By Carlton D. White
cwhite@mdjonline.com
Kell and Walton will get to follow the footsteps of the big-league idols today when the two rivals battle at Turner Field in a key Region 6AAAAA battle.
First pitch for the game is set for 3 p.m..
Seventh-ranked Kell, winners of its last seven games, is 14-3 and sits second with an 8-2 mark in the region. Walton, meanwhile, has won five of its last seven, but enters the contest at 10-9 overall and 5-6 in the region.
Kell has won four straight games in the series, dating back to 2007, and would like nothing more than to continue that streak.
Today's game will also serve as a matchup of mentor vs. pupil as Kell coach Donnie English matches wits against one of his former players, Walton coach Shane Amos.
"Shane is doing a super job over there at Walton," English said. "I coached him in high school at Osborne back in the 1980s, and he won a state title recently. Both schools have built up a baseball tradition and we've won a couple in a row now. It should be a good game."
According to English, today's game came about as an Atlanta Braves promotion involving high school teams from Cobb, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties. Ninth-ranked Mill Creek will take on top-ranked South Forsyth will face off at noon in a Region 7AAAAA battle.
"We've had some good ballgames lately against Walton, and we're pretty good rivals," English said. "The other game has some really good teams in it, too. I think, if works out well, then the Braves will have more games involving the high schools in the future."
Walton made an appearance in a high school game at Turner Field about five years ago, according to Amos.
"Some of the players on my team were eighth-graders at that game in the stands," Amos said. "This experience will be a little different from that one."
Amos' approach to today's contest is not unlike English's. Although the two teams will be playing in a major-league ballpark, it's still a region game and will affect the standings.
"My guys are really excited to play in venue like Turner Field," Amos said. "But I've tried to get them to keep it in perspective. It's a region game, so it's important for us to go out there and get a win - not to get caught up in what's going on around us."
"The guys are excited," English said. "They've been looking forward to this game since they saw it on the schedule. It will be nice for them to play there. Hopefully, we'll have a big crowd."
Over the course of the season, both teams are averaging 5.8 runs per game. The difference for Kell has been pitching and defense, as the Longhorns have allowed only 3.3 runs per contest, compared to the Raiders' average of 4.3 allowed.
This season, Walton is 2-9 when scoring five runs or less, while Kell is 8-3.
"Our pitchers have done a good job, and we've played really good defense so far this season," English said. "We haven't hit the ball as well as we'd like, but we're hitting enough to win."
Amos had a slightly different take on what his team needs to do to win today.
"We have to swing the bat," Amos said. "We've haven't scored a lot of runs against (Kell), so we're going to need to do that to give ourselves a chance."
Tickets for today's game are $6 and are free for children ages 2 and under. Walton is offering a $12 ticket, which includes today's game and admission to the Braves' game against the Chicago Cubs on June 4.
Kell's Dugout Club is offering a package deal that includes admission to the Braves' May 4 game with the New York Mets.
Free parking will be available in the Gold lot northeast of the stadium at the corner of Hank Aaron Drive and Georgia Street. Food and drink will be allowed in the stadium.
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