Tigers Open 2008 Season
By Brandon Reed
It was not the season opener that the Tigers had hoped for.
The Commerce Tigers baseball team started its 2008 season with a loss to Banks County on the Leopards’ new field Thursday afternoon, 4-0.It marked the first loss to the Leopards on the diamond since March of last year.
With the opener behind them, the Tigers now look toward their next opportunity to pick up the first win of the young season, as they travel to Oglethorpe County today (Wednesday) for a 4:30 game.
Banks Loss
It was a rough start for the Tigers, who defeated Banks County in their last meeting as part of a doubleheader last March.
Head baseball coach Walt Massey said he was disappointed with the team’s offensive efficiency.
“More than half our outs came by strikeout,” he said. “The main reasons we struggled were because we were far too aggressive with two strikes and we guessed as to what pitch was coming instead of reacting.”
Commerce’s lone hit came from the bat of Ward Hunter, who picked up a double. Reuben Haynes recorded the loss, pitching three innings, and allowing four hits and two runs. Haynes recorded three strikeouts.
Both Cohen Cooke and Carl Allen came in as relievers. Cook pitched two innings, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out two. Allen pitched one inning, struck out two and allowed two hits.
Massey said despite the roughing up from Banks County, several things encouraged him.
“Our pitchers only allowed two walks, one of which was intentional. We continued to compete for seven innings when very few things, from the weather to the score, were favorable for us,” he said. “There were a couple of instances when it would have been easy for us to quit and let the game get completely out of hand, but we battled and gave ourselves a puncher’s chance the entire time. If we keep that resiliency and recommit ourselves to doing things right fundamentally, this team has a chance to be successful.
“I still really like the makeup of this team. We will use the next couple of games and weeks of practice to settle in on a couple of position battles and tweak our lineup until we find something that works.”
Coming Up
Next up for the Tigers is a match-up today with the Oglethorpe County Patriots, who enter into the game winless off of a 5-5 tie with Georgia Military Academy. Thursday brings a re-match with the Leopards, this time in Tiger territory. First pitch in that game is scheduled for 5 p.m.
