2023 SEASON PREVIEW
Anew era begins this spring for Greyhound baseball with Mike Paulk taking over as head coach.
Previously an assistant on the Jones County staff, his prior role was focused on working with the Greyhounds pitching staff under former head coach Jason Page.
The Greyhounds are coming off an 18-9 season that ended in the first round of the state playoffs against Harris County. Other than the 2020 season shortened by COVID-19, Jones County has been to the state playoffs the last six years, being eliminated in the first round each time.
That growth as a team is something that Paulk points to as key early on to the season “We have to understand that we can be successful this year – at the plate, on the mound and in the field,” Paulk said. “It may not show in the wins and losses, but we can be successful if we put in the work.”
As Paulk takes over, there is perhaps a bit of irony. The senior class that he inherits includes three from the area of which he has been focused on previously with the Greyhounds – pitching. Three lefthanded hurlers, all of which have signed a national letter of intent to play for Gordon State – Brody Gordon, Bo Mansfield and Dawson Harris – will lead the pitching staff.
The trio does not just have experience in multiple game situations, both as starting and relief pitchers. But they bring off-field experience as well for a team that expects to be able to use around 10-11 pitchers at some point this year, according to Paulk.
“Those three seniors, we’ve been very blessed and fortunate to have those guys developed through our program,” Paulk said. “They’ll deliver for us on the mound. We know what they can do for us.”
Indeed, the Greyhounds senior class is one that is aiming for more on quality than quantity. Along with Harris, who is penciled in to play first base when not pitching, the group of seniors also includes shortstop Tucker Maddox and outfielder Drew Jones.
“We’ve got five seniors.
They’re vitally important. Because of the youth of our team, they know what’s expected and what I want to be the standard and they’ll hold them to that,” Paulk said. “They understand that this is their last go-round, and they’ve been bringing lots of intensity.”
Other than the seniors, Jones County has five juniors on the roster, including Marlin Mills.
The speedster who is also a receiver on the Greyhounds football team is expected to anchor centerfield for the Greyhounds, taking full advantage of his speed.
“He’ll probably be in centerfield for us with his speed and what he can do with his bat,” Paulk said.
Outside the 10 upperclassmen, the roster across all grades is also comprised of nine sophomores and 13 freshmen.
With so many new faces, platooning and rotating some on-field positions should be the norm early on as the Greyhounds work their way toward the region schedule, where usual frontrunners are Ola and Locust Grove.
Region play begins Feb. 27 against Union Grove.
One change from this year in a region of seven teams is the number of games. In recent years, each team played one another once at home and once on the road. This year, each team in the region plays the other a total of three times with the third game rotating between home and away. The Greyhounds region-opening series against Union Grove has a home game on Mar. 1 with Eagles Landing also having two on the road.
The first region series with two home games will be against Ola – at home on March 20 and 24 and on the road March 22.
Prior to region play, the likes of Perry, West Laurens, Eastside and Houston County are on the schedule.
“You’ll see a rotation of guys,” Paulk said. “It’ll be about who is putting up numbers at the plate and producing for us,” Paulk said. “My focus is on using these next few weeks to prepare for region. I’m concerned about wins and losses but also about our production and growth going into region.”
Among the other adjustments this year will be Paulk having more on his plate. At least for now, he’ll still handle calling pitches during games as he has done in the past.
The difference will come when the Greyhounds are at bat. Rather than manning his post from the dugout, Paulk will instead coach third base.
For now, he plans to call pitches, though that could be delegated as the season goes on by on a staff that will also include Jay Jones coaching first base and Ty Gordon being the bench coach.
“It’s been a little bit of an adjustment. It’s not as big since I have been a head coach before,” Paulk said. “Calling pitches is kind of old hat, but how I’ll have to go to the thirdbase box to deal with that.”
