Bamberg-Ehrhardt’s Don Sandifer and Zack Godley have shared the field since their days of playing Dixie Youth baseball in Bamberg.

The Red Raider duo played with and against each other until they got into the Bamberg-Ehrhardt baseball program. Godley, who has signed to play for Spartanburg Methodist and was drafted by the New York Mets, and Sandifer, who has signed to play for Francis Marion, went on to display their talent as they enjoyed winning back-to-back Class A state championships against Chesterfield in their final two years under B-E head coach David Horton. Even though the two have played their final game with the Red Raiders and have earned numerous accolades, they’ll share one final honor as the 2009 Times and Democrat Baseball Co-Players of the Year.

The Red Raiders began their title defense returning with Sandifer, the 2008 T&D Player of the Year, as their top starting pitcher. Still, there were some questions that needed to be answered.

“At the beginning of the year, our expectations weren’t to win a state championship because we lost so many players from the team from the previous year,” Horton said. “We really only had one proven pitcher coming back in Don because Zack really hadn’t pitched that much going into last year.”

Godley did the majority of his damage in 2008 as an outfielder, but he made his mark on the mound this year with a record of 9-3 with an earned run average of 2.24 and 109 strikeouts to himself a spot in the North-South All-Star game, a member of the High School Sports Report’s All-State team and an all-region selection. Likewise, Sandifer didn’t disappoint the Red Raider faithful either. With a 10-1 overall record along with a 1.40 earned run average and 110 strikeouts, Sandifer earned the same selections as Godley and picked up the S.C Baseball Coaches Association’s Class A Player of the Year award.

Although there are similarities statistically, the tandem has their own leadership qualities that made them even better assets for B-E during their title defense.

“I give the seniors a lot of responsibility,” Horton said. “I give them the right to help lead the younger players and, most of the time, they know how to handle that. Don and Zack were certainly among those. Don is a little more quiet and Zack is a little more vocal.”

As pitchers, there was never a time where they challenged each other on the mound. Instead, they found other ways to push each other throughout the year.

“The only competition we had this year was to see who would have the least amount of stolen bases against them when we had to catch each other,” Godley said.

Godley and Sandifer played several positions for the Red Raiders and their impact could be felt whether they were on the mound or in the batter’s box. With that in mind, Horton knows that their contributions will be sorely missed as his team attempts to win their third straight Class A baseball title.

“We hope that the pitchers that are coming back will have a chance to work right along with seniors like Don and Zack, see what they throw, how they throw it and the work ethic it takes to prepare to pitch because it does take an effort,” Horton said. “You don’t just step out on a field on a gameday and pitch. A lot goes into getting ready to pitch and knowing how to pitch.

“That’s a big thing with the young ones. Hopefully, we’ll have some next year. They won’t be able to throw as hard as Don and Zack, but you don’t have to throw that hard to be a pitcher and you don’t have to throw that hard to be able to win.”

2009 Times and Democrat Baseball All-Area First Team

Don Sandifer (Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Sr. Pitcher) - .442 bat avg., 6 HR, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 41 runs, 10-1 record, 1.40 ERA, 110 K

Zack Godley (Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Sr. Pitcher) - .337 bat avg., 6 HR, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 34 runs, 9-3 record, 2.24 ERA, 109 K

Andrew Robinson (Calhoun Academy, Sr. Pitcher) - 7-2 record, 67 K, has not lost a region contest in two years

Trez Wienges (Calhoun Academy, Sr. Catcher) - .456 batting avg., 4 HR, 24 RBI, 4 doubles Ryan Kirby (Branchville, Jr. First Baseman) - .429 batting avg., 22 runs

Seth Cooper (Edisto, Sr. Second Baseman) - .395 batting avg., 1 HR, 23 RBI

Ross Nettles (Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Sr. Third Baseman) - .448 batting avg., 2 HR, 8 doubles, 1 triples, 43 runs Randon Sandifer (Bamberg-Ehrhardt, So. Shortstop) - .473 batting avg., 1 HR, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 43 runs

Rob Wrightenberry (Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Jr. Outfielder) - .436 batting avg., 2 HR, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 34 runs Freddie Martino (North, Jr. Outfielder) - .466 batting avg., 2 HR, 22 RBI, 6 doubles, 4 triples, 23 runs, 23 stolen bases

Tyler Metts (Branchville, Jr. Outfielder) - .409 batting avg., 33 runs

Matt Arant (Calhoun Academy, Jr. Designated Hitter) - .390 batting avg., 16 RBI, 6 doubles, 3 triples

David Horton (Bamberg-Ehrhadrt, Head Coach) -- Led Bamberg-Ehrhardt to a 29-5 record and a second consecutive Class A title.

2009 Times and Democrat Baseball All-Area Second Team

Jordan Rucker (Calhoun Academy, So. Pitcher)

Kyle Gallman (Edisto, Sr. Pitcher)

Marcellus Kennerly (Edisto, So. Pitcher)

Grayson Garrett (Branchville, Jr. Catcher)

Mackie Bryant (Orangeburg Prep, Sr. First Baseman)

Dakota Diamond (North, Fr. Second Baseman)

Coty Smith (Andrew Jackson Academy, Sr. Third Baseman)

Tyler Looper (Branchville, Jr. Shortstop)

Bryan Love (Calhoun Academy, So. Outfielder)

Danny Berry (Bethune-Bowman, Sr. Outfielder)

Thacker Staley (Orangeburg Prep, So. Outfielder)

Adam Jarecki (Calhoun Academy, Head Coach)

2009 Times and Democrat Baseball All-Area Honorable Mention

Jeff Grubbs (Calhoun Academy)

Chris Williams (Bethune-Bowman)

Benjamin Hogges (Bethune-Bowman)

Jesse Corder (North)

Robert McCurry (Orangeburg Prep)

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