Another Exciting May for Parkview Athletics

By Michael Alpert

Boys soccer brought Parkview fans to the brink this spring. Baseball launched them over the edge.

As Class AAAAA semifinalists and champions in those sports, respectively, May at the Lilburn school was like few others.

Parkview's exciting soccer run was ended 3-0 by Walton in a game tighter than score suggested. Though the Panthers surrendered an initial goal to the Raiders in the 27th minute, then two more in the final eight, Parkview treated fans to its first semifinal since winning state in 2005. That wasn't bad for Region 8-AAAAA's last of four playoff qualifiers, a team that upset region winners Milton and Tift County and third-seeded Wheeler in earlier rounds.

"It’s when you taste the next level; that's where the heartbreak is,” Panthers coach Michael Tolmich said. “It’s sad that our seniors had to go out like this, but it’s also good they got to (the semifinals)."

But while Parkview's senior soccer players (12-10) couldn't cash in their deepest playoff run, the school's seven senior baseball players (29-10) cashed in theirs. In dramatic fashion, coach Chan Brown's baseball team rallied from behind in Monday's decisive third game of the final series and beat Hillgrove 21-10 for Parkview's first championship since winning state in 1996, 2001 and '02.

"It’s our motto: One team, one dream," catcher Jarrett Freeland told the Atlanta Journal afterward. "We did it as a team.’’

The last sport to contest its championship, baseball's conclusion on the weekend of graduation was fitting crescendo to a school year rich in athletic accomplishments. It was dramatic to say the least.

After splitting a doubleheader with Hillgrove on Saturday at Hugh Buchanan Field, the stage was set for a sunny Memorial Day showdown there.

"That's what it's all about," Brown had said after Game 2. "Game 3, winner take all."

Having scored 13 or more runs in only six of 38 games previously, Parkview picked the perfect time to score that many in a single inning. Trailing 10-8 to start their final at-bat, the Panthers exploded for 13 runs on 11 hits and batted 15 players. Matt Olson's three-run homer early in the inning put Parkview ahead 13-10, and Jeff Ronprin followed with a solo blast. Edwin Arias hit a three-run shot for the final margin.

The game's 31 runs reportedly were the most in a championship series since Henry County beat Lee County 16-14 for the championship in 2005.

After celebrating with fans, the Panthers posed in championship T-shirts. And as Brown hoisted the championship trophy, players exalted with the No. 1 sign.

"You have to give Parkview all kinds of credit for that amazing inning," Hillgrove coach David Richardson said. "Thirteen runs on 11 hits is incredible."