Local rivals take aim at Tigers
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The Darlington School baseball team was the new kid on the block in Region 6-A last season, but it also proved to be the powerhouse of the region in going a perfect 12-0 in 6-A play and 23-4 overall en route to the Class A state quarterfinals.
And with that in mind, Bremen coach Mark Clark — whose team was the region’s No. 2 seed and also a state quarterfinalist in 2009 — and first-year Bowdon coach Stephen Mitchell — who was an assistant coach for the No. 3 seed Red Devils last season — expect that the Tigers will certainly be a force to be reckoned with again this season.
Clark thinks the top three teams will remain the same, though he said any of them could claim the region title this year.
“I think all three of us have a shot at it,” Clark said.
Bowdon is scheduled to host Darlington on Friday in both teams’ Region 6-A opener. And heading into the region slate, Mitchell said Bremen and Darlington have to be the favorites based on last season’s results and the players they have coming back. But Mitchell has a feeling his team can work itself into that mix, though.
“I think we can compete with them. Our kids believe we can compete with them,” Mitchell said. “And like I said, I think we’ll be right there in the hunt.”
Clark is hoping his guys’ postseason experience a season ago, including an upset of second-ranked Lakeview Academy in the second round, serves as a building block in going for the region championship this year.
The Blue Devils, who were ranked No. 9 in the initial GACA Coaches’ Poll — the only Region 6-A team in the top 10 — will get a major test prior to opening region play next Tuesday when they face top-ranked Landmark Christian on the road Friday.
And come Tuesday’s region opener at Trion, Clark thinks his team will be fired up to begin its quest for the crown.
“It’s got to help you because they’ve been there and done that,” Clark said of the experience on the Blue Devils’ roster. “Hopefully they’re still hungry to go even further.”
Darlington coach Chad Woods said while a title repeat is indeed the goal, he, too, understands it won’t come easy.
“Obviously, we hope to win it. But Bremen, Bowdon, Gordon Lee, those guys will be tough,” Woods said. “We’re hoping we can repeat. We know it’s going to be a tough battle until the end.”
And while Darlington and Bremen are the heavy 1-2 favorites, Woods said you can never overlook Bowdon. Or Gordon Lee, for that matter.
“Bowdon is always Bowdon. You never count those guys out. Gordon Lee always has success. You can’t count them out of it. So we’re going through and respecting everybody as we play them,” Woods said.
Mitchell, who took over as Bowdon’s head coach after Mark Huggins stepped down at the end of last season, sees Blue Devil senior pitcher Jay Wade, an Auburn signee, as a key to Bremen’s success.
“He’s really developed as a pitcher in the last couple years,” Mitchell said. “And he runs it up there pretty good.”
The Red Devil skipper said experience should be his team’s biggest asset, especially starting region play against a team like the Tigers.
“We’ve done it before, so we know what type of moment this is,” Mitchell said. “We know how important it is to win home games and the importance of getting out of the gates well.”
He is also encouraged by the number of strong hitters he has, more than can fit in a nine-man lineup.
“It makes it hard to make decisions sometimes,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said defensive improvement is a must, though he feels like recent lineup changes have the Red Devils in position to make strides in that area.
Mt. Zion coach Mark Lyle feels like Darlington will lead the pack, though he added that Bowdon and Bremen could also challenge for the region championship. That puts his team, Gordon Lee, Trion and Excel Christian battling it out for the remaining playoff spot, in his estimation.
“The rest of us are going to be pretty competitive in fighting for that fourth-place seed,” Lyle said.
Lyle sees pitching as the big question mark for his guys, as he is looking for some arms to step up behind senior ace Christian Heard. He also said it should be a smooth change for Bowdon with Mitchell having already been on the staff.
“It should be an easy transition for them,” Lyle said. “That’s why I think they won’t miss a step.”
All three local coaches are looking forward to seeing how the region race shapes up once the games get underway, as each team opens within the week.
“It’s going to be an interesting race,” Lyle said. “You know, I’m looking forward to getting into region play next week and seeing how we look.”
And with Friday’s region opener pitting the reigning region champs against one of its biggest hunters in Bowdon, things should start with a bang at W.C. Roop Field.
“I think that’s big for both teams to start 1-0, especially with us and Bowdon being two of the teams that are on top that should make the playoffs,” Woods said. “It’d be big for either one of us to get that win. But it will not make or break the season. It’s just one game.”
