EVANS, GA - The Class 6A GHSA Playoffs kicked off yesterday with all teams in action. Brunswick High School, the No. 3 seed from Region 2, made the trip north to take on hosts Greenbrier Catholic, the No. 2 seed from Region 3. The Pirates had come on strong late in the season, but were faced with an entirely new challenge, RHP Bryce Melear (Georgia recruit) and RHP Chase Dollander (Georgia Southern commit). In the end, the two talented arms out of Greenbrier were too much for the Pirates of Brunswick, as the Wolfpack took both games of the doubleheader 12-2.

In game one, Melear wasted no time getting familiar with the Pirates lineup. The right-hander sent the first eight batters down in order, and it would have been nine straight barring an error. Athletically built, Melear shows it in his delivery, working with pie-like arm action from a ¾ slot. His fastball sat 85-87 most of the game, touching 88 in the fifth inning. He showed feel for and comfort with his slider that had 10/4 shape with depth at 71-73. Melear was also able to effectively mix in a changeup that showed both fade and sink at 72-75. The future Bulldog would go the distance in the five inning, mercy rule shortened game, allowing two runs, one earned, four hits, three strikeouts and no walks

RHP Bryce Melear (@BryceMelear) works an easy 1st inning for Greenbrier. The @BaseballUGA recruit works out of a 3/4 slot with an athletic delivery. FB sitting 85-87 with heavy run. Likes SL, started game with 3 straight, 10/4 shape w/ depth, 71 mph. 0-0, B1 @PBRGeorgia pic.twitter.com/3B81tJk3s8

— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) April 24, 2019

The Wolfpack got on the board early in game one. OF Dylan Carter (2020) led off with a walk and then promptly came around to score when SS Brayden Collett (2021) smoked a triple into the right center gap. Collett’s classmate, DH Dalton Wesley (2021) then followed up with an RBI single to right center. Greenbrier would tack on a third run on Cole Simmons (2019) double down the left field line, making it 3-0 after one.

The hits would keep on coming for Greenbrier, and in a big way. C David Bell (2022), Simmons, and Melear would all add home runs in the second and third innings as the Wolfpack extended their lead out to 8-0. Wesley added his second hit of the game, a double to the right center gap in the fourth inning. A series of walks, passed balls and wild pitches would result in four runs scoring and the lead ballooning to 12-0 heading into the top of the fifth.

So. 1B/DH Dalton Wesley (Greenbrier) is tattooing baseballs early. Level barrel path, hard line drive contact. Started the game with a hard hit single to right center, just turned on that ended up straight at the LFer. 5-0 Wolfpack lead Brunswick, B3 @PBRGeorgia @Athletics_gcboe pic.twitter.com/V6g2lSCZs3

— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) April 24, 2019

The Pirates did all they could to stop the game from being cut short in the fifth. CF Nick Goff (2022) led things off with a bloop single up the middle. Three batters later, the nine hole hitter, SS Kyle Lodise (2022) pulled one down the left field line for an RBI double. C Hunter Goff (2020) then drove one down the third base line that could not be handled by the third baseman and another run scored, making it 12-2. For a brief moment, there was life in the Pirates, but it would be no more. Melear would get the next batter to groundout and game one was sealed.

Game two was more of the same, this time featuring RHP Chase Dollander. Dollander was absolutely electric, tossing five and a third innings of perfect baseball. A calming, confident presence on the mound, Dollander was locked in. Despite having a fastball that was sitting 87-89, Dollander worked over the Pirates lineup with a legitimate four pitch mix. He came out of the gate firing with his changeup. Maintaining arm speed, the pitch showed late sink as Dollander pulled the string back time and time again. The curveball and slider at-time have similar shape, what differentiated the two was the depth of the break. Dollander’s slider was harder at 76-77 with a tight downward action, while the 11/5 curveball was a little slower at 72-74, with more downward action. Dollander would go all seven innings, scattering two runs, one earned on three hits, striking out eight and walking one.

Greenbrier RHP Chase Dollander (@GSAthletics_BSB commit) has been very impressive thru 2.0 IP. Showing a 4 pitch feel (FB/CH/CB/SL). FB sitting 88-89 with run. CH has been go-to, maintains arm, fade action, 72-74. SL tight downer at 76-77. CB 12/6 shape. 0-0 T3 @PBRGeorgia pic.twitter.com/PwWKN7AMDA

— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) April 24, 2019

The flow of game two was a bit different for the Wolfpack as they were held scoreless for the first two innings of the game.Things finally got going in the third inning with two outs. Matt Syfrett (2019) knocked in the first run of the game with his single to left field. A single by OF Justin Stevens (Augusta recruit) and it was two men on, two out for Cole Simmons. Simmons got what he was looking for and launched his second home run of the day, a three-run shot to make it 3-0 Wolfpack.

The lead continued to extend over the next four innings. Greenbrier took advantage of a combined nine walks and errors by Brunswick to score eight runs in the final four innings. Brunswick only trailed Greenbrier 8-2 going into the seventh inning thanks to 1B Mitchell Richburg (2020). Swinging a powerful stick out of the three hole for the Pirates, Richburg was able to drive a ball into the outfield for a two RBI. However that was all Brunswick could manage in the game. Greenbrier would take the series two games to none and set up a date with the winner of Stephens/Lee County next week.

 

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