Last weekend, Bearcat baseball players Noah Bryant and Keith Lyle attended the Georgia Dugout Club’s All State game in Milledgeville, where the best players from around Georgia came together to showcase their talents.

Bryant and Lyle were named to the team and invited to compete in May. Every player in attendance is expected to play college baseball or get drafted.

Bryant, a catcher and pitcher who signed a scholarship to play at the University of North Georgia, said he enjoyed the opportunity playing against top-level competition.

“It is only going to get better later on,” Bryant said about the talent-level of his fellow All State players. “The competition gets better. The game speeds up a lot.”

Bryant said he was able to meet tons of new players and catch up with old friends he’s met at other exhibition games. Getting this opportunity gives him a taste of the best-of-the-best before heading to play college ball in Dahlonega.

As for the rest of the summer, Bryant said he plans on staying home in Bainbridge to train for the remainder of the summer.

Lyle played at short stop during the All State game and was humbled to be in such great company, he said.

“I was able to face the caliber of competition that I expect to see routinely at the next level,” Lyle, a Tallahassee Community College signee, said.

Lyle was coached and taught great life lessons, he said, like not taking the game for granted at any level and playing each game as if it was his last.

“It really gave me a fresh perspective on how your attitude should be about baseball and life,” Lyle said.

Lyle is training five days a week and focusing heavily on proper nutrition during the rest of the summer to put himself in the best possible scenario for success when he arrives at TCC this fall.

Bryant and Lyle both encouraged their fellow Bearcats to work hard in the sport to get the same opportunity in their futures.

“The reality is that my teammates helped create this opportunity,” Lyle said. “I appreciate all of their contributions, hard work and effort that they put in to Bearcat Baseball. It was an honor to represent our team, Bainbridge High School and our community.”

Noah Bryant, who signed a scholarship to play at University of North Georgia earlier this year, had the second highest batting average on the team at .396. He was 40-of-101 throughout the regular season with 15 runs scored and 31 RBIs. He also had a home run.

He had a .967 fielding percentage with 151 total chances and 122 put outs.

Keith Lyle batted .305 during the regular season, going 32-for-105 with 26 runs scored and 21 RBIs. He had two home runs.

His fielding percentage was .880, with 125 total chances and 42 put outs. He also had 68 assists.

Lyle signed a scholarship to play baseball at Tallahassee Community College next year.