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20 THE CHEROKEE LEDGER-NEWS LEDGER-NEWS SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR: BRANDON MICHEA | 770-928-0706 x203 FAX: 770-928-3152 JULY 15, 2009 BRANDON MICHEA | LEDGER-NEWS While playing for the Cobb County-based 6-4-3 DP Baseball Academy’s 17-under team, 2009 Cherokee Ledger-News high school baseball pitcher of the year Kent Emanuel is grabbing the attention of college coaches and professional baseball scouts alike. After helping the 6-4-3 17U team reach the semifinals of the World Wood Bat 18U National Championships, June 30-July 6, the rising Woodstock senior tossed four innings of one-hit ball in a 10-1 victory during pool play of the WWB 17U National Championships, July 7-13. BY BRANDON MICHEA sports@ledgernews.com It’s a Thursday afternoon, and no more than 50 friends and family sit in the bleachers adjacent to the dugouts at the Walker School’s baseball facility. For most, it’s just an afternoon of quality baseball, watching a match-up between the Cobb County-based 6-4-3 DP 17-under squad and the Texas Blackhawks Black/Aguiar during pool play of the World Wood Bat Association (WWBA) 17U National Championships. But, for those parked in the ‘Reserved Seating’ directly behind home plate, it’s another day of work. Their hats and logoed polo shirts tell the story – Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, Texas Tech, Auburn. The list goes on. And while several members of both squads are drawing interest, this day’s centerpiece stands on the hill. Unleashing his 87 to 88 mph fastball that he complements with a curve, changeup and split-finger, rising Woodstock High School senior Kent Emanuel gives the onlookers exactly what they have come to see, tossing four innings of scoreless, one-hit ball and striking out seven in a 10-1 victory. “Kent’s one of those special kids that THE PROSPECT PULSE ■ The ‘It’ Factor Emanuel’s star on the rise as he continues to dominant opponents THE EMANUEL FILE Age: 17 Parents: Joanne & Steve Emanuel Height/Weight: 6-4/190 Bats/Throws: Left/Left Positions: Pitcher/First Base School/Year: Woodstock/Sr. Pitch Options: Fastball, Curveball, Changeup, Split-Finger 2009 Prep Stats: 55.2 innings, 6-2, 0.75 ERA, 70K, 17 BB; .336 Avg., 17 RBI Travel Program: 6-5-3 DP Baseball Academy Colleges Interested: Georgia, Georgia, North Carolina, Auburn, Rice, many more has that thing called ‘It,’” 6-4-3 DP Baseball Academy founder and 17U coach Danny Pralgo said. “He’s got it in his heart and in his head, and, with that, he’s got a gift ... He can throw any pitch at any time in the count, and that’s what college and pro guys love to see. “On top of that, he has one of the best pickoff moves in the country.” But for Emanuel, Thursday’s turnout was the least of his concern. He talks to suitors over the phone on his own time and has an idea of who plans to see him pitch. However, once he crosses over the chalk and toes the rubber, only one thing matters. “I know they’re there,” Emanuel said of the scouts. “I really don’t need to look around to figure out who has come out to watch me. “I just focus on going out and pitching.” And that’s what, it seems, has everyone lining up, wondering how he could fit into their future. “He just turned 17, and he has nowhere to go but up right now,” said Pralgo, a 1988 Lassiter High School graduate who played and coached for East Cobb Baseball before starting 6-4-3 DP Baseball Academy three years ago. “With what he’s doing against the best 18- and 17-year-olds in the country, and the fact that his body still has so much room to grow, they’re loving him. “He’s a special kid, and they all want him. Rice, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, UNC – all the top dogs around the Southeast and across the country would love to get a Kent as part of their program, but not only for what he does on the field. He’s a great student and just a great kid. If you can bring a player like him into your program, you’re bettering yourself.” For Emanuel, the mass attention is a slight change of pace from where he was a year, or even just three months ago, SEE FACTOR, PAGE 21 YOUTH BASEBALL ■ Heat wave Hobgood 10-year-olds capture state title BY BRANDON MICHEA sports@ledgernews.com Some of the greatest athletes in the history of sports have said that one learns more from a loss than a win. That seemed to be the case for the Hobgood Heat, Friday at Harmon Park in Canton. After reaching the title match-up of the double elimination Dizzy Dean 10-year-old State Championship unblemished, the Heat ran into a wall on Thursday, losing a seven-run decision to the hot-hitting Powder Springs Indians, who rallied past the Rome Cyclones in the consolation final to reach the championship. But, coming back on Friday for the deciding contest, Hobgood rebounded to blank the Indians, 10-0, and capture the state crown. “We came out loose (Friday),” Heat coach Bobby Singer said of the difference between Thursday’s loss and Friday’s victory. “After winning four games in a row to make it to the championship, coaches included, we were extremely wound up and tight thinking (Thursday) was going to be the big win. SEE HEAT, PAGE 23 BRANDON MICHEA | LEDGER-NEWS Hobgood Heat catcher Tony Wineman looks to the dugout for instruction during the Dizzy Dean 10-year-old State tournament championship last week at Harmon Park in Canton. Wineman and the Heat defeated Powder Springs to capture the championship crown.
