After splitting the first two games of the series, Georgia and
Fresno State faced off in the final game to determine the 2008 National
Champion.
Unfortnately for the Dawgs, pitcher Justin Wilson and right fielder Steve Detwiler willed Fresno State to their first ever College World Series
title and first ever National Championship in a men's sport.
Wilson pitched eight strong innings allowing one run, five hits and
nine strikeouts.
The only run he allowed came on a Gordon Beckham solo
home run to lead off the bottom of the Georgia eighth.
Detwiler hit a two-run home run in the second, an RBI double in the third and then added a three-run homer in the sixth.
The Georgia Bulldogs finish the season as the runner-up with a final
record of 45-25-1 and an SEC Championship.
Had the Dawgs won the national title, they would have set the record for most losses by a team that won the championship.














Being from Atlanta, allow me to comment on the baseball talent in the state of Georgia. Texas and California have as much talent, but when you consider how much bigger those states are than Georgia, it is remarkable how many good prospects come out of the Georgia.
Braves scouting director Roy Clark has made a career of drafting Georgia HS players - every year they take player from the state, and some of their best prospects have come from the state.
But check out all the players from Georgia taken in the first 60 picks.
Tim Beckham
Gordon Beckham
Josh Fields
Ethan Martin
Xavier Avery
Josepth Austin
6 guys taken in the first 60 picks from the state of Geogria. The East Cobb region, just north of Atlanta is so rich with talent it is almost unbelievable.
![]() |
Buster Posey from Lee County GA currently at FSU |
||
| Drafted By | |||
| San Francisco Giants | |||
| Pos. | Round | Overall | |
| C | 1 | 5 | |
| Notes: Bio and stats / | |||

















