Georgia baseball coach David Perno said he understood why All-Southeastern Conference outfielder and leadoff man Chaz Lytle recently flip-flopped on an earlier decision and signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Just the same, Lytle's announcement left Perno and the Diamond Dogs in somewhat of a quandary.
After all, Lytle batted .387 and set Georgia single-season records for hits (108) and stolen bases (31) last year and figured to play a major role for the squad next spring.
With no Lytle, Perno's dilemma was a perplexing one. In comparison, it would be akin to the Seattle Mariners suddenly having to find a replacement for Ichiro Suzuki. Now, Lytle obviously isn't in the league of the Japanese superstar, but you catch my drift.
Fortunately for Georgia, the Diamond Dogs may have found an answer.
Introducing shortstop Zeke Parraz, a life-long desert rat from just outside Las Vegas, Nev. who hit .357 last season for Southern Nevada Community College which used wood bats in 48 of its 59 games.
He also stole 21 bases in 21 attempts and last month was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 21st round of the June draft.
How Parraz wound up at Georgia is a story in itself.
SNCC coach Tim Chambers explains.
"Zeke has been in Las Vegas all his life, but he also knows that the best baseball is played in the south and he wanted that southern baseball experience," Chambers said. "He felt if he could succeed there, he could succeed anywhere."
That's when Chambers, who spent time at Georgia College in Milledgeville, placed a call to his good friend Perno who told Parraz to come on over for a look-see.
He obviously liked what he saw.
"The whole atmosphere, it was great. It was my first time in Athens, but I love it. It's a great college town, and the scenery is nothing like we have out here," Parraz said. "We don't have many trees in Las Vegas."
Maybe not, but the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder plans on bringing the wood with him when he makes the long drive to Athens next month. In a manner of speaking.
Although it's impossible to predict what kind of impact Parraz will have with the Diamond Dogs next season, Chambers sees nothing but stardom ahead for the 19-year old now that he will be swinging an aluminum bat full-time.
"Thirty points better?" quizzed Chambers when asked about the level of increase to his average Parraz might expect to see. "Try 80 or 100, he's that good. Georgia's going to be very happy with the job he does."
Parraz's arrival means other adjustments to the Georgia lineup will have to be made, especially in regards to returning shortstop Josh Armitage and Josh Smith.
Look for Armitage to see the majority of his action at first base with Smith moving to center field.
Third baseman Lee Mitchell's 15 RBIs ranks him among the leaders in the Cape Cod League. ...Signee Brandon Moss are Larry Grayson are the only two members of Georgia's 2002 class who won't be playing for the Diamond Dogs. Moss signed with Boston after being drafted in the eighth round while Grayson failed to qualify academically.
Anthony Dasher is an assistant sports editor with the Banner-Herald. He can be reached at 706-208-2234 or by E-mail at adasher@onlineathes.com.
