The 2015 Junior All-Star Baseball Classic MVPs -- (l-r) Julian Graves, Redan (East) and Shaquille Hickson, McNair (West). What Junior All-Stars make a name for themselves this year?

The 2015 Junior All-Star Baseball Classic MVPs — (l-r) Julian Graves, Redan (East) and Shaquille Hickson, McNair (West). What Junior All-Stars make a name for themselves this year?

Georgia State will once again play host to the DCSD All-Star Baseball Classics beginning at 4:00 pm with the 8th annual Junior All-Star Baseball Classic at the Georgia State Baseball Complex next to Godfrey Stadium.

The West holds a 2-1 lead in the series against the East following a 4-3 walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth inning a year ago. The first four years the teams were divided between the North and South with the North holding a 3-1 advantage in that series.

Redan’s Patrick Wright (52-48) heads up the East coaching staff with help from Tucker’s Vincent Byams (142-147).

The East will look to Redan’s Darius Pope (4-1, 0.93 ERA, 34 K’s, 13 walks, 30 innings) and Southwest DeKalb’s Channing Walker (6-3, 2.98 ERA, 55 K’s, 23 walks, 44 2/3 innings) to anchor the pitching staff.

Miller Grove’s Daniel Harris (SS/P) put up a .440 batting average in 2016 with 10 RBI and 15 stolen bases and Southwest DeKalb’s Javeon Cody (OF/1B) finished at .406 with 11 RBI and 43 stolen bases. The pair will be looked to fuel the offense for the East.

Arabia Mountain outfielder Chris Sims (.348, 10 RBI, 15 SB) will also be a catalyst for the East along with Redan outfielder Marlin Willis (.309, 13 RBI, 18 SB).

St. Pius’ Gary Anderson (21-7) and Chamblee’s Brian Ely (164-128-1) make up the West coaching staff.

Cedar Grove’s Jenard Morris (4-0, 1.21 ERA, 39 K’s, 14 walks, 29 innings) and Lakeside’s Michael Hannah (3-0, 0.89 ERA, 42 K’s, 9 walks, 31 1/3 innings) make up a solid pitching rotation for the West.

Morris also leads the team at the plate finishing with a .540 batting average, 13 RBI and 11 stolen bases. The West has four hitters to finish with over .400 batting averages including Columbia third baseman Marvin Lloyd (.431, 20 RBI), St. Pius catcher/outfielder Kennet Sorenson (.424, 31 RBI), Columbia outfielder Khalil Manuel (.418, 23 RBI, 22 SB) and Decatur outfielder Alexander Glier (.408, 14 RBI, 20 SB).

Lakeside third baseman Sean Mootrey brings some pop to the lineup with 7 homeruns on the year while sporting a .333 batting average with 26 RBI.

The game is a nine inning affair and admission is $7 to the general public.