| This page focuses primarily on the 2008 Georgia High School Seniors. More attention is given to the local High School players I know or players that I have watched grow up. Right now I am only focusing on Ga HS players that were drafted in 2008. I will finish posting the college players later. |
| 1 | Tampa Bay Rays | Tim Beckham | SS | Griffin (Ga.) HS | Ga. |
| 15 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Ethan Martin | RHP/3B | Stephens County HS, Toccoa, Ga. | Ga. |
| 8 | Chicago White Sox | Gordon Beckham | SS | Georgia | Ga. |
| 20 | Seattle Mariners | Joshua Fields | RHP | Georgia | Ga. |
| 50 | Baltimore Orioles | Xavier Avery | OF | Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, Ga. | Ga. |
| 56 | Houston Astros | Jay Austin | OF | North Atlanta HS, Atlanta | Ga. |
| 70 | Atlanta Braves | Zeke Spruill | RHP | Kell HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. |
| 72 | Colorado Rockies | Charlie Blackmon | OF | Georgia Tech | Ga. |
| 88 | Houston Astros | Chase Davidson | 1B | Milton (Ga.) HS | Ga. |
| 112 | Los Angeles Angels | Zach Cone | OF | Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga. | Ga. |
| 119 | Cincinnati Reds | Tyler Cline | RHP | Cass HS, Cartersville, Ga. | Ga. |
| 6 | 328 | Florida Marlins | Blake Brewer | RHP | Sandy Creek HS, Tyrone, Ga. | Ga. |
| 13 | 365 | St. Louis Cardinals | Michael Swinson | OF | Coffee County HS, Douglas, Ga. | Ga. |
| 412 | Boston Red Sox | Tyler Wilson | RHP | Armuchee HS, Rome, Ga. | Ga. |
| Atlanta Braves | William Burns | OF | Walton HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. |
| Atlanta Braves | Mark Pope | RHP | Walton HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. |
| Atlanta Braves | Michael Palazzone | RHP | Lassiter HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. |
| Atlanta Braves | Jason Stolz | SS | Kell HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. |
| Colorado Rockies | William Scott | OF | Kell HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. |
| 979 | Los Angeles Angels | Miguel Starks | RHP | Mundy's Mill HS, Jonesboro, Ga. | Ga. |
| Round 33 Los Angeles Angels |
Miguel Starks | RHP | Mundy's Mill HS, Jonesboro, Ga. | Ga. |
| 1012 | Boston Red Sox | Brandon Miller | C | Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga. | Ga. |
| Round 34 18 | 1030 | Atlanta Braves | Matthew Price | RHP | Walker School, Augusta, Ga. |
| 18 | 1090 | Atlanta Braves | Berry Tanner | RHP | Ware County HS, Waycross, Ga. | Ga. |
| Atlanta Braves | Matthew Price | RHP | Walker School, Augusta, Ga. | Ga. |
| Round 36 Atlanta Braves | Berry Tanner | RHP | Ware County HS, Waycross, Ga. | Ga. |
| Boston Red Sox | Richard Wasielewski | LHP | Brunswick (Ga.) HS | Ga. |
|
| Round 42 Colorado Rockies |
Taylor Hightower | C | Cartersville (Ga.) HS | Ga. |
| Round 43 Cincinnati Reds | Bronson Gagner | RHP | Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga. | Ga. |
| Round 44 Atlanta Braves |
Taylor Hart | RHP | Madison County HS, Danielsville, Ga. | Ga. |
| Kansas City Royals | Raymond Anderson | OF/OF | Lassiter Marietta |
Ga. |
| 1398 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Jordan Craft | OF/RHP | KennesawMountain | Ga. |
| Houston Astros | Grayson Garvin | LHP | Wesleyan School, Suwanee | Ga. |
| 1372 | Kansas City Royals | William Beckwith | 1B | West Lowndes HS, Valdosta, Ga. | Ga. |
| Round 47 1398 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | Jordan Craft | OF/RHP | KennesawMountain/Marietta | Ga. |
| Round 50 1484 |
Cincinnati Reds | Kevin Leslie | OF/2B | Redan HS |
Ga. |
| 1487 | Houston Astros | Jamal Austin | CF | Harrison HS, Kennesaw, ( East Cobb Baseball) |
Ga. |
| 1. | Drafted!! | Tim Beckham-- | SS | Sr. | R-R | 6-2 | 191 | Griffin | Griffin | So. California | 1-27-90 |
| 2. | Drafted!! | Ethan Martin | RHP/3B | Sr. | R-R | 6-3 | 205 | Stephens County | Toccoa | Clemson | 6-6-89 |
| 3. | Drafted!! | Zeke Spruill | RHP | Sr. | R-R | 6-4 | 190 | Kell | Marietta | Georgia | 9-11-89 |
| 4. | Drafted!! | Jay Austin | OF | Sr. | L-L | 6-1 | 180 | North Atlanta | Atlanta | So. California | 8-10-90 |
| 5. | Drafted!! | Zach Cone | OF | Sr. | R-R | 6-2 | 185 | Parkview | Stone Mountain | Georgia | 12-14-89 |
| 6. | Drafted!! | Xavier Avery | OF | Sr. | L-L | 6-0 | 185 | Cedar Grove | Stockbridge | Georgia | 1-1-90 |
| 7. | Drafted!! | Cecil Tanner | RHP | Sr. | R-R | 6-7 | 190 | Ware County | Waycross | Georgia | 4-23-90 |
06/06/2008 4:32 PM ET
One day later, Jeremy follows kid brother, Tim, to Tampa
By Ryan Lavner / MLB.com
|
|
