Northgate's Bevil, Alvey to play in Georgia Dugout Club All-Star game
By DOUG GORMANdgorman@newnan.com
Recent Northgate High grads Cody Bevil and Ty Alvey probably thought they had played their last high school baseball games after the Vikings lost to Pope High School in the second round of the Class AAAA playoffs earlier this month.
Not so fast.
“It’s exciting to get be selected to play on this team,” said Bevil, who led the Vikings in hitting this season at the leadoff spot while starting at second base. “I am going to get to play against some of the best players in the state. This is really an honor.”
Alvey, a starting pitcher for Northgate during another state playoff season, agreed.
“I have always heard about these all-stars games and I am excited about the chance to close out my career by playing in this,” he said.
The series of all-star games are divided into four geographically based teams comprised of the top senior baseball players in the state.
In addition to the Southwest, other squads include the Southeast, Northwest and Northeast.
Alvey and Bevil’s Southwest squad will play three games starting Friday. Team Southwest opens the all-star showcase against Team Southeast at 2 p.m. They will then play Saturday against Team Northwest at 11:30 a.m. and Team Northeast at 2 p.m.
Alvey and Bevil impressed coaches around the state with sold senior campaigns that including a late-season push to help the Vikings make the playoffs for the 13th time in a row.
“Once we really got hot at the end of the season, we thought we had a chance to go all the way,” Alvey said. “We were disappointed when we lost to Pope, so I am excited about getting to play a couple more games”
Bevil earned his spot on the all-star team finishing as the Vikings’ leading hitter with a .366 average. He also ripped two home runs and 22 RBIs. He also stole seven bases from his lead-off spot.
During the team banquet, he was also named the Vikings’ most valuable player.
“This was really fun year, and I am excited to see what I can do in the all-star game.”
Alvey was a hard-throwing pitcher for the Vikings during his high school career. This past season, Alvey struck out 55 and walked 31 during a 3-3 season, that also including one save. He finished with a 3.65 ERA.
“They both did a great job for us during their careers,” said Northgate head coach Greg Hamilton. “We are really going to miss them.”
A highlight of Bevil’s senior season included his solo home run against McIntosh in the final subregion game of the season.
The homer helped lift the Vikings to a 1-0 win, securing its spot in the Region 3-AAAA playoffs and ultimately in the Class AAAA playoffs after it upset Union Grove in the region playoffs.
Alvey will be moving on to a college career at Georgia Perimeter College after signing a letter of intent last winter. Bevil is still weighing his college options, but is expected to sign somewhere in the near future.
Team Southwest is coached by Northside-Columbus coach David Smart.
