Current Red Elephants conjuring memories of '02 title team

GAINESVILLE -- There's ridiculous, and then there's ridiculous.

And both may be an understatement when looking at the pitching statistics of the current crop of Gainesville pitchers.

As a team the Red Elephants sport a gaudy 1.00 ERA. They have allowed just 27 total runs in 17 games, pitched six shutouts, and held opponents to two runs or fewer 14 times. Only West Hall, Habersham Central, and Johnson, who each scored five runs, were able to plate more than two runs.

Individually, junior Hunter Anglin has yet to give up an earned run (0.00 ERA) and senior David Gonzalez has a miniscule 0.54 ERA while allowing just two earned runs. The two right-handers have achieved this while pitching a combined 60 innings on the season.

As a result, the Red Elephants (17-0, 12-0 in Region 8B-AAA) find themselves atop the subregion, ranked second in Class AAA, and are one of just two unbeaten teams in Class AAA, along with Crisp County (16-0).

Gainesville coach Jeremy Kemp said when the season started he knew they had a good pitching staff. But even he never expected the results to this point.

"We try to win every game but finishing undefeated is not something we worry about," Kemp said. "Our goal is to win the subregion. As far as the stats, no one can ever really expect the kinds of numbers these guys have put up so far.

"As a group we've got six or seven guys who are capable of putting up zeros when they get a chance. It's not just one or two guys, even though Hunter and David have been outstanding. It's been a team effort."

Michael Gettys, Ryan Griffith, Shad Petree, and senior Stephen Mason give Kemp plenty of options. Gettys and Petree have started while Griffith recently returned to the mound, as did Mason, who is being used more as a closer than a starter.

With just six regular season games left, the Elephants are almost a lock to advance to the playoffs. What Kemp thinks could be a factor in how far they go this year will be in his group's flexibility and depth.

"We have five or six guys who can start or come out of the bullpen and we have confidence in all of them," Kemp said. "For us it's all about pitching and defense. To me that is the key to success."

And his favorite of the eye-popping stats is the one that is the most team-oriented.

"The number of runs scored to me is the one that means the most," Kemp said. "It shows a team concept. To allow two runs or less in that many games is pretty tough."

However, some also have argued that without a dominant starter the Elephants could be vulnerable to a team that features a hot pitcher in the playoffs.

"We may not have a guy throwing 95 like the guys at White County last year but we feel that we can wear down teams with our depth," Kemp said. "We feel that will be an advantage for us, especially in a three-game series."

Over the years Kemp has never been one to embrace comparisons from year to year. But with the success of the 2012 team, it has started to conjure some thoughts to the last Gainesville state title team in 2002. That team featured future Major Leaguer Micah Owings and Georgia Southern standout John Carroll.

"That was a different group and I really didn't see them play much," Kemp said. "But what I do know that is similar is that those two (Owings and Carroll) were questioned going into the playoffs just like our guys. (Micah and John) erased those thoughts. Hopefully our guys will show everyone what they can do."