Freshman outfielder T.J. Riles stretches for home plate in a victory over West Georgia Tech College. (photo by Bill Roa)

by Wade Marbaugh

Going into the last week of the regular season of the final baseball season at Georgia Perimeter College, the Jaguars seemed well-positioned to compete in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament in May.

Led by new head coach Jeremy Brotherton, the Jaguars were 28-23 overall and 16-12 in the GCAA, a tough conference in which Georgia Perimeter is the defending champion. GPC won the regular season championship in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014, and won the GCAA tournament championship last year and in 2011.

New head coach Jeremy Brotherton led the Jaguars in a race for second place in the conference standings, which earns a bye in the first round of the conference tournament. (photo by Bill Roa)

After starting the 2015 campaignwith a 2-10 record, the Jaguars went 21-4 in their next 25 outings and made a run for a bye in the first round of the conference tournament. This will be the Jaguars’ last season due to the consolidation of GPC with Georgia State University. GPC is not fielding athletic teams in 2015-16 as the college transitions through the consolidation.

A highlight, possibly a season turning point, came late in February when sophomore catcher Jeremy Glore stroked a walk-off single in the 11th inning to drive in the winning run of a marathon game with Spartanburg Methodist College at the Newton Campus. Reliever Devin Vainer had retired 11 straight batters to keep the visitors at bay in the four extra innings. GPC also won the first game of the Saturday doubleheader, avenging two previous losses to the Pioneers, who were ranked No. 16 in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll.

Sophomore outfielder Steven Whitaker (No. 7) celebrates his run by giving teammate Jeremy Glore a high five after arriving home. (photo by Bill Roa)

This spring’s roster boasts three first-team All-GCAA players, but outfielder LaDonis Bryant has missed most of the season with an injury. Outfielder London Lindley and designated hitter Pierce Ressmeyer have come on strong late in the season. Lindley and Bryant led the conference last season in stolen bases, with 44 and 40, respectively, and were All-GCAA first team selections. Bryant also was selected to the all-district team, which honors the top players from Georgia and Tennessee.

Ressmeyer made the 2013 all-conference first team as a catcher, batting .343 with 40 runs batted in, but he sat out last season with an injury.

Austin Upshaw leads in hitting. (photo by Bill Roa)

Freshman infielder Austin Upshaw has led the Jaguars all spring in hitting with two home runs and a .426 batting average, which also led the conference going into the final week of the regular season.

The Jaguars have Major League speed. Lindley had 44 stolen bases again this year, which is tied for first in the National Junior College Athletic Association, and freshman centerfielder Steven Whitaker ranks second in the nation with 43 thefts.

First baseman Jon Banks paced the Jaguars in runs batted in with 38, good for second in the conference, and Upshaw was third in the GCAA with 35. Banks exhibited the most power with 12 doubles and a triple late in April.

Jon Banks (No. 8) snares a throw to first during a game against the West Georgia Tech Golden Knights. (photo by Bill Roa)

Among the Jaguar starters, Shane Seckinger had the best earned run average at 1.99 and remained undefeated with a 6-0 record. Starter Ty Alvey had a 5-1 record. Devon Vainer, another starter, had 45 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings. Reliever Eric Stahl was tied for the conference lead in saves with seven and struck out 32 in 23 innings.

More on Jaguar sports, including game stories going back to 2007.