Georgia Cherokees of Atlanta MABL vs. Macon Peaches

 

Above - Luther Williams Field, Macon

To get their 2003 season off to an exciting start, the Georgia Cherokees of the Atlanta MABL accepted an invitation to a four-game series (two doubleheaders) against the Macon Peaches of the independent Southeastern League at Luther Williams Field, the fourth oldest minor league ball park in the country, over the 2003 Memorial Day Weekend. 

 The Cherokees had played a professional team once before, over the 2001 Memorial Day weekend, when they dropped two games to the now defunct Albany Alligators of the All American Association.

Ex-Major Leaguer Kal Daniels is Macon’s hitting instructor. Daniels has also played in the Macon MSBL.  Terrell Wade, Mike Cather and Greg McCarthy are all former Major Leaguers now on the Macon roster. Cather and McCarthy pitched for Macon against the Cherokees during the Memorial Day weekend series.

 In Game One, the Peaches took advantage of several Cherokee errors to win, 11-4. Georgia skipper Rick Stockfield started and took the loss. 

 In Game Two, the Georgia hitters began to get used to hitting with wood bats. They scored seven in the third, all after two were out, and won 9-4. Saentis Zeller ripped a three-run triple. Marc Chillion, Scott Green and Luke Wilkinson all stroked key hits. Starter Brad Shultz worked into the eighth and Brian Walsh earned the save. Catcher Eric Brown gunned down two runners trying to steal in the same inning

 

Above - Marc Chillion

 Macon won Game Three, 9-3, and Game Four, 9-6, aided by sloppy Cherokee fielding. In the eighth inning of the final game, Marc Chillion hit the Cherokees’ only home run of the series. Trailing by three runs, Georgia loaded the bases with two out in the ninth. The Cherokees lost when Macon’s speedy centerfielder robbed Mike Veronesi of an extra-base hit that would have tied the score and put the potential game-winning run in scoring position.

The Cherokees dropped three of four to Macon, but played they competitive baseball throughout the series, and could have earned a split if Veronesi’s drive had not been caught.