BUFORD -- Seniors Joey Bart, Jake Higginbotham, Connor Bennett, and Keyton Gibson aren’t worried about expectations at this point in the season. They know firsthand that expectations are usually worth about as much as it cost you to listen to them.
“It seems like every year out we start off pretty high, toward the top in the rankings, but we’ve never made it this far (with this group),” Bart said. “We don’t think about it. I’m feeling like it’s more unfinished business.”
The Wolves run to the Class AAAA championship series Saturday against Whitewater has nothing to do with expectations and everything to do with focus and preparation. They remembered last year’s feeling after falling to Cartersville in the semifinals in a series they were heavily-favored to win.
A doubleheader begins Saturday at 5 p.m. with Game 3, if necessary, scheduled for 4 p.m. on Monday.
“We’ve kind of gone about our business in the offseason trying to remember that taste we had against Cartersville in the semifinals last year,” Higginbotham said. We’ve used that to get better and work harder.”
“After last year getting put out in the Final Four, we haven’t made it to this step yet, and we’re going to come out here (Saturday) and get this business done,” Bart said.
“Last year, we kind of coasted until the end, Gibson said. “We knew we would have to prove ourselves more going through this season.”
“We come out here every day, we work our butts off,” Bennett said. “We push ourselves; we push each other; we do whatever it takes, and it would mean a lot to us, the school, our coaches, and definitely to the community.”
Even tough-to-please coach Tony Wolfe admitted this group has done a good job of going about it’s business.
“It’s really been enjoyable,” Wolfe said. “We try to block out all the expectation and just try and enjoy the process of trying to get better every day and going out and competing and representing our school and just trying to grow into a family.”
They obviously were prepared last week when they exacted their revenge on the Purple Hurricanes with a an impressive 10-0 and 10-3 sweep on the road.
“It’s always fun playing in front of the home crowd. But, then again, getting a road win, I don’t think there’s anything better than that, beating somebody else on their territory and making them like it,” Bennett said.
The Wolves have been known for the pitching. But Bart said they become a scary bunch when the offense is clicking like it was in the semifinals against Cartersville.
“If we swing the bats on top of our pitching, good luck, that’s all I can say,” Bart said. “Lately we’ve been swinging it pretty good. If we can come out here and put some runs on the board, we’ll be alright.”
But they also realize it figures to be an epic battle with two of the best teams in the state in any classification. Buford took a skinny 1-0 victory over the Wildcats in a regular season meeting between the two titans.
“We saw them earlier this year, and they play good baseball,” Gibson said. “We’re going to have to be on top of our game if we want to finish it off how we planned to this year.”
Higginbotham, who figures to get the ball in Game 1, is expecting another dogfight against the Wildcats lineup.
“It’ll be tough. They can swing it so you’ve got to make pitches,” Higginbotham said. “You’ve got to hit spots. You’re going to have to work out of some tough situations. We know that going in, so we’re prepared for it. It’s going to be fun pitching to that line-up.”
Wolfe, however, seemed just as concerned about the Whitewater pitching staff.
“It starts with pitching for them and they’ve got quality pitchers in their one and two slots,” Wolfe said. “And, from what I hear they’re pretty deep as well, so I expect they’re going to pitch the ball exceptionally well. We’re going to have our hands full for sure.”
Despite all that, Bart said they are ready to finish off the season in style for the Wolves.
“I’ve never played in a state championship game. My brothers have all won state championships. My best friends have won state championships,” Bart said. This is kind of the last piece of the puzzle for our school to cap off a great year for the 2015 class. A lot of people are banking on us to do it good, so I’m so excited.”