Graeter, House picked for all-star game

Published 3:57 am Sunday, May 25, 2008

A pair of players from Pearl River County have been selected to compete in the annual Crossroads Diamond Club All-Star Baseball game.

Picayune’s T.J. House and Poplarville’s Ashley Graeter were picked to play for the South team in the prestigious contest, that annually pits the top graduating seniors from across the state in a North vs. South format.

The game will take place at Trustmark Park in Pearl., the home of the Class AA Mississippi Braves, on Saturday, June 7.

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Both House and Graeter led their respective squads into the Class 4A South State playoffs this past season, starring on the mound and at the plate.

Both were the aces of their respective staffs, and each notched wins in the state playoffs.

“T.J. has had a great career for us and he has a bright future as well,” Picayune head coach Cayne Stockstill said. “He deserves to be playing in the all-star game.”

House has already signed a baseball scholarship with Tulane but is expected to be picked in the upcoming Major League Baseball amateur draft as well.

House was one of the only pitchers to beat eventual Class 4A state champion East Central in the Hornets march to the title. The Hornets eliminated the Tide in an exciting first round series.

Graeter helped guide the Hornets of first year head coach Jimmy Agent into the second round of the state playoffs. He has signed to play next season at Pearl River Community College.

“Ashley was one of the biggest reasons we accomplished what we did this season,” Agent added. “He is one of the better players in the state and being selected to play in this game proves that.”

There will be two games played, with House and Graeter participating in the Class 5A/4A game at 1 p.m. That will be followed by the Class 3A/2A/1A game at 6 p.m.,

The complete South roster for the larger schools game is Kenneth Atwood, Harrison Central, Philip Byrd, East Central, Michael Corso, Vancleave, Travis Creel, Ocean Springs, Caleb Dickerson, East Central, Ashley Graeter, Poplarville, Chase Headrick, West Jones, Jason Hicks, Brandon, T.J. House, Picayune, Paxton King, Brookhaven, Patrick Kirkland, Ocean Springs, Shane LeBlanc, Biloxi, Zachary Magee, Petal, Jonathan Pace, Terry, Josh Palmer, Wayne Co., Nick Ray, Gulfport, Zachary Robertson, Oak Grove and Tyler Vanderheiden, Oak Grove. Coaches are Vancleave’s Michael Henry and Corey Keys of Lawrence County.

This marks the second straight year that Pearl River County has placed a pair of players in the game as both Mike Lehmann and Matt Discon from pearl River Central played in last year’s game.