Coming off a successful spring which saw the Winder-Barrow High School Diamond Doggs advance to the second round of the state playoffs, coach Brian Smith and his returning players continued work right through the month of June.
The WBHS coach said the extra month of practice and games went “very well” and should benefit his players in the long run.
“We tried to schedule games against tough competition,” Smith said. “We also tried to put ourselves in tournaments which would give our rising seniors as much exposure as possible.”
The WBHS coaches also included rising eighth graders in the summer program this year to allow them an early look at varsity play.
“We had a good mix of young and old,” Smith said. “We had a shortended summer since we got out of school late, but I thought we were still able to accomplish a great deal.”
The WBHS players and coaches also traveled to Mississippi State for a camp at the end of June. The trip was a time to concentrate exclusively on baseball.
“This is when you get to spend quality time with your team,” Smith said. “It provides great instructional time. The coaches get to know more during a setting like this than any other. It’s nothing but baseball from seven in the morning to 11 at night.”
In addition to the summer work as a team, WBHS players Max Pentecost and Dustin Dunagan had busy summers showcasing their skills in All-Star contests. Both will be key players during 2009 for the Diamond Doggs.