Times-Georgian Sports Editor Corey Cusick contributed to this story.
And with that in mind, Bremen coach Mark Clark — whose team was the region’s No. 2 seed and also a state quarterfinalist in 2009 — and first-year Bowdon coach Stephen Mitchell — who was an assistant coach for the No. 3 seed Red Devils last season — expect that the Tigers will certainly be a force to be reckoned with again this season.
Clark thinks the top three teams will remain the same, though he said any of them could claim the region title this year.
“I think all three of us have a shot at it,” Clark said.
Bowdon is scheduled to host Darlington on Friday in both teams’ Region 6-A opener. And heading into the region slate, Mitchell said Bremen and Darlington have to be the favorites based on last season’s results and the players they have coming back. But Mitchell has a feeling his team can work itself into that mix, though.
“I think we can compete with them. Our kids believe we can compete with them,” Mitchell said. “And like I said, I think we’ll be right there in the hunt.”
Clark is hoping his guys’ postseason experience a season ago, including an upset of second-ranked Lakeview Academy in the second round, serves as a building block in going for the region championship this year.
The Blue Devils, who were ranked No. 9 in the initial GACA Coaches’ Poll — the only Region 6-A team in the top 10 — will get a major test prior to opening region play next Tuesday when they face top-ranked Landmark Christian on the road Friday.
And come Tuesday’s region opener at Trion, Clark thinks his team will be fired up to begin its quest for the crown.
“It’s got to help you because they’ve been there and done that,” Clark said of the experience on the Blue Devils’ roster. “Hopefully they’re still hungry to go even further.”
Darlington coach Chad Woods said while a title repeat is indeed the goal, he, too, understands it won’t come easy.
“Obviously, we hope to win it. But Bremen, Bowdon, Gordon Lee, those guys will be tough,” Woods said. “We’re hoping we can repeat. We know it’s going to be a tough battle until the end.”
And while Darlington and Bremen are the heavy 1-2 favorites, Woods said you can never overlook Bowdon. Or Gordon Lee, for that matter.
“Bowdon is always Bowdon. You never count those guys out. Gordon Lee always has success. You can’t count them out of it. So we’re going through and respecting everybody as we play them,” Woods said.
Mitchell, who took over as Bowdon’s head coach after Mark Huggins stepped down at the end of last season, sees Blue Devil senior pitcher Jay Wade, an Auburn signee, as a key to Bremen’s success.
“He’s really developed as a pitcher in the last couple years,” Mitchell said. “And he runs it up there pretty good.”
The Red Devil skipper said experience should be his team’s biggest asset, especially starting region play against a team like the Tigers.
“We’ve done it before, so we know what type of moment this is,” Mitchell said. “We know how important it is to win home games and the importance of getting out of the gates well.”
He is also encouraged by the number of strong hitters he has, more than can fit in a nine-man lineup.
“It makes it hard to make decisions sometimes,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said defensive improvement is a must, though he feels like recent lineup changes have the Red Devils in position to make strides in that area.
Mt. Zion coach Mark Lyle feels like Darlington will lead the pack, though he added that Bowdon and Bremen could also challenge for the region championship. That puts his team, Gordon Lee, Trion and Excel Christian battling it out for the remaining playoff spot, in his estimation.
“The rest of us are going to be pretty competitive in fighting for that fourth-place seed,” Lyle said.
Lyle sees pitching as the big question mark for his guys, as he is looking for some arms to step up behind senior ace Christian Heard. He also said it should be a smooth change for Bowdon with Mitchell having already been on the staff.
“It should be an easy transition for them,” Lyle said. “That’s why I think they won’t miss a step.”
All three local coaches are looking forward to seeing how the region race shapes up once the games get underway, as each team opens within the week.
“It’s going to be an interesting race,” Lyle said. “You know, I’m looking forward to getting into region play next week and seeing how we look.”
And with Friday’s region opener pitting the reigning region champs against one of its biggest hunters in Bowdon, things should start with a bang at W.C. Roop Field.
“I think that’s big for both teams to start 1-0, especially with us and Bowdon being two of the teams that are on top that should make the playoffs,” Woods said. “It’d be big for either one of us to get that win. But it will not make or break the season. It’s just one game.”
Times-Georgian Sports Editor Corey Cusick contributed to this story.
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