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Yet another year of Cherokees baseball is underway. The 2005 season began with an
impressive team performance in the Las Vegas KickOff Classic.
The Cherokees battled through tough competition during the Round Robin, losing to a tough Chicago Clowns ball club in the second game of the tournment, only to return thr next day with new life, strong hitting and pitching.
In an exciting championship game, the Cherokees threw four arms against a tough Southern Californian team, and emereged as champions in a great overall team performance.
Cherokees Take Second Straight National Tournament
The Georgia Cherokees won their second consecutive tournament in March 2005 by defeating the VABL Dawgs 8-7. In the final, Jason Burnham's 3-run home run proved enough to overtake the lead. Grant Eckard, who had thrown six innings in the round robin, pitched a perfect ninth for the save. Rick Stockfield threw in the fifth before leaving with a should injury up 5-2. The Dawgs clawed their way back, scoring four in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. Burham's blast which cleared the leaft center field wall by about 12 inches gave the GC a 8-6 lead. One off reliever Brian Wilkins in the eighth made the score 8-7.
Casey Bondell and Mike Mann were named Co-MVPs. Each contributed with their bats and gloves and their positive and aggressive attitudes.
Game One - Georgia Cherokees 21, Midwest Padres 3 - Sam Brown and Mark Fitzhugh combined to shut down the Midwest Padres. The hitting parade included 19 hits and well....21 runs! Kivian Taylor hit about a 480 foot home run...and yes, the word Wow applies.
Game Two - Chicago Clowns 14, Georgia Cherokees 6 - Chicago avenged a January loss in the 2005 Disney Championship game by well. pummelling the GC. Leading 14-0 after 6 innings the Cherokees fought back and hit a couple of late, although meaningless, home runs. In a positive note,...no one got hurt...and likely we wouldn't have to face the Clowns until the Championship game again right??
Game Three - Georgia Cherokees 5, Utah Braves 2 - On a win or likely go home game, Mark Ives, coming off Tommy John surgery threw a complete game gem vaulting the GC into the playoffs. Casey Bondell continued his torrid hitting going 4-4.
Game Four - Semi-Finals - Georgia Cherokees 5, Chicago Clowns 2 - Mike Bravo shut down an excellent Chicago team, holding them to two solo home runs.
Game Five - Finals - Georgia Cherokees 8, VABL Dawgs 7 - Jason Burnham hit a three run home run to give the GC the lead for good as the Cherokees won their second consecutive championship in 2005!
Cherokees Champs in Disney
The Georgia Cherokees won their first National Tournament Championship by defeating the Chicago Clowns 12-1. Brad Schulze threw a five-hitter to clinch the championship. Eric Brown was the tourament Most Valuable Player by going 15-20 (.750) including two home runs, two triples, and three doubles. On the mound six consecutive wins by Mark Ives, Sam Brown, Mark Fitzhugh in the round-robin, and Rick Stockfield, Craig Sanders and Brad Schulze in the playoffs
Game One - Georgia Cherokees 8, St. Louis 3 - Friday January 14, 2:30pm - Mark Ives threw into the fifth inning and although he walked nine...he also struck out nine. Ives coming off Tommy John surgery, threw what would be considered a miracle game. Only one year ago going under the knife, Ives tenacity and strong rehabilitation was now rewarded. He gave up only two hits in his time on the mound. Mark Fitzhugh provided strong relief to seal up the victory. On the offensive side of things, Eric Brown started what would be one of the most impressive tournament performances by going...
Game Two - Georgia Cherokees 13, Washington County 2 - Friday January 14, 10:30pm - Sam Brown, loaned from the Atlanta Diablos, threw a complete game giving up only two runs and dominating a playoff bound Diamondbacks team.
Game Three - Georgia Cherokees 4, Long Island Mets 3 - Mark Fitzhugh threw a complete game clinching a #1 seed for the GC.
Game Four - National Quarter-Finals - Georgia Cherokees 13 - Birmingham Dodgers 10 - Rick Stockfield threw into the seventh before tiring and Craig Sanders earned the save. Eric Brown continued his hitting assault...
Game Five - National Semi-Finals - Georgia Cherokees 5, Hicksville Mariners 4 - Brian Wilkins hit a 430 foot home run off the Disney Stadium scoreboard to give the Cherokees a 5-1 lead. The Mariners scored three times in the sixth to make it 5-4 where it remained. Craig Sanders pitched a complete game and held off the strong hitting Mariners. Strong defensive plays in the ninth by Wilkins (diving catch saving a triple and likely the tying run) and Mark Fitzhugh making diving stab to save a double and keep the game ending double play in order.
Game Six - National Championship Game - Georgia Cherokees 12, Chicago Clowns 1 - Brad Schulze threw a gem to catcher Dave Cummo who caught all six games. Eric Brown continued his assault by driving the third pitch of the game into the wind and over the left field wall to give the Cherokees a 1-0 lead. Brown would "lower his average" by "only" going 2-4, finishing at .750 (15-20 for the tourney with 2 home runs, 2 triples, four doubles and 12 RBI). Mike Veronesi went 2-4, Cummo had two hits, Tony Roehl had a huge two-RBI double, and Brad Schulze helped his cause by also hitting a two run double. Schulze set the tone for the defense by striking out the side in the bottom of the first. Chicago, who won the National Division in the 2004 Fall Classic, only managed five hits
Week One News
Cherokees sweep opening weekend
Behind solid starting and relief pitching along with great defense, the Cherokees opened the 2005 campaigns on a high note. Solid hitting by Rob Driscoll, Dave Cummo, Scott Green and clutch hitting by Mark Fitzhugh and Casey Bondell led the way. Craig Sanders earned both saves over the weekend.
Week Two News
Cherokees take two again!
Strong pitching from Brad Schultze and solid hitting from all, lead the Cherokees through another victorious weekend.
Week Three News
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Week Four News
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Week Five News
Cherokees sweep again!
The Cherokees swept the weekend defeating the 18+ Expos and the 28+ Steve Luke struck out 10 Expos to earn his first Cherokee win. Mike Veronesi had a big 3-run double and Darren Hamrick went yard.
In the 28+ game, Stockfield, Bravo and Sabens combined to shut out the Black Sox. Mike Bravo's 5 innings in relief, earned the win. Sabens had a two run triple and Kivian Taylor smoked the ball going 2-4.
Week Six News
Soggy Weather Sours Schedule
May 15 - 18+ and 28+ Games Rained Out
It seems the only thing that can stop the Cherokees this year is the weather.
Week 6 of the season was a non event for both 18's and 28's alike. Heave rains early Sunday morning left fields unplayable.
The Cherokees start the war trail once again on Sunday May 22. The 28's face a 2-3 Lookouts squad, while the 18's battle the White Sox. Get out the war paint.
Week Seven News
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Week Eight News
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