Bobcats Baseball Triple Crown

The Gilmer High School Bobcats baseball team had three members from the 2013 class sign scholarships. Colt Henderson, Marlen Hensley, and Forrest Bramlett will all continue their baseball careers at the collegiate level, at Chattanooga State, Georgia Highlands and The University of Tennessee respectively. There were a couple of firsts, as Hensley will be a part of Georgia Highlands’ inaugural team and Bramlett is the first GHS baseball player to sign a Division I scholarship.

Henderson, who also had several offers to play collegiate football spoke about his passion for baseball and the rigors of football factoring into his decision, as well as his desire to attend Chattanooga.

“I had some football offers as well and you know football is kind of harder on your body so I chose to go the baseball route, and I wanted to go to Chattanooga State.”

He spoke about the decision of choosing baseball over football as being challenging,

“It was a difficult decision. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of football, and especially Friday nights, a small town, you know everybody’s going to the game. Everybody in the stands knows you. You know everybody, but baseball, I’ve always loved baseball more than football so I wanted to go baseball with it.”

Hensley was accompanied by his new coach Mike Marra, who both spoke about expectations and pressures of being a part of Georgia Highlands’ inaugural season, as well as the recruitment process itself.

“I just like the idea of starting from fresh,” was Hensley’s thought on being a part of Georgia Highlands’ first season.”

Marra said, “We knew we were in a tough recruiting battle with other schools. We just felt that the idea he could come in and be an impact freshman was an advantage we had, and also part of being a legacy. As a first year program, somebody’s got to be the first kid to get drafted somebody’s the first kid to get a scholarship for your school, so a lot of firsts.”

Hensley was a multiple sport star, and also talked about his decision to pursue baseball.

“Baseball’s always been my passion. Ever since I was little I’ve wanted to play college baseball, so when I had the chance I took it.”

Bramlett spoke about his decision to go to UT.

“I had it narrowed down to a few, and I really like Tennessee and I wanted to be in the SEC, and it was a good fit for me.”

Bramlett also spoke about Tennessee’s need for a catcher factoring into his decision.

“They were looking for a catcher just as much as I was looking for a school.”

Gilmer head baseball coach, James Plouffe, spoke to FYN about all three of his graduate signees.

“Colt Henderson has always been a mainstay in our program, been a productive guy, very competitive. When Chattanooga State called me, he fit the mold perfectly for Chattanooga State. I think he’s going to really make huge contributions to their program.

Marlen Hensley, he’s a legend in Ellijay. Coach Marra really took to him, when he saw his work ethic; his grades; his competitiveness on the field; and of course you can’t think of Gilmer baseball without thinking of Forrest Bramlett.

Forrest has always been the guy that we would turn to on the field. He’s a great leader, a good student in the classroom. Tennessee’s getting an outstanding person in Forrest Bramlett.”

With the three baseball Bobcats bounding to the next level, the total number of athletes signed from the 2013 GHS senior class has risen to 12.

COLT HENDERSON

MARLEN HENSLEY

FORREST BRAMLETT

COACH JAMES PLOUFFE