The North Atlanta High School baseball team continues to break its own records.
For the first time in school history, the North Atlanta Warriors had two players selected in the same MLB draft class out of high school.
Antonio Anderson, a switch-hitting shortstop committed to Georgia Tech, was taken in the third round of the 2023 MLB draft as the 83rd overall pick by the Boston Red Sox.
“It feels great,” Anderson said. “I’m just ready to play some baseball. I’m glad they believed in me and I’m ready to contribute to a World Series in Boston.”
His teammate, outfielder Isaiah Drake who is also committed to Georgia Tech, was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round with the 162nd pick.
“I’ve been waiting for this draft for a while now,” North Atlanta head baseball coach Richard Plante said. “It was a great day for North Atlanta baseball.”
The two draft picks from the same class made this past season for the Warriors even more special. The team won its region for the first time in school history after going undefeated in region play (18-0). The Warriors also finished the season with a school record 27 wins and reached the second round of the state tournament.
“I think it’s big for North Atlanta. I also think it’s big for APS and big for the city of Atlanta as well,” Plante said. “We’re having guys come out of North Atlanta going to college and now even pro ball once they leave our program. It’s big for a public school within the city of Atlanta to be able to do this. There are opportunities here in Atlanta, especially at North Atlanta, to grow your skill set in baseball here.”
Anderson led the team in batting average (.438), hits (46), RBIs (51), slugging percentage (.723), and was second in homeruns (6).
Drake led the team in runs (40), doubles (10) and triples (3), and finished the year hitting .358 with four home runs.
“With Antonio, Boston is getting a player that already acts the part of a professional. He does everything the right way,” Plante said. “With Isaiah, you’re talking about somebody with unbelievable athletic ability. He does things that, as far as athleticism, most human beings in this world can’t do.”
Anderson and Drake, who were both selected to the 2023 APS All-Star team, continue to add to the growing list of baseball talent coming out of APS. Mark Church and Brett Roberts are North Atlanta baseball alumni who were drafted, just not in the same class out of high school.
Termarr Johnson, from Mays High School, was the fourth overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2022 MLB draft.
“I feel like Atlanta brings the best talent,” Anderson said. “Last year, you got my boy Termarr. He definitely put on a show for us and we came behind him.”
