The Greyhounds began the season with a Saturday sweep over a pair of teams used to deep postseason runs.
And there was at least one common thread in both victories — strong starting pitching.
Jones County’s hurlers held both Wayne County and Jeff Davis in check Saturday, the starters holding the opposition to zero runs in a combined 11 innings of work.
>> CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PHOTO GALLERY
It all added up to a 5-2 win against Wayne County followed later in the day by a 6-0 blanking of Jeff Davis.
Trent Paulk got things started on the mound Saturday at Cecil Patterson Field in the first game, pitching six shutout innings, striking out three and more importantly, walking zero batters against Wayne County. And on a day with a stencil design on the field and helmet decals on Jones County helmets in memory of Terrance Gore, the Greyhounds also found ways to manufacture runs. MJ Lane led that effort, going 3-for-3 with a three-run homer. Cooper Rice was 2-for-2 with a double, and single hits came from Paulk, Jonathan Scarbary, and Amir Harris.
Dalton Lowe turned in another strong pitching showing in the 6-0 win against Jeff Davis, striking out five through five innings. MJ Lane homered, giving him two in as many games with Scarbary also ripping a double. Cason Taylor, Gavin Simon, Rice, and Davis Upshaw added hits for the Greyhounds.
Jones County, which began the week 2-0, will get another strong early-season test this weekend when they face Lee County and Tift County at Tift County. The Greyhounds host Putnam County next Wednesday prior to the region opener Feb. 27 at Eagles Landing.
