The start of the 2022-2023 Georgia High School Association baseball season is here as practices have begun and the first day for teams to compete is about two weeks away and with that, the Atlanta Public Schools Athletics Department hosted their first ever baseball media day as teams from the school system were on hand to celebrate the start of the new season. Attendees were able to hear from coaches, players, and special guest as well as APS Assistant Athletic Director, Rendell Jackson.
“I’m excited about this and I don’t know if you all have been paying attention, but for those of you that may not have been, Atlanta Public Schools in regards to baseball, is taking off,” Jackson said as he welcomed those in attendance. Jackson praised the ASP baseball programs for their growth in recent years, in addition to their middle school programs, which Jackson said has been playing a significant role in the growth of APS baseball and something the Drew Charter Eagles were looking to build off of as they were in attendance with freshman, Ellis Gregor.
“He’s coming off a big championship with a middle school team and hoping to make some waves up here at the high school level,” Lucas said of Gregor’s addition to the Eagles varsity roster. “We’re really trying to build a bigger and better program at Drew Charter School,” Lucas added. Maynard Jackson Jaguars head coach, Desmond Stegall, spoke on the “monumental” event as he assisted Jackson with organizing it, something that was special for him as he is a graduate of an Atlanta Public School. “I am an Atlanta Public Schools product myself,” Stegall said. “This is awesome to see,” the Benjamin E. Mays graduate said.
And as for the host school, “it feels real good” Mays Raiders, head coach Jason Anderson said of having the opportunity to host the first ever APS baseball media day. It was also fitting for the Raiders to host as last year, one of their very own, Termarr Johnson, was the fourth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Pittsburg Pirates, something Anderson says left a lasting impression on his younger players as they witnessed scouts being on hand at practices and games to see Johnson. “I prepared them and said ‘hey, if you work hard enough and do the things you can do, these guys will be back to see you in four more years,” Anderson said of the advice he gave to those underclassmen.
And while Anderson added that he knows how hard it can be to make it into the majors, when it comes to furthering their education, “there’s plenty of scholarships out there for baseball at the college level,” Anderson said.