No. 6:<br>AHS baseball makes run in<br>state championship playoffs

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December 24, 2008

By Ashley Hargrove

Incredible. That’s the only way to describe what the Athens High baseball team was able to do last season.

Three years ago, the Golden Eagles struggled through a disappointing season, compiling only a handful of wins. The following year, they began the season with one of the best starts in school history, but were unable to win an area game, missed the playoffs and finished the season at 17-16. In 2008, however, coach Thad Prater's team completed the turnaround, posting a 25-15 record and making their first appearance in the baseball playoffs since the early 90s.

Athens made it to the Class 5A state quarterfinals before falling to defending state champion Cullman.

"We had a very good year for Athens High School," Prater said. "Every game, we tried to get better and better and just kind of happened to get there (quarterfinals)."

The Golden Eagles broke into the Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings in mid-March and were No. 9 in the final poll as the playoffs began. One of the major reasons for Athens' growing success over the last few seasons was pitcher Collin McMurry.

McMurry pitched a complete game against Muscle Shoals to earn the Golden Eagles first area win since 2004. In addition, he started Athens' first playoff game, striking out 15. Against Cullman, he struck out 16 as the Athens rolled to a 5-1win over the Bearcats. But the playoff run ended when they dropped the final two games.

Although McMurry may have endured pressure to record wins last season, according to Prater in an earlier article published in The News Courier, it was his attitude that set him apart from other pitchers. He added that when he took the mound, the players on the team expected to win.

"He's able to keep his cool," Prater said. "He stays calm and concentrates."

McMurry signed with UAB and will continue his baseball career at the collegiate level this spring.