JULY 15, 2009 SPORTS THE CHEROKEE LEDGER-NEWS 21 FACTOR: Emanuel receives invite to East Coast Showcase FROM PAGE 20 when he was the slightly lesserknown commodity facing the highly touted ace. They were situations he thrived in, just as he did July 4 in the opening round of elimination play of the WWBA 18U Nationals when he outdualed Oklahoma State signee Andrew Heaney, Tampa Bay’s 24th round draft pick, and the Southeast Texas Sun Devils out of Beaumont, Texas, 1-0, with a complete-game, two-hitter. “That game was probably the gutsiest game I have seen him throw,” Pralgo said of Emanuel, who uncharacteristically walked six batters in the contest. “That was against the toughest line-up we have faced this year – a 41-man roster with nothing but D-I signees and draftable guys. And facing (Heaney), that was a day where Kent said, ‘you’re pretty good, but I’m going to be better.’ “He dug deep and found a way out of every single inning, and that’s where you really see what a player is made of – when they're not 100 percent sharp, but Kent Emanuel not only brings a devastating arsenal of pitches to the mound, but has what 6-4-3 DP coach Danny Pralgo calls “one of the best” pickoff moves in the country. Throw in his defensive abilities, and Emanuel, who plays first base when he’s not pitching, offers the complete package to the college and pro scouts that line up behind the backstop every time he takes the hill. • BRANDON MICHEA LEDGER-NEWS We can get your message to over 40,000 households every week 770-928-0706 www.ledgernews.com Watercolor Class SIGN UP NOW! Starting August 5 8 week session Wednesdays 1-4pm &HEARTWORKS STUDIO 770.517.7404 Downtown Woodstock behind Canyons WWW.ROOMSCAPESGALLERY.COM they just dig deep.” He had a similar performance during the high school season when facing East Paulding’s Zach Wheeler, who was selected No. 6 overall in the 2009 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by San Francisco. Despite taking a 1-0 loss, Emanuel threw a complete game, allowing no earned runs on four hits and striking out 14, giving the scouts that turned out to see Wheeler a little something extra to think about. Now, Emanuel hopes to pay it forward. “These types of match-ups and tournaments have definitely made me a better baseball player,” said Emanuel, who worked 55.2 innings during the high school season, posting a 6-2 mark with 0.75 ERA, 70 strikeouts, 17 walks and a .158 opponent’s batting average. “I’m starting to be the guy that scouts are coming out to see, and, hopefully, someone else will want to face me so they’re getting the chance to get noticed.” It’s an opportunity opposing THE CHEROKEE LEDGER-NEWS The Leading Voice of Cherokee County ■■■ pitchers should get plenty of next spring, especially after Emanuel attends the East Coast Pro Showcase for prep players, Aug. 1-4, in Lakeland, Fla., as one of 25 players on a roster of rising high school senior players from Georgia and north of Orlando. The annual invitation-only showcase features 150 players from more than 26 states and Puerto Rico that are divided into six teams and perform in front of college and pro scouts for four days. According to the showcase’s Web site, 83 players that attended the 2007 event were selected in the 2008 MLB draft, 20 of which were chosen in the top five rounds. Of the 2008 showcase attendees, eight were selected in the first three rounds of the draft in June, including Wheeler. Pralgo said he believes all the current success and attention is just the beginning for Emanuel. “I was fortunate while at East Cobb to have worked with guys like (Florida Marlins’) Jeremy Hermida and (Washington’s) Corey Patterson, so I’ve been around a lot of good players for a long time,” he said. “But Kent is as special as any of those guys, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to be there [in the Major Leagues] – 5 to 10 years from now, we’re going to be watching this kid play this game for a long, long time.” Custom 4 sided brick ranch; Full bsmt; 5.66 acres; Guest house; Light oak & stainless kitchen w/island; Keeping rm; Grand room w/built-ins; 2 fplc; Crystal chandeliers; near Fulton! Lake front lot; Small cove w/40ft+/frontage; Gentle topo; Easy level driveway w/walk-out bsmt; Dock w/HOA approval; Gated Lake Arrowhead w/private water ski lake, golf, swim, tennis, restaurant! The Most Expensive Transmission is the One You Don’t Need. Let us check yours before you agree to any major repairs. 