Dragons preparing for first region game of 2008 season
BY JUSTIN POOLE
The Jefferson High School Dragons have started off the 2008 baseball season with a less than pleasant 1-3 record. Fortunately, none of the past four games have mattered as far as region play is concerned. The first region game for the Dragons will be at Social Circle Friday, March 14.
Jefferson was scheduled to have seven games before the first region play, but due to weather, three were postponed.
Coach Tommy Knight has said on many occasions that he wants the guys to be comfortable on the field. Even without as many practices the team is still playing hard, and they proved as much during Monday’s game against Oconee County.
The Dragons traveled to UGA’s Foley Field where they pushed Oconee into an extra inning. Despite a second wind in the top of the seventh to tie the game Oconee edged out Jefferson by one run in the bottom of the eighth. The final score Oconee County over Jefferson 11-10.
“It was an exciting ballgame,” said Knight. “We were literally down to our last strike when Jake Fields hits a line drive over the center field fence to tie it with a three run homer.”
Since the Dragons have not had much field time in the past weeks, Knight said that playing at Foley Field was a good experience for the team and helped them to find where the guys are going to be strong.
“We haven’t played as many games as we hoped we would. We have only played four games so we have found out some things,” said Knight. “We are still searching for a few answers in a couple of spots and we will probably be well into regional play before we get some of those things answered.”
Jefferson had a nine-day break between games due to weather postponements.
“It is just one of those things, when you don’t play a lot you get a little rusty,” Knight said. “We are playing catch-up it seems like. We are still solid; we have a group of five or six guys that can swing the bat well. Also, our pitching is going to be okay.”
According to Knight the first four non-region games were all against really strong teams and pitchers Cameron Blinn and Chris Beck have made their mark despite it being hard for the team to get comfortable.
At the plate, Knight said that Jake Fields, Tyler Hill, Blaine Skaggs, Chris Beck and Lucas Redd have all been swinging the bat well.
Looking ahead to the first region game for the Dragons Knight said, “Social Circle has had good teams the past several years, I have heard that they are down a little bit, but they are going to be solid. Our region is going to be solid all the way up and down. We are going to have to play every ball game. Folks are not going to see Jefferson and just fall over for us. Social will be a good start for us.”
Jefferson will be facing Social Circle Friday, March 14, then return home to play Athens Academy Tuesday, March 18.
