The Apalachee High School baseball team may have just turned the corner this spring. At least, coach Mike Cavey and his Diamond Cats hope so.
A 4-3 road win against North Forsyth Saturday showed Cavey that his team is capable of being victorous, even when faced with adversity. The coach said he hopes being able to win that type of game will help his team’s mental approach as they prepare to enter the subregion battles for 2012.
“It feels good to be on the positive side,” Cavey said. “It gives us some needed confidence. In Saturday’s game, we let a 2-0 lead get away, but we came back. We’ve been pitching well and our defense has stepped up. We are making the routine plays. Our pitchers are also gaining more confidence in our defense to make the plays behind them.”
Tyler Starnes, a freshman, worked six strong innings Saturday and went into the seventh before allowing a leadoff homerun. Cavey then brought in Tony Salvaggio, a junior, who got the next three North Forsyth batters out.
“We struggled at the plate,” Cavey said of Saturday’s win. “We had runners in scoring position several times. Of our first nine outs, seven were by strikeout. We had to find ways to get on base.”
Starnes connected for a two-run hit in the fourth to break open a scoreless game. With the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the seventh, AHS benefited from a North Forsyth defensive miscue, which allowed two runs to score.
“We have to increase our run production,” Cavey said. “I think we are ready to begin subregion play though. Our non-region schedule has given us some confidence. Our players see they can play well on a consistent basis.”
Cavey believes the usual list of suspects will once again be the teams to beat. Loganville, Heritage, Rockdale County, Winder-Barrow, Flowery Branch, Madison County, Habersham Central and Clarke Central will be be quality foes.
“We have to prove ourselves and show we can be one of the top three on our side,” Cavey said “Our seniors have been in this program a long time. They’ve put in the hours. Right now we are tired of climbing the mountain. We are ready to get to the top. Right now when people think of Apalachee baseball, they think ‘they suck.’ Now, we are changing that perception. Every player was mentally into the game Saturday and it takes a complete effort from everyone to be successful.”
Prior to Saturday’s win, AHS defeated Archer 7-4 as Clint Ashe recorded 12 srikeouts. It was the first complete game performance of the season for a Wildcat pitcher as the team avenged its only setback of 2012.
AHS will play one final non-region game Thursday when they travel to Berkmar for a 5:45 p.m. contest.
The Diamond Cats will then host Salem Friday at 5 p.m. as 8-AAAA play begins.
