Freshman Sensation Helps Knights Stay in Race

When Andrew Ellis was growing up playing travel ball in Lawrenceville, he always wanted to be a Black Knight. But he lived in Loganville. Finally, he moved to Lawrenceville with his dad Jason Mauldin. And now as a freshman, he starts and is one of the leading hitters for . After a tough game as a team with Parkview on Thursday night, Ellis and the Black Knights bounced back for a thrilling 5-4 victory over Grayson Rams.

Ellis provided what turned out to be the winning run with an opposite field bloop single on a 1-2 pitch. "That was a very big hit," said head coach David Lamberth. "That was the winning run. He's come up big. He's a freshman but he's come up big for us. He's playing above what a freshman plays. He's stepped in this region and done a great job."

Lamberth feels that after a tough loss it's great to bounce back and  beat a team like Grayson and with the help of Ellis it thrusts the Black Knights back into a potential playoff spot. "It's good for our kids," Lamberth said. "In this region you can never count anybody out. Andrew has done a great job. He's  been a great addition to this club even though he's a freshman."

Ellis also feels great about his year so far. "I got two strikes up there and just had to choke up and put it in play," Ellis said of his RBI single in the fifth inning that was eventually the winning run. "That last out was important to me and made me feel good." Ellis caught the last out of the game to preserve the victory.

"I've known these guys for a while," Ellis said. "I played LYA (Lawrenceville Youth Association) and they all know me. I moved and came over here and wanted to have something to prove that I could really play at the next level."

Ellis feels Lamberth has been a great coach. "He'll do anything for the team," Ellis said. "He sacrifices so much for us and I'm really thankful for him."

Ellis added that his Black Knights can play with some of the better teams of the region. "We had to come out here and prove that we can beat these better teams," he said. "We got a good team here. We have had some tough losses but we can beat any team here. We're one of the better teams here we just have to prove it."

Off the baseball field Ellis is a avid ESPN viewer. "I just sit around and watch baseball," he said. His favorite players are current Braves Brian McCann and Jason Heyward. "One of the reasons I like him (they both play outfield) and I like to be like my role model but whereever the coach puts me I'll do my best."

Andrew says he would keep a television, cell phone and a baseball glove if he were stranded on a desert island. That says how much he loves the sport and credits his parents for his being a better player at such a young age. "They have been big and spent a lot of money to help me get better," Ellis said. "I'm thankful for them."

Mauldin feels his step son is on his way to a successful high school career. "We have put a lot of time and money," Mauldin said. "He's played travel ball and he's played rec ball but it's well worth it." So with all the support maybe Ellis will one day play with his idols McCann and Heyward.