[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15794]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING 11TH DISTRICT BASEBALL STANDOUTS

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                           HON. PHIL GINGREY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 19, 2009

  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize two 
exceptional high school athletes from Georgia's 11th Congressional 
District who have distinguished themselves among our nation's top 
amateur baseball players. With the third pick in the 2009 Major League 
Baseball Amateur Draft, the San Diego Padres selected Cartersville High 
School outfielder Donavan Tate, and three picks later, another 
Northwest Georgian, East Paulding County High School pitcher Zack 
Wheeler was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the sixth pick 
overall.
  Donavan Tate made quite a name for himself in high school while 
leading his Purple Hurricanes to back to back state baseball 
championships. In his senior season, he batted .474 with nine home runs 
and 42 RBIs.
  Zack Wheeler was also dominant in high school, striking out 149 
batters in 76 innings this season and finishing with an unblemished 9-0 
record and a 0.54 ERA--including a no-hitter in the state playoffs. 
Zack's fastball hovers in the high 90s so it is no surprise that the 
Giants used their first pick to bring this young right hander to their 
organization.
  As an avid baseball fan, it is truly an honor to have two of the top 
six draft picks for 2009 call Georgia's 11th Congressional District 
home. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the talent and 
hard work of these two athletes and wishing them the best of luck as 
they start this new chapter of their lives.

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