Diamond Hurricanes Start Season 3-0
The Jasper County-Monticello High School baseball team got the 2021 season started on the right foot with a 7-4 home win last week against visiting Newton High School.
The early-season success then continued with wins against Mount de Sales last Saturday and Lake Oconee Academy on Monday.
“It is a pretty good feeling starting the new year 3-0, especially after last spring with the season ending like it did,” said coach Brady McMichael. “I felt like we were playing the best baseball that we had all year before the games stopped, but we have seemed to pick right back up where we left off. It has been a while since we started the season 3-0, but the guys have bought in to our motto this year of ‘Pass The Baton.’ We are focused on doing the little things right and trying to get it to the next guy in line.”
After the team’s scheduled season opener against Mount de Sales on Feb. 16 was postponed due to weather, the Diamond Canes were able to take the field the following day against the Newton Rams.
McMichael’s team set the tone early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the bottom of the second. Two additional runs in the bottom of the fourth inning proved to be enough for the Canes.
Newton did not put its first run of the game on the board until the top of the fifth inning. The Rams added one more in the sixth and two more in the seventh inning.
Both teams committed two errors.
For the Canes, Cole Hays earned the win going five innings with eight strikeouts. Myles Proctor worked two solid innings in relief.
Baylor Edge helped lead the offense with two hits and four RBI. Mac Barton drew three walks while Hays had two.
“One thing that I would like us to do better is closing the games,” McMichael said. “We were up 7-0 after four innings and I felt like we went into cruise control. If we want to be able to content for a region championship, we have to finish games.”
The Canes tried to play last Thursday and Friday but both games could not be played due to weather conditions.
Jasper County-Monticello was finally able to return to the field on Saturday defeating visiting Mount de Sales 6-4. It was a solid win despite the Canes not generating a ton of offense at the plate.
Tristian Humphries drew three walks while Barton and Edge both had two walks
Trent Maddox worked five innings before giving way to Edge who recorded two strikeouts.
After the Cavaliers scored three runs in the top of the first inning the Canes responded with four runs in the bottom half of the second. Mount de Sales tied the game in the top of third before Jasper County-Monticello pushed two across in the bottom of the fourth.
“I was proud of the guys for the way they battled throughout that game,” McMichael said. “We spotted them three runs in the top of the first and it could have easily gone downhill. We were able to grind out at bats and pushed some runs across. We did struggle at the plate as we only had two hits. We also struck out 10 times and that has been one of the biggest weaknesses this year. We have to get better at putting the ball in play and making the defense work.”
Jasper County-Monticello was back on the diamond on Monday of this week hosting Lake Oconee Academy. The Canes cruised to an 11-1 victory.
“This was our most well-rounded game so far this year,” McMichael said. “We did a lot better at the plate and would have had more hits but LOA made some great plays in the field. Freshman Hunter Hays took the win and provided three solid innings in his first varsity outing. Cole Hays came in and threw two scoreless innings striking out all six batters he faced. Myles came in and threw the top of the sixth and struck out three batters.”
The Titans pushed a run across in the top of the first before Jasper County-Monticello answered with three in the bottom of the second. The Canes scored two more in the third and then broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with four more runs.
Lake Oconee Academy committed four errors and was limited to just two hits.
Justyn Fields and Cole Hays both had two hits for the Canes while Graeme Williams walked twice and Barton drew one. Hunter Hays, Fields and Proctor each drove in two runs.
Hunter Hays worked the first three innings on the pitcher’s mound with four strikeouts while Cole Hays threw two innings recording all six outs by strikeout.
“I am liking where we are at during this point of the season,” McMichael said. “While we have a lot that we can improve on, to be 3-0 at the start of any season is great. I will be looking a lot this week to see how our guys adapt to going on the road and playing three good schools.”
McMichael’s team was scheduled to face Newton High School in Covington on Wednesday and will travel to GMC on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. contest. The Canes will the travel to Putnam County Friday for a 6 p.m. Region 3-AA contest.
The JV Canes opened their season on Saturday falling to Mount de Sales 18-2.
“As is the case with most JV teams, we are looking at the players closely and figuring out how we can help them get better in order to help the varsity team,” McMichael said. “We have a way to go, but the guys are working hard and I appreciate that.”
The coach said he always wanted to thank parents and fans for a great home atmosphere during the first three games. He also thanked the local individuals and businesses for their support.