The Richmond Hill baseball program is used to a high level of success.
Three straight seasons of having at least a share of the Region 3-AAAAA title and a trip to the state tournament will do that.
This year’s drive to continue that run starts today, when the Wildcats open the season by facing Woodstock at 2:40 p.m. at Armstrong State University.
RHHS went 18-7 last season and graduated several seniors from the squad, but will have at least the same number of seniors this season, head coach Stacy Bennett said.
“Those guys, a lot of them played, a lot of them played secondary roles. They’re not foreign to the varsity spotlight, so to speak, and some of them are kind of extremely ready and anxious to have their time, so to speak,” he said.
The Wildcats have solid pitching back. Starter Kyle Luigs, who signed with North Georgia this offseason, returns after a strong season. Also back is Parker Boyle, the squad’s long relief-closer whom Bennett anticipates will be signing with a school fairly soon.
“Those two guys have a lot of experience in big games, in tight games, in the playoffs,” Bennett said.
On offense, the Wildcats will have a different look than last season, as the lineup will have a lot of new faces. The 2015 squad was good at contact hitting — Bennett said last year’s Wildcats hit about .340 as a team — but did not have a lot of extra-base hits.
“I think we have a chance to do a little more of that this year,” said Bennett, who added that figuring out an offensive identity will be key for the team this season.
As far as region competition, Bennett did not discriminate. All the teams look strong, he said, with each having a clear top starting pitcher, and some having pitching depth.
The Wildcats have two games this weekend in Brunswick: against Appling County at 3:30 p.m. Friday and vs. Lassiter at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Bryan County
The Redskins beat Johnson 16-0 at home Monday.
Caleb Johns was 3 for 3 at the plate. A.J. Wiley was 1 for 3 with a double and three RBIs, while Nathan Leggett was 1 for 2 with two RBIs.
Johnathon Down, a freshman, got the win while recording four strikeouts.
“I was really pleased with the effort and results from Monday,” BCHS head coach Jason Roundtree said. “We hit the ball really well and ran the bases aggressively. We scored eight runs in the first inning and really left no doubt in anyone’s mind about the game’s outcome after about five minutes into the game.”
Bryan County plays several home games, starting with Savannah Country Day at 6:30 p.m. Friday, a doubleheader with New Hampstead starting at 4 p.m. Monday and a battle with Beach at 6 p.m. Tuesday.