Diamond Canes Are Region Champs
The Monticello Diamond Hurricanes clinched the Region 4AA Championship, and remain undefeated in the region after winning 5-4 over Crawford County Tuesday. This is the first time the Hurricanes have won the championship since 2000.
Prior to the Crawford County victory, the Hurricanes won another region battle against Lamar County Monday 6-2 and were scheduled to face Bleckley County Wednesday in Cochran. The outcome of the Bleckley County game, however, would not affect the region standings because the ‘Canes were far enough ahead with region wins.
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In Tuesday’s match with Crawford, Junior Tyler Sea-wright threw a complete game striking out six and allowing four hits and three earned runs. At the plate, Brelan Crowe, Josh Disharoon, Matthew Lawson and Stephen Arena all had RBI singles. Also posting good hits were Walt McMichael, Tony Shumate, Michael Wyatt, and Tyler Seawright.
“The Crawford game was fun to be a part of,” Coach Chris Jenkins said. “It was a great game with a great atmosphere. The boys knew what was at stake and they came out focused and with a different level of intensity and it paid off.”
“Tyler did a great job of throwing strikes and letting the defense work behind him,” Jenkins added. “In a game like that, if you have a pitcher that is struggling to find the zone, it slows the game down and takes away the energy and momentum that the team starts off the game with.
“Offensively, we didn’t score as many runs as we would have liked, but we probably had our best approach of the season—very aggressive and we used the entire field. That paid off in our three-run inning, three straight, two-out, RBI singles all up the middle or opposite field. That was the turning point in the game,” Jenkins said.
Several balls were hit hard early in the game that could have broken it open for the Hurricanes, but the hits went right to a glove, and to the credit of Crawford, they made good plays. What turned out to be the game-winning run was due to two heads-up plays by Stephen Arena. He executed a hit and run to get to second, then got a good jump and caught them off guard by stealing third which caused the catcher’s throw to go into left field. He popped up and scored easily, which didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but turned out to be huge, Jenkins added.
It would have been very easy to fold when they put the pressure on in the seventh, but Seawright did a great job of settling down and throwing strikes and Brelan Crowe made one of the best diving catches I’ve seen in a huge situation like that, Jenkins explained.
“I’m extremely proud of the boys, and it was a great feeling to be able to see them celebrate like that on their home field in front of friends and family. I think they realize this is just the beginning; there is a lot left to accomplish.”
In Monday’s win over Lamar County, senior Tyler Mote pitched a complete game, striking out four and allowing only two runs.
By virtue of their first place win in the region, the Hurricanes will host the first round of state playoffs in a double-header against the number four seed from Region 3AA on Friday, May 1, at Hurricane Field. If needed, a third game will be played the following day in Monticello.
The Hurricanes were scheduled to play their final regular season game today, April 23, at 5 p.m. against Social Circle. The Hurricanes are hoping to have a big crowd in attendance to show their support and cheer them on to another victory.
