoy the game from the pavilion seats.

Braves Youth Baseball Classic Schedule:

Friday, August 3rd, 5:00 PM - Marietta Knights vs. Atlanta Junior Braves

Saturday, August 4th, 9:10 AM - Marietta Knights vs. Middle Georgia Tigers

Sunday, August 5th, 11:20 AM - Marietta Knights vs. Dublin Bulls  

Marietta Knights - Best Fans in the NABL

Marietta fans have travelled far and wide to follow their beloved Knights. The players and coaches appreciate the support of these loyal fans!

Ella and Lily Cheer on Big Game Hunter

King Watches Gil blast one into RF

Kate Loves the Stellar Play of her
Big Brothers

Ella and Rhodes watch Patrick steal another base

Knights Close Out Regular Season at Cartersville

The Marietta Knights played tough but came up short in their final 3 games of the regular season at the USSSA Champs Wear the Rings Tournament at Sugar Valley Park in Cartersville, Georgia. The Knights started strong carrying a 9-7 lead into the 6th inning in Game 1 against the Cobb Vipers before falling 16-9. Patrick Reddick and Gil Hastings each had 2 RBI's for Marietta and Hunter Williamson went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. On defense, Presley Field was perfect at 1B recording 13 of the Knights 18 putouts without an error. You can pick any one of the 13 as the Defensive Play of the Game. Presley finished the tournament with 19 putouts.

The Knights dropped game 2 to the Strike One Sports Slammers 10-6. Garrett Wells and Jack Rinehimer each scored 2 runs for the Knights. Jack had the Defensive Play of the Game, and perhaps the season, on a looping liner to left field. Jack ran hard back from his SS position and dove and stretched for the ball. Even as Jack was in the air it appeared that the ball would be out of reach, but somehow Jack snagged the ball just before he slammed to the outfield grass. After making the out call, the field umpire hummed the ESPN Sportscenter theme to the delight of the Knights' defense.

The worn out Knights were no match for the North Forsyth Bandits in game 3 as they fell 14-0. Presley and Patrick each stole 2 bases in the game. Jack once again had the Defensive Play of the Game when he hauled in a pop at short and doubled off a stealing Bandits baserunner. It was a tough final weekend, but the Knights were in high spirits after the game as they high fived, mugged for pictures with teammates and wished each other good summers.

Hawks top Knights 8-3 in rematch at the Barnyard

 

Upon arriving at the ballpark Big Game Hunter
said, "So this is playing in the farm system."

The Knights ended their NABL season with a tough 8-3 loss to the Hopewell Hawks at Thomas Field in Canton. The Knights gave up 5 unearned runs in the first and then held even with Hopewell for the rest of the game but couldn't overcome the early deficit. Their 0-2-1 record was good for 6th place in the league tournament. Big Game Hunter Williamson had another big day for the offense going 2 for 3 with an RBI, a run scored and 2 stolen bases.

Jack Rinehimer was great on the mound only giving up 1 unearned run in 2 2/3 innings. Jack struck out 2 and had 2 assists from the mound in addition to 1 from short stop. Catcher George Krivsky threw out a Hawks runner trying to steal third. Garrett Wells had a huge defensive day for Marietta recording 6 putouts at 3rd base including the Defensive Play of the Game that was worthy of Sports Center. A Hawks hitter hit a high foul ball that appeared to be headed out of play. Garrett ranged over, leapt and reached his glove just over the top of the 7' foot tall fence and snagged the ball with a loud clang as he hit the fence and pulled the ball back for a big out.

Jack Rinehimer was great on the mound giving up no earned runs
in 2 2/3 innings with 2 strikeouts.

 

The Knights were dissappointed to be knocked out of the tournament but they played good baseball and should be proud of their effort. The Knights will take Memorial Day weekend off before a return trip to Cartersville, Georgia for the USSSA Champs Wear the Rings Tournament on June 2.


Every game at Thomas Field begins with the playing of the National Anthem
(photo courtesy of Gib Hastings)