Dunwoody Baseball Begins Third Round of Playoffs

With Wes Bancroft's voice weak, Dunwoody High baseball players amplified the cell phone speaker and crowded in close in left field.

Whatever their ace pitcher told them from his hospital bed minutes before Friday's decisive third game of their Class AAAA playoff series at Lambert, it worked. The Wildcats exploded for 10 runs in the first inning and won 18-10 to advance to today's quarterfinal against visiting Effingham County.

"We couldn’t understand all he was saying," infielder Chris Hale said. "His voice seemed really deep from the medicine they'd given him. But hearing from him really pumped us up."

Hospitalized two days earlier with a ruptured spleen that required surgery, Bancroft was glad he could contribute to Dunwoody's first time past the second round since winning state in 2007. The senior's flu-like symptoms had kept him from pitching Game 1 of the Wildcats' opening playoff sweep of Flowery Branch, and he'd felt too ill for more than two innings at third base. By the time Dunwoody (19-9) began its initial doubleheader of Thursday's second-round series at Lambert, he'd had his spleen removed and knew his season was over.

Regretfully, he'll have no chance to improve his team-best pitching record of 7-2 and ERA of 1.37, nor his 52 strikeouts. His .375 batting average won't include a home run before he plans to try walking on at College of Charleston.

"Knowing I can't give the team any more wins, perform at the plate -- all I can do is watch – is not the greatest feeling," Bancroft said after coming home from the hospital Monday. "I got phone calls and texts when the (Lambert series) was over, but it was hard sitting there (hospitalized), not knowing what the score was."

Bancroft said Dunwoody beating Lambert lifted his spirits.

"After hearing about that (third) Lambert game – our defense, our offense and pitching – I have no doubt our team is complete without me."

Bancroft was confident in his teammates, particularly the revamped pitching rotation of James Cunningham, Logan Elliott and Ryan Gaines. Elliott pitched the opening win over Flowery Branch as a reliever, then won Game 2 as a starter. Cunningham rebounded from losing the opener against Lambert with a save in Game 3.

Dunwoody's defense, though troubled earlier this season, has been solid in Bancroft's absence. So has the offense, as evidenced by Jerric Johnson, Jared Martin, Zach Tonner, Stelen Stulberger, Cam Young and Dwayne Brock all getting hits in that 10-run first inning against Lambert, and Martin and Young ripping two-run singles.

"(Bancroft's absence) brought them together as a team, as a unit," English said. "They're seeing everyone has to do his part."

Martin, a catcher, commended pitchers for making up for Bancroft.

"I'm used to catching Wes in Game 1, him coming out, shutting the door and us going up 1-0," Martin said. "We've had to talk over a different philosophy with different pitchers."

While Bancroft's absence is big, it's not the first time the Wildcats have done without talent. Will Hudgins missed half the season because of a back injury; Young a month with a broken foot; and Sean Davis is playing with a broken thumb.

"They understand it's a part of life, part of the game," English said of injuries, adding of Bancroft's, "Bad things happen to good people. You just have to keep working."

Bancroft hopes to attend some of today's 5 p.m. doubleheader against Effingham, and if needed, Wednesday's third game at 5:55. Players said having him there would be uplifting.

Bancroft's dad, Steve, chuckled at cracks about how lazy Wes might become during his doctor-order 10 weeks of relative inactivity.

"We'll probably wheel him out for (today's) pregame, then when he gets tired, haul him out," he said.