Lowe Georgia Dugout Preview Player of the Year

Posted 6/2/16

The awards continue for Pope utility player Joshua Lowe.

The Florida State signee, who is expected to be a first-round selection in next week's Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, is the Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine's Player of the Year after helping Pope to a 28-8 record and a runner-up finish in Class AAAAAA.

Last week, the senior was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year.

Lowe headlines the magazine's list of players of the year by classification, which also released its inaugural postseason all-state teams.

Other players of the year are Houston County's Tanner Hall (Class AAAAA), Locust Grove's Ethan Lindow (Class AAAA), Westminster's Rankin Woley (Class AAA), Aaron Schunk (Class AA), Gabe Howell (Class A public) and Cory Bartholomew (Class A private).

The magazine also named its coaches of the year which include Walton's Shane Amos (Class AAAAAA), Houston County's Jason Brett (Class AAAAA), Locust Grove's Stephen Phillips (Class AAAA), Westminster's Russell Wrenn (Class AAA), Lovett's Lance Oubs (Class AA), Treutlen's Brent Korn (Class A public) and Joey Hiller (Class A private).

Lowe played multiple positions, but the FSU signee played mostly at third base and pitcher this season. He batted .391 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs. As a pitcher, he registered six saves with a 1.71 earned run average in 22 innings.

He is ranked as the fourth-best high school prospect nationally by Perfect Game USA.

Hall was a key cog in helping Houston County to the Class AAAAA title. A member of the Bears' vaunted pitching staff that included Perfect Game All-American Tony Locey and junior DL Hall, Tanner Hall went 9-1 with a 0.58 ERA in 60 2/3 innings. He struck out 79 and allowed just five earned runs during the season.

Hall also played first base where he batted .368 with eight doubles.

Lindow was the ace of Locust Grove's young pitching staff that captured its first state in school history. The left-hander went 10-1 on the mound and boasted a 0.47 ERA. He struck out 85 in 59 innings, walked just 20 and allowed just four earned runs.

There may not have been a position on the field that Westminster's Rankin Woley couldn't play. He made his mark as the team's catcher and was the pitcher the Wildcats' depended on in tight situations. He also played second base.

Just a few months after guiding Westminster to the Class AAA football title as the team's quarterback, Woley was a key contributor in helping the Wildcats to their first state title in 41 years.

The LSU signee batted .480 with 13 doubles, two triples and 10 homers in 34 games. He struck out just seven times during the season.

As a pitcher, Woley finished with eight saves, including two in the Wildcats' state championship series over Blessed Trinity.

Schunk was a big spark for Lovett, who caught fire late and captured the Class AA title. The Georgia signee ripped a solo homer to tie Greater Atlanta Christian in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 2 of the semifinal series to keep the Lions' season alive.

The shortstop batted .402 with 10 homers and 23 RBIs, then he went 8-4 on the mound with a 1.84 ERA in 68 1/3 innings. He struck out 82.

In Class A public, Trion's Gabe Howell helped the Bulldogs make the state championship series for the first time in 33 years. The senior Chipola (Fla.) signee batted .614 with 14 doubles, five triples, 10 homers and 33 RBIs. Howell also pitched, but played primarily at shortstop.

In Class A private, Cory Bartholomew was Tattnall Square's top pitcher. The right-hander went 11-2 with a 0.90 ERA to help the Trojans win the state title. He struck out 90 in 86 innings and allowed just 11 earned runs.

Amos guided Walton to its first state championship since 2007. The Raiders finished 32-4, won the Class AAAAAA state title and were nationally ranked for the majority of the season.

Brett led Houston County to the state championship for the second time in three years. The Bears finished 30-9.

Phillips led Locust Grove to the school's first state title in its seven-year history. The Wildcats finished 33-5-1.

Westminster coach Russell Wrenn, after his team was swept by Region 4-AAA foe Blessed Trinity during the regular season, guided the Wildcats to a sweep of the Titans to win the Class AAA state title, the school's first in 41 years. Wrenn resigned after the championship and is returning home to Maryland. The Wildcats finished 30-6.

Lovett coach Lance Oubs got every ounce of talent he had from the Lions to win the Class AA title. Lovett, who finished as the third seed from Region 6-AA, caught fire late and needed three games to oust Greater Atlanta Christian in the semifinals before beating defending state champion Wesleyan in three games in the finals.

It was Lovett's first state title since 2013. The Lions finished 25-12-1.

After coming up short in the state semifinals last year, Korn guided Treutlen to the Class A public school championship. The Vikings finished with a 28-5 record.

Hiller helped Tattnall win its ninth state championship since 2000 but first as a member of the Georgia High School Association. The Trojans, who finished 27-8, moved into the GHSA in 2015.