Already the Apalachee High School baseball team has surpassed many expectations this spring.
The Diamond Wildcats have posted five wins in Region 8-AAAA and are technically not out of the playoff chase. Coach Mike Cavey, in his efforts to build the AHS program into a competitive one, has seen strong performances from several players during the 2009 campaign.
As the squad enters the final stretch of the season, Cavey would like to see the team compete and improve in three areas.
“One is our situation hitting,” the coach said. “We need to do a better job of moving runners over and scoring them from second and third.”
Cavey would also like for his players to continue making routine plays.
Finally, the AHS coach has a simple message for his team: “Never quit.”
“If we can work on these three things, then I feel we could end on a real good note and have something to build on in the future,” Cavey said. “We have to set the foundation and hopefully these guys can do it.”
There is no set number of wins Cavey has set as a goal for his Wildcats.
“If I had a goal like that then I wouldn’t play such a tough non-region schedule,” he said. “I schedule teams who I feel can best prepare us to compete in our region. To me, that’s the only record that matters. I’ve been told that seven wins is the most in AHS history and we are one away from that. Would it be nice to break it? Sure, but I would rather make it in the playoffs than worry about the number of wins.”
In addition to the standout play of Seth Maddox and Hunter Coleman this spring, the Wildcats have benefited from the efforts of players such as Justin Shultz and Chandler Murphy,
“Chandler is doing a good job batting in the No. 3 slot,” Cavey said. “Justin has done a great job as leadoff batter for us.”
In addition, Bubba McDaniel is the team’s top offensive player from the No. 2 spot.
“These guys have really helped us as have players like Aaron Paradise and Zach Gentry,” the coach said.
Overall, Cavey said he does wish more region wins could have been recorded at this point in the season.
“For our first time with these guys, however, I feel really confident about the future,” he said. “We have competed with very little depth in our pitching staff. I guess I’m surprised at how well Justin and Seth have pitched and how deep into the game they’ve been able to take us with each of their starts. That has helped tremendously.”
