‘Canes Have Emotional Loss to Start Season

The Hurricane baseball team had an emotional week last week, losing two games, and two former teammates in a freak accident.

The ’Canes lost at GMC last Thursday where the team played well until the fifth inning.

“Walks and a couple of mistakes allowed GMC to break open what had been a close game,” said Chris Jenkins, head coach.

Freshman Thomas Deraney pitched well in his first high school outing. He pitched just over five innings, and only had two earned runs.

Sophomore Tony Shumate came on in relief and threw the ball well after he settled down. This was his first varsity outing as well. Justin Bradley and Walt McMichael led the offense at GMC.

{{more}}

It was after this game Thursday that the boys were given the news of their former teammates, Johnathan Bell and Kevin Camp being killed in a automobile accident when a tree landed on it.

“I was given word, about halfway through the GMC game, about Jonathan and Kevin. The boys do not have their cell phones on in the dugout, so they did not hear of the tragic news until we informed them after the game.”

“I cannot put into words how difficult this was, on all of us. But we have a tremendous group of fans that follow us wherever we go and fortunately, for all of us who were blessed to have come into contact with those two young-men, they were there to offer comforting words and a shoulder to cry on.”

“I would hate to think of how difficult it would have been to deal with, were it not for the support group that came to Milledgeville to offer support and console everyone that night,” said Coach Jenkins.

Friday the ’Canes lost to neighboring Jackson in what was a one run, 1-0 game, through 5 and 2/3 innings.

This game was played in honor of both Johnathan and Kevin and their jerseys were hung on the ’Canes dugout, and the team from Jackson showed indescribable sportsmanship when they arrived at the game wearing purple ribbons in honor of the two.

According to Coach Jenkins, “we played extremely well for 5 + innings, and were only down 1-0, but walks and a couple of bad throws allowed Jackson to extend their lead.” The ‘Canes lost 10-1.

“Dustin Womack was outstanding on the mound, and was aided by some nice defensive plays by Justin Bradley, Chase Caron, and Lane Thomas. We never could get anything going offensively to help him out, which ultimately cost us.”

“Considering the heavy hearts that we carried with us out on the field that day, I am extremely proud of the way our kids fought and played. It speaks volumes for their character, and shows how much those two guys meant to them,” according to the coach.