As Mike Cavey continues to build the Apalachee High School baseball program, he knows wins are important for a number of reasons.
First and foremost is confidence and with three consecutive victories, the Diamond Wildcats may have accomplished something for the first time in program history.
“I’m not sure we’ve ever won three in a row,” Cavey said earlier this week. “Getting wins means confidence and that’s what our program needs.”
Apalachee High School’s Eric Morgan looks to advance during the Wildcats’ victory against Archer last week. Photo by Jessica Brown
Wildcats hope to benefit from early wins
With wins against Archer (13-3), Berkmar (13-7) and Johnson of Gainesville (7-6) last week, AHS is off to a 3-1 start and the record, Cavey knows, could very well be 4-0 with a little luck.
The Wildcats battled brutal playing conditions last Wednesday against Archer as an Arctic blast of wind cut through all in attendance during the home game against Archer. While Caleb Austin struggled somewhat in his first pitching outing of the season, freshman Steven Adair and Clint Ashe held down the fort in relief.
In Friday’s win against Berkmar, Cavey challenged his team after it fell behind 6-3.
“I told them if this is how you want to play then they needed to take a long look at themselves,” the coach said. “We weren’t playing well and I called them on it. They responded with a big inning to take control of the game.”
Saturday’s game against Johnson was a back-and-forth affair which AHS was able to hold on for a 7-6 victory.
“We pitched well and played solid defense,” Cavey said. “We have done a good job of answering teams when they score.”
The early-season wins have been gratifying not only for the Apalachee players but for its coach as well.
A graduate of Berkmar, Cavey said he knows his alma mater probably thought it was going to “stomp” the Wildcats. However, AHS posted a six-run victory.
“I am tired of being the whipping block,” Cavey said. “We play teams in Gwinnett so our players and parents can see what good programs are about and see what their facilities are like. We are getting to the point where our parents are stepping up. Our program is on the right track. It’s good to see our players have some success. We know our region is extremely tough and we may still be a ways off from being where we need to be. However, I am thrilled to see us gaining some wins early and getting the confidence we need to get better with our program.”
•••
AHS droped a 7-3 decision to Mountain View Monday on the road.
Cavey said the Wildcats had quality defense but the defense, for the first time this year, did not hold up.
“We gave up four runs in the bottom of the fourth with two outs and nobody on,” the coach said. “We made an error and then fell apart from there.”
Freshman Clint Ashe had his first career varsity homer.
Derek Bryan was the starting pitcher allowing just one earned run.
Caleb Austin worked the next three allowing just one earned run.
“They threw a lefty that really threw slow and we couldn’t hit him very well,” Cavey said. “It wasn’t a game that I wanted to have headed into region.”
AHS fell to Clarke Central Tuesday in nine innings 2-1 in the Region 8-AAAA opener for both schools.
The Wildcats battled brutal playing conditions last Wednesday against Archer as an Arctic blast of wind cut through all in attendance during the home game against Archer. While Caleb Austin struggled somewhat in his first pitching outing of the season, freshman Steven Adair and Clint Ashe held down the fort in relief.
In Friday’s win against Berkmar, Cavey challenged his team after it fell behind 6-3.
“I told them if this is how you want to play then they needed to take a long look at themselves,” the coach said. “We weren’t playing well and I called them on it. They responded with a big inning to take control of the game.”
Saturday’s game against Johnson was a back-and-forth affair which AHS was able to hold on for a 7-6 victory.
“We pitched well and played solid defense,” Cavey said. “We have done a good job of answering teams when they score.”
The early-season wins have been gratifying not only for the Apalachee players but for its coach as well.
A graduate of Berkmar, Cavey said he knows his alma mater probably thought it was going to “stomp” the Wildcats. However, AHS posted a six-run victory.
“I am tired of being the whipping block,” Cavey said. “We play teams in Gwinnett so our players and parents can see what good programs are about and see what their facilities are like. We are getting to the point where our parents are stepping up. Our program is on the right track. It’s good to see our players have some success. We know our region is extremely tough and we may still be a ways off from being where we need to be. However, I am thrilled to see us gaining some wins early and getting the confidence we need to get better with our program.”
•••
AHS droped a 7-3 decision to Mountain View Monday on the road.
Cavey said the Wildcats had quality defense but the defense, for the first time this year, did not hold up.
“We gave up four runs in the bottom of the fourth with two outs and nobody on,” the coach said. “We made an error and then fell apart from there.”
Freshman Clint Ashe had his first career varsity homer.
Derek Bryan was the starting pitcher allowing just one earned run.
Caleb Austin worked the next three allowing just one earned run.
“They threw a lefty that really threw slow and we couldn’t hit him very well,” Cavey said. “It wasn’t a game that I wanted to have headed into region.”
AHS fell to Clarke Central Tuesday in nine innings 2-1 in the Region 8-AAAA opener for both schools.
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