Sports

Lee learning to win again

• Beginning the year 3-6, Lee County baseball seemed far away from another region title, but in traveling to a dangerous Americus-Sumter team today, the Trojans have potential to clinch just that.

Paul Dehner Jr.

LEESBURG— Region championships are the standard with Lee County baseball. Asking around the team, no players can even remember the last time they didn’t win one.

Except Howell White.

The quiet, left-handed hurler spoke directly as the strike of a hazy afternoon sun forced a squint in his eyes.

“That would be my 10th-grade year,” the senior said. “I was on varsity and we got beat. I was pretty heartbroken.”

That represents the lone season in the last five Lee County didn’t end the year as region champions.

And the clarity in White’s recollection explains the reason today’s doubleheader at 4 p.m. at Americus-Sumter — where he will start on the mound in the opener — feels so important.

Lee County (12-8 overall, 6-2 in Region 1-AAAA) currently holds a two-game lead over Bainbridge in Region 1-AAAA with four to go. A sweep of Americus-Sumter today, coupled with a split between Bainbridge and Thomas County Central that also play today, would clinch a fifth region title in six years.

Anything less would leave White and the Trojans again susceptible to heartbreak.

Lee County has never lost to Americus-Sumter (6-15, 3-5) since the school’s merger four years ago.

But this year won’t be that easy.

Coach Rob Williams’ Trojans venture into the expansive landscape of the 385-foot power alleys at Thomas Bell Stadium which have felt more like endless deserts for region foes this year.

Americus swept TCC and split a series with Bainbridge at home despite losing all four of its region contests away from Thomas Bell.

Utilizing a lineup light in power but heavy in placement, the Panthers took advantage of the park’s deep dimensions as opponents’ deep shots have fallen for long flyouts while they poked their own singles to sneak out victories.

Panthers coach Kagan McClain realizes the possibility exists to finally push back the region power.

“We worked so hard to get to the point where we could be competitive,” he said. “When I took over we were lucky to play seven innings. For us to take one or two from Lee County would be huge for our program.”

A sweep of the Panthers would be just as huge for the latest group of Lee County players who have been living on the flip side of the school’s typical expectation.

Having lost stars Thomas Nichols, Brock Bailey and Jack Posey to graduation and starting lineups of major college powers, few expected much of this year’s Trojans.

“We were picked third in the region on a few Web sites and polls,” said pitcher Gray Carden, who will start the second game today. “That ticked us off.”

New players filled into unfamiliar roles and a team that was dependent on winning with a trio of sluggers suddenly had to relearn how to do so.

The reality of this rebuilding project hit home as Lee began the season 3-6.

Sub-.500 seasons may happen at other schools, but not here.

In fact, the last one came in 1984.

“It was really hard,” said Easton Glover, who has played his way into a starting role and is tied for third on the team in RBI with 18. “All of these guys, we grew up with each other. We have been winning when we play with each other all our lives. To have a slow start like that made us angry. We picked up the pace and decided we weren’t going to lose anymore.”

And for the most part, they haven’t.

The Trojans have gone 9-2 since, including a 17-10 winWednesday at Lowndes, a place Lee traditionally struggles.

White found his rhythm and whittled his ERA down to its current 2.26 ERA while collecting a team-high 44 strikeouts. Carden found his curveball, a pitch that deserted him through the early going, and has since thrown two complete games with one shutout.

Behind leadoff hitter Jeremy Sheffield the offense even surpassed numbers from last season. While power numbers are down, the team’s .365 average is up higher than any point last season.

“Last year was more of two or three people coming through to win a game,” said Sheffield, a West Georgia-signee hitting .486 while leading the team in hits, runs and steals. “This year it takes all nine coming through in certain situations.”

Suddenly, this team that seemed to be floating off the radar has allowed itself an opportunity to make a significant blip.

A sweep today would all but lock up a top seed in the state tournament that begins May 8. And while nobody around the Trojans dares to mention a return to the Final Four just yet, it’s apparent this team without expectations can suddenly create some.

And that must begin today.

“We are learning how to play as a team and our bats are hot right now,” Glover said. “As long as we can play errorless baseball, we can go pretty deep.”

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