The best way to control one’s own fate over the course of a season?
Take charge of as much as is possible.
Needless to say, the Greyhounds did that in Friday’s region opener at Cecil Patterson Field against Eagles Landing. After easily retiring the Eagles in the top of the first inning, Jones County struck hard and fast, ripping across 12 first-inning runs on the way to a 15-0 win.
That improved JCHS to 6-1 and more importantly a 1-0 start in the region.
“1-0 is better than 0-1. You can’t win a region championship without winning the first one,” Greyhounds head coach Noble Coley said. “It’s a good way to start.”
Jones County made it 2-0 in the region with Monday’s 17-0 win at Eagles Landing, putting 12 runs across in the second inning. Trent Paulk gave up a hit in three innings while at the plate, and Cason Taylor had two hits. Jonathan Scarbary, who homered, also drove in three runs with Dalton Lowe and Landon Pettigrew each driving in a pair of runs.
Jones County, which finishes off its two-game set Friday against Woodland at home, has little margin for a slipup given that there are just four state tournament spots in a 10-team region.
“We control our destiny, and part of that is how we play,” Coley said. “[At the plate], all you can control is the pitch you swing at and your actual swing. After that you have no control.”
Starts like Friday’s certainly help. It also was a pitcher’s best friend to Greyhounds starting pitcher Landon Pettigrew, who had a quick night thanks to the game ending after three innings on the mercy rule. With the way that the Greyhounds dented the scoreboard in the first inning, it made things much easier for the Jones County starting pitcher.
“He went out there and did a great job,” Coley said of Pettigrew, who struck out eight.
The long ball on Friday came from Noah Robinson as his roundtripper also included four runs being driven in. But the offensive outburst hardly stopped there as a total of eight Greyhounds drove in at least a run. Caleb Sark, who also doubled, was among them, along with Cason Taylor, Davis Upshaw, Brayden Lampkin, MJ Lane, Pettigrew and Trent Paulk.
JCHS also kept the pressure up on the basepaths with a total of six stolen bases, two each by Taylor and Lampkin.
After this week against Woodland, JCHS hosts regular postseason stalwart and past state champion Locust Grove with the home game being next Monday followed by Union Grove on March 14 and March 17, the first of which will be at home.
“The competition will be tougher, and we have to get ready for it, Coley said. “Winning game one is better than losing game one.”
