Monticello Hurricane Baseball Preview

Even with the January rain and cold, the local diamond at the high school is starting to heat up with baseball action from the Monticello Hurricanes. The squad, led by Head Coach Brady McMichael, will open up their slate of action with a scrimmage against the Titans of Lake Oconee Academy at home on February 9.

One week later, the Hurricanes will open up the regular season hosting the Panthers of Glascock County (Gibson) at 5:30 p.m. Coach McMichael, entering his fourth season (36-33 overall) as the head man for the Hurricane nine, has a good number of players returning from the 2022 season that saw game action, mixed with a competitive young group of ninth and 10th graders that saw action for the junior varsity and middle school last season.

Returning impact players include Junior SS/RHP Hunter Hays (.242 avg., 15/62 H/AB, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 17 R; 2-5, 28 IP, 40 K), Junior 3B/RHP Tres Cohran (.255 avg., 14/55, 2 3B, 11 RBI, team leading 23 runs, 18 SB, and .474 On Base percentage, 1-2, 25 IP, 22 K), Junior 2B/OF Chevy Sands (11 SB, 15 R, .444 OBP, team leading 21 BB).

The team will also be counting on leadership from Junior RHP/1B Tom Schilling (2-3 record, 1 save in 24.2 IP during the 2022 season) and Senior LHP/OF Gabe Evans (1-1 in 2022).

The Hurricanes will begin play in their new region this spring, Region 5-A, Division 1. Joining them will be Social Circle (27-13, 2022 single A public semifinalist), Prince Avenue Christian (26-8, 2022 single A private quarterfinalist), and Oglethorpe County (17-14, 2022 AA playoff participant) in what makes out to be a tough baseball region. The good news, since there are only four teams, each team is guaranteed a playoff spot, and will be battle tested in April during region play before the state playoffs begin.

Historically, both Social Circle and Oglethorpe County have been longtime region opponents of the Hurricanes through the years, with the Canes holding a 22-16 series lead over Oglethorpe, and a 42-32 series lead over Social Circle since the Redskins restarted their baseball program in 1978. The Hurricanes have played Prince Avenue three times overall, holding a 2-1 series lead, and have not met since the 2016 season.

Coach McMichael has arranged an exciting slate of games for the Hurricanes this season, with games against traditional rivals Jackson and Putnam highlighting the non-region schedule. The Hurricanes will also battle against Georgia Military College and Lamar County, two teams that have become friendly competitors over the past few seasons.

New to the schedule this season the Hurricanes will have home games with Loganville Christian, and another Walton County school, Monroe Area has been added back after an absence of a few seasons. The Hurricanes will have two “Diamond Days” in successive weekends at the end of February 25, and beginning of March 4.

The second Diamond Day will see the Canes welcome former region mates Lincoln County and Portal to the Hurricane Diamond. The Hurricanes last played Portal in the 1985 Region 4-A playoffs, and have not played the Lincoln County version of Red Devils since their last run as region mates in 2008.

The 2023 edition of Hurricane baseball has been hard at work since tryouts began January 10, and is looking forward to the opening of the season. The team will host a scrimmage on February 9 at 5:30 p.m. on the home diamond.

If interested, the Hurricanes are also looking for game ball sponsors for home games this season. You can get more information from Coach McMichael at jbmcmichael@jasper.k12.ga.us. Go Canes!