Given the right opportunity, Jeremy said they could turn effortless double plays together, anchoring the middle infield on a Major League club.
Thanks to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Beckhams will have that chance.
It's a dream, you could say, come true.
Jeremy was selected by the Rays on Friday with the first pick of the 17th round, the 503rd overall, in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. His younger brother, Tim, who recently graduated from Griffin High School, was the first overall pick on Thursday.
About 100 friends and family attended a Draft party on Thursday for Tim and Jeremy, knowing they would both be selected by some club during the two-day Draft. And although Jeremy said at the party that the Rays were interested in signing him, it was still a long shot that both Beckhams would start their big league careers in the same system.
"It's dream-like," Jeremy said in a telephone interview on Friday. "It's just surreal right now. I know what's happening, but it feels like I'm in a daze right now."
Tim still hasn't emerged from his fog either. In the 24 hours since he became the No. 1 overall pick, the prep shortstop has been all over the sports media.
"It's a dream right now," Tim said. "I'm living the dream."
And now, the Beckhams can live their dream of playing professional baseball together. It's something Jeremy has fantasized about for quite some time.
"I've dreamed about it at night, seriously," Jeremy said of playing on the same team as his brother. "It's hard to explain, but it's just a different feel with my brother in the middle infield. Everything is so natural."
Asked his first thought when he heard the Rays had drafted his brother, Tim said, "Double plays, baby."
Tampa Bay's decision to draft the tandem can only do wonders for their progression through the Minor League system. Tim has said he adopted his relentless work ethic from Jeremy, who, during his senior season at Georgia Southern University, batted .333 and had 24 stolen bases in 51 games.
"It'll be good for both of them," said Griffin H.S. coach Jamie Cassady, who noted Jeremy was the best defensive infielder he's coached. "Jeremy will work Tim to death."
When told of that, Tim replied, "Working me to death is what I need."
Jeremy, 22, said the Minors' daily grind won't be nearly as insufferable with his 18-year-old brother -- and best friend -- alongside.
"Going through the Minors and the stories you hear about how grueling it is, it's good to know your family is there and someone is going through the same thing," Jeremy said.
They'll be able to push each other through workouts -- as they have done for years. And they'll provide support when one goes through an inevitable slump.
The Beckhams will head back to work in one or two weeks, Jeremy predicted.
"We're starting at the bottom of the totem pole, but the Beckhams are ready to play," Jeremy said. "We've just got to keep working hard, and we're just starting out our grind. We're hoping to some day be on the biggest stage and perform."
Ryan Lavner is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
| 8 |
Drafted! | Chase Davidson | 1B | Sr. | L-R | 6-5 | 210 | Milton | Alpharetta | Georgia | 1-14-90 | |
| 9 | Drafted! | Mark Pope | RHP | Sr. | R-R | 6-2 | 193 | Walton | Marietta | Georgia Tech | 8-29-89 | |
| 10 | Drafted! | Cecil Tanner | RHP | Sr. | R-R | 6-6 | 190 | Ware County | Waycross | Georgia | 4-23-90 | |
| 11 | Drafted! | Grayson Garvin | LHP | Sr. | L-L | 6-5 | 180 | Wesleyan School | Suwanee | Vanderbilt | 10-27-89 | |
| 12 | Drafted | Tyler Wilson | RHP | Sr. | R-R | 6-5 | 200 | Armuchee | Rome | Kennesaw State | 12-24-89 | |
| 13 | Drafted! | Taylor Hightower | C | Sr. | B-R | 6-1 | 190 | Cartersville | Cartersville | Mississippi | 9-8-89 | |
| 14 | Brennan May | OF/RHP | Sr. | R-R | 5-11 | 185 | Woodward Academy | Fayetteville | Georgia | 9-25-90 | ||
| 15 | Drafted! | Jordan Craft | OF/RHP | Sr. | R-R | 6-2 | 180 | Kennesaw Mountain | Kennesaw | Kennesaw State | 10-27-89 | |
| 16 | Drafted | Brandon Miller | C | Sr. | R-R | 6-1 | 195 | Woodward Academy | Tyrone | Georgia Tech | 10-8-89 | |
| 17 | Christian Glisson | C | Sr. | L-R | 6-2 | 190 | Lowndes | Hahira | Georgia | 3-6-90 |
| 19 | Tyler Cline | RHP | Sr. | R-R | 6-3 | 215 | Cass | Cartersville | Middle Georgia JC | 6-24-90 | Drafted & signed |
| 20 | Jason Stolz | SS | Sr. | R-R | 6-2 | 190 | Kell | Marietta | Clemson | 3-21-90 | Drafted by not signed yet |
| 23 | Jamal Austin | OF | Sr. | R-R | 5-8 | 150 | Harrison | Powder Springs | Ala.-Birmingham | 8-26-90 | signed |
























