You have to like Mike Cavey. The Apalachee High School baseball coach is one who always tells it like it is. If his team is not playing well or living up to its potential, he’ll tell you.
Now, he doesn’t single out players for bad performances (the Wildcats win and lose as a team), but he’s not one to gloss the situation over when the outcome is not the desired one.
It’s a refreshing attitude and one that makes talking with Cavey about this program enjoyable. This past Sunday evening, Cavey and I spoke about his team’s fast start to the 2012 season. Just as Cavey will tell it like it is when things aren’t going right, the coach was quick to praise his team for what they have done in the early stages of the new campaign.
Through two games, AHS has benefited from plenty of firepower at the plate, strong pitching and some sound defense. The team was 2-0 going into this week and the coach hopes the early-season success will be something his players take full advantage of.
“It’s always great to start a season the way we have,” said Cavey, pointing out there is still a very long way to go in 2012. “Hopefully, our players will get excited about the way we played last week and continue to build on that momentum. I believe we gained a great deal of confidence from those wins.”
Being successful early in any athletic season is important. The Wildcats are hoping this can be the season they reach the postseason. Cavey has slowly built the program in recent years and there are many signs 2012 will be the break-through year.
AHS competes in arguably the toughest region in the state. Region 8-AAAA is brutal and always has members advance deep into the state playoffs, if not produce the eventual state champion.
Cavey knows enjoying success in the non-region portion of the schedule will help build the necessary confidence to do well once the region games begin.
It’s still way too early to tell just how the season will play out for Cavey’s squad. However, with a host of starters back from last spring and a strong desire from both the coach and his players to take the next step, 2012 just may be the season AHS baseball followers have been waiting for.
It’s not always being patient. Many times, it’s a rarity in athletics, even at the high school level. However, all indications are pointing to a quality season for the Wildcats. There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way, but hard work and dedication has a way of paying off eventually.
“If we keep working and doing the right things, then good things will eventually happen,” Cavey said.
Indeed they will.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can send comments about this column to cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
