YHC wins region
Lions two wins from NJCAA World Series
By Alan Beck

Submitted photo Grimes Medlin fires the pitch.

The Young Harris College Mountain Lions became region XVII Champions by winning the 2007 Georgia Junior College Athletics Association (GJCAA) Tournament. The team defeated the Gordon College Highlanders 10 - 7 in the championship game.

Game one starting pitcher Grimes Medlin got the start again in game two, and this time he put together four solid innings before Ryan Moore relieved him. Though he allowed four runs in two innings, Moore picked up the win in the game.

Moore collected his first collegiate postseason win less than two weeks after he collected his first collegiate regular season win. Ethan Carney displayed nerves of steel by pitching three innings of one-run relief. He destroyed any hope the Highlanders might have had of a comeback with his heavy twoseam fastball.

Shortstop Mike Hornsby led the way for the offense, going 2 - 4 with four RBI's. Hornsby had to be removed from the game after being hit in the face by a pitch from Gordon's Scott Shaw in the eighth inning. Though shaken up, Hornsby appeared to be okay.

Matt Hemingway sparked the Mountain Lion offense throughout the game hitting two doubles, scoring twice, and driving in a run. The win sends the Mountain Lions on to Chattanooga to face Chattanooga State in the next round of the playoffs. They are two wins away from the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Young Harris placed five on the All-Tournament team including the tournament MVP. Stephen McCray was named Tournament MVP after hitting .294 with a homerun and four RBI's. McCray also added a complete game shutout against Gordon College on Saturday.

Will Harvil was named to the All- Tournament team also with his Friday night start against Andrew College. Harvil threw 7.1 innings of 6 hit baseball to record his tenth win of the season. Nick Terry was named to the All- Tournament team for his relief work against Andrew and Gordon. Terry allowed two runs in 8.2 innings of relief while striking out a team high 8 hitters.

Matt Sanders led the Mountain Lion offense over the weekend hitting .368 with 1 double and two RBI's. Zach Rhinesmith hit .333 in the Conference Tournament with a homerun, double, and triple.