| Xavier Avery picked in the 2nd round by the Baltimore Orioles !!50 |



| 50 | Baltimore Orioles | Xavier Avery | OF | Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, Ga. |
| Jay Austin, signed with the Astros & his signing bonus is $715.000 ! 56 |
Houston Astros Draft |
Jay Austin | OF | North Atlanta HS, Atlanta |
| 56. | Astros | Jay Austin | OF | Sr. | L-L | 6-1 | 180 | North Atlanta HS, Atlanta | 8-10-90 | SIGNED bonus $715,000 |


|
| 70 | Atlanta Braves | Zeke Spruill | RHP | Kell HS, Marietta, Ga. |

| 88 | Houston Astros | Chase Davidson | 1B | Milton (Ga.) HS |



| Houston Astros pick up Chase Davidson 1B for Milton HS in Alpharetta HS. |

| LOS ANGELES-AL (Compensation for Matt Harvey, unsigned pick, 2007) | ||||||||||
| Rank | Player | Pos. | Class | B-T | HT | WT | High School | Hometown | Commitment | Bdate |
| 112 | Zach Cone | OF | Sr. | R-R | 6-2 | 200 | Parkview | Stone Mountain, Ga. | Georgia | 12/14/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Cone was a virtual unknown to all but area scouts coming into this spring as his Parkview High team plays together during the summer and Cone didnt play in any major team events or showcases despite living in suburban Atlanta. Parkview is the same school that produced Atlanta Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur, and there are plenty of athletic similarities between the two. Cone is a plus-power/plus-speed type of athlete with excellent bat speed and a high ceiling offensively. On the season, he hit .419-6-23 with 16 stolen bases. He throws in the upper-80s off the mound so his arm strength is a potential plus tool as a center fielder as well. The athletic genes are there as well, as Cones father Ronnie was a running back at Georgia Tech and for the New York Jets, and his brother Kevin is a wide receiver at Shorter College. There has been no faster riser on the draft charts during the second half of the spring than Cone and it wasnt uncommon to see 40-plus scouts at some of his games. It wouldnt be surprising to see Cone move all the way up to the second round by draft day.--DAVID RAWNSLEY | ||||||||||
![]() Jamal Austin was drafted by the Houston Astros!! ![]() |
Houston Astros |
Jamal Austin | CF |

| Houston Astros | Grayson Garvin | LHP | Wesleyan School, Suwanee |
Tyler Cline--Drafted by Cincinnati
![]() |
What ever happened
to Tyler Cline? Tyler Cline has become one of those players that I have thought
about and followed through the years. I have asked parents about
I
just hope he stays out of trouble.
For the next
several years, my kids could not get the sound of Tyler Cline's voice, accent
and comments out of their head especially their favorite Tyler Cline Rant, "You
shut up! Rant/routine out of their head.
Tyler, Good Luck in the Future! We will never
forget you, and I'm sure if you read this story, you'd probably say,
"Oh,
you better Shut Up....... in that Tyler Cline way !
| 20 | Jason Stolz | SS | Sr. | R-R | 6-2 | 190 | Kell | Marietta | Clemson |
| Atlanta Braves | Jason Stolz | SS | Kell HS, Marietta, Ga. |


| Atlanta Braves | Mark Pope | RHP | Walton HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. |

| Michael Palazzone | RHP | Lassiter HS, Marietta, Ga. |





| Raymond Anderson | OF/OF | Lassiter Marietta |














Garrett's First All-Star Team











Matt & Andrew Cadger playing together at Perfect Game sunshine East










Cuyler Esposito signed to play at Villanova