Five Dragons selected for all-region team

The honors came following the Dragons’ 25-5 season, which included a region title and a Sweet 16 appearance in the Class AA playoffs.

Jake Fields (pitcher, first base), Kyle Hardy (third base), Sexton (pitcher) and Andrew Barteck (designated hitter) were Region 8-AA first-team selections, while Lucas Redd (shortstop) was an honorable mention pick. Sexton will also play for the Northeast Georgia team in the Georgia Dugout Club All-Star games next week.

Jefferson’s four first-team all-region selections tied it with North Oconee for the most in Region 8-AA. The Dragons, however, were second to North Oconee in overall selections.

Many of Jefferson’s all-region honorees also received awards from the team.

Fields was named the Dragons’ MVP; Sexton earned Pitcher of the Year honors; Hardy won the Best Defense award and Redd took the Best Offense award.

Nahan Carson received the Coaches Award.

As for next year, the Dragons are already focused on 2011. Jefferson will play a summer league tournament schedule for the next five weekends, concluding July 3.

That slate includes the July 24-26 Jackson County Shootout. Jefferson will be one of the host sites. The Dragons will also play in two tournaments in Oconee County, one in Gwinnett County and another in Gainesville.

Next season will be a major transition year for Jefferson, which loses 11 seniors off this past year’s region championship team. The Dragons return just three starters.

That means Jefferson’s up-and-coming starters will play some valuable innings this summer.

“Oh, yeah,” coach Tommy Knight said. “For some of them, this is their preseason because they play a winter sport.”

At the same time, summer games are exhibitions and lack the pressure of regular season match-ups. That will allow the Dragons to focus on learning.

“And that’s what we need,” Knight said. “We just need to play and figure some things out.”