Sweet Water sweeps Watchman baseball awards

May 21, 2017May 21, 2017 Jeremy D. Smith AHSAA, AISA, Alabama, baseball, Bulldogs, Demopolis, demopolis high school, DHS, Linden, Longhorns, MA, Marengo Academy, prep sports, Sweet Water, Sweet Water High School, SWHS, Tigers

When you go 14-2 on the mound along with three saves and just happen to hit the walk-off single to win your school’s first state championship in 27 years, it’s just about a no-brainer that you’ll be the Player of the Year. Such is the case for Sweet Water junior Jonah Smith.

He was Marengo County’s top player from wire to wire in 2017, dominating on the mound over 88 and a third innings of work. He struck out 123 batters against only 20 walks with a stunningly low 1.11 ERA. Smith’s exploits on the pitching rubber became the stuff of local lore during the Class 1A state champs’ playoff run as Smith and his 89 mile-per-hour stuff picked up game one wins against Sumiton Christian, Brantley and Ragland in consecutive rounds only to come back and pitch in relief in game two of each series. Against reigning champion Decatur Heritage in the state finals, Smith was little less than dazzling as he set down 14 consecutive batters at one point. Smith also lacked very little at the plate, hitting .372 on the season with 11 doubles, eight triples, 37 RBIs and 29 runs scored.

While Smith is the 2017 West Alabama Watchman Baseball Player of the Year, honors for Coach of the Year go to John Gluschick of Sweet Water. Gluschick had his team in the Top 3 of the ASWA Class 1A standings all season long. That season, which was one for the ages for the Bulldogs, ended with Sweet Water at 32-8 and holding the Class 1A state championship.

The 2017 West Alabama Watchman All-County Baseball Team is as follows:

C – Weldon Aydelott, Marengo Academy

1B – David Dunn, Marengo Academy

2B – Chandler Barton, Demopolis

3B – Chance Broussard, Sweet Water

SS – Davis Petrey, Marengo Academy

OF – Charles Casper, Demopolis

OF – Sasha Smith, Sweet Water

OF – Will Huckabee, Sweet Water

OF – DeDe Davis, Demopolis

DH –Hunter Mendenhall, Sweet Water

DH – Jacob Beck, Marengo Academy