Thursday March 28th, 2024 5:18PM

Q&A: Sage is hoping 2018 is the year the Spartans break the playoff barrier

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

OAKWOOD — The West Hall baseball program has never won a state playoff series. Chad Sage is hoping to change all that.

The former Chestatee standout has guided the Spartans to the playoffs each of his first two seasons as part of four consecutive playoffs appearances. Last year they pushed Troup County to three games winning just their second-ever playoff game but could not get out of the first round.

 The 2018 campaign, however, could be the one they have all been waiting for. And it could hinge on the team’s youth -- five freshmen and three sophomores -- behind one of the area’s best hurlers in senior Jeffrey Jenkins, a Mercer-signee. The Spartans are 12-4 overall, 4-0 in Region 7-AAAA and with one more win they will surpass last season’s win mark with almost a month still left in the season.

AccessWDUN’s Jeff Hart caught up with Sage on Thursday as they prepared to take on Chestatee in a region doubleheader on Friday with a chance to move within one win of clinching a playoff spot.


QUESTION: Coach, you’re in your third season now in Oakwood in your first head coaching job. How much more comfortable are you now in leading the program than when you took over?

ANSWER: Honestly it feels pretty much the same but I’m probably a little more relaxed now when it comes to things like putting the schedule together and getting things ready on game day. That first year I was just learning as I went, especially with the off-the-field stuff. That was the hardest part. I was fortunate in that that team was very talented and we had a lot of upperclassmen and that helped me get integrated. As a first-time head coach you wonder if you’re doing things the right way. Having a winning season (17-11) really helped with the confidence that what we were trying to do was working. Those seniors also helped the younger guys, who are now the juniors and sophomores, and I think that has had a big effect on our progress now as a program.


Q: About this team, despite returning six starters, including Mercer-signee Jeffrey Jenkins, it’s a relatively young squad with eight freshmen or sophomores on the 14-man roster. You said before the season that you felt there may be a learning curve for this group. Have they already surpassed your expectations?

A: At the beginning of the season I challenged the seniors to bring these freshmen along like they were helped. From a mental standpoint I think we have surpassed some things because we have freshmen on the mound ready to go and freshmen in the field already making contributions. We start three freshmen starting and (senior) Dylan Simpson has really stepped up and taken the No. 2 spot in the rotation behind Jeffrey and that has been a big factor. To be honest, I’m not really surprised, though, because they are a talented group and are working hard.


Q: The group as a whole may be young but already they have produced two separate 5-game win streaks so far, the longest by any West Hall team since at least 2008. What is driving the success of this group?

A: I think they have a great work ethic and they’re not taking anything for granted. They are wanting to be good and be successful so they are listening to what we’re trying to teach them and trying to improve their individual games, which then helps the team. I think those streaks are a reflection of that dedication to their craft and the hard work they’ve put in.


Q: Y’all already have matched last year’s win total. Your four losses have been to defending state champion North Hall (twice) and one each to improved East Hall and Lakeview Academy teams. You’re averaging 8.3 runs a game and yielding just 3.6 runs a game. Are you finding that you’re managing more toward an offensive output or stingy pitching with this group?

A: My philosophy has always been to be aggressive at the plate and we want our guys to do that and do damage in any situation. We’ll play small ball when we need to but I’m looking for our guys to do damage and put pressure on the other pitcher. But it does depend