18 Month/18,000 Mile Warranty 90 Days Same-as-Cash STR Transmission Repair 8384 Main Street, Downtown Woodstock 770.928.8483 | www.STRtransmission.com CALL A ROOFER NOT A ROOFING CONTRACTOR NOTICE The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners do hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at the Cherokee County Administration Building on July 28 at 6:00 PM and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. §48-5-32 do hereby publish the following presentation of the current year's digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years. The 2009 tax rates published herein are tentative and the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will set the final millage rate at the meeting on July 28, 2009 at 6:00 PM. CURRENT 2009 GENERAL M&O TAX DIGEST AND FIVE-YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY COUNTY WIDE 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 REAL 4,879,388,138 5,419,217,204 6,096,288,476 6,897,938,440 7,898,627,723 8,293,389,238 8,006,831,821 PERSONAL 267,138,843 254,784,272 274,414,914 297,896,357 313,414,637 327,128,900 331,827,103 MOTOR VEHICLES 491,520,700 509,954,880 512,763,600 508,945,180 591,198,680 620,579,440 646,318,720 MOBILE HOMES 17,576,879 17,053,857 17,376,041 19,195,476 17,848,640 16,920,440 16,360,160 TIMBER 1,175,563 1,260,155 795,044 795,044 1,661,567 251,458 279,810 GROSS M&O DIGEST 5,656,800,123 6,202,270,368 6,901,638,075 7,724,770,497 8,822,751,247 9,258,269,476 9,001,617,614 LESS M&O EXEMPTIONS 418,845,146 416,709,330 452,250,667 492,231,106 583,971,744 610,621,603 637,796,774 NET M& O DIGEST 5,237,954,977 5,785,561,038 6,449,387,408 7,232,539,391 8,238,779,503 8,647,647,873 8,363,820,840 GROSS M&O MILLAGE 5.250 5.125 4.935 4.739 4.547 4.400 4.381 LESS ROLLBACK 0.125 0.190 0.196 0.192 0.147 0.019 -0.196 NET M&O MILLAGE 5.125 4.935 4.739 4.547 4.400 4.381 4.577 NET TAXES LEVIED $ 26,844,519 $ 28,551,744 $ 30,563,647 $ 32,886,357 $ 36,250,630 $ 37,885,345 $ 38,281,208 NET TAXES $ INCREASE $ 1,495,039 $ 1,707,224 $ 2,011,903 $ 2,322,710 $ 3,364,273 $ 1,634,716 $ 395,863 NET TAXES % INCREASE 5.90% 6.36% 7.05% 7.60% 10.23% 4.51% 1.04% Over 30 Years Experience NORTH ATLANTA ROOFING If Your Roof Was Damaged By Hail ~ Call Now 770.591.5377 Experienced with all roof types: Shingles, Slates, Cedar, Metal, Flat Top CALL US FOR ALL YOUR ROOFING NEEDS New Roof, Roof Replacement or Repairs Hail Damage • Wind Damage • Insurance Claims Leaks in Valleys • Around Fireplace • Along Walls Vents • Toe Board Holes • Porch Seams FREE ESTIMATES Becky Babcock 770-720-HOME • 770-720-1515 x3217 #1 Agent in Cherokee County Photo Tours at www.BeckysRealEstate.com Sunrise Realty $675,000 $309,900 $279,900 4BR/4BA; 2 story great rm w/wall of windows & stacked stone fplc; Hdwd floors; Formals; Covered deck; Trey master w/sitting rm; Terrace suite; Lush lawn; Towne Lake Hills East! $250,000 $227,900 $125,000 Sequoyah HS; 4Bd/3.5Ba; Open plan; 3 living spaces; Finished terrace level; Stone fireplace; Hardwoods; Arched, columned dining; Mahogany leaded glass door; Swim/Tennis! 5BR/3.5BA; Private double cul-de-sac lot; Terrace level w/ 2nd fplc; Hdwds; Great rm w/stone fplc & built-ins; Tile sunroom + Screen porch + Deck + Patio; Lake Arrowhead! Ranch; 3BR/3BA; Vaulted great rm w/stone fplc; Terrace w/super rec rm & full bath; Wrap-around porch; Kitchen w/stained cabinets & tile backsplash; Private, wooded .81 acre w/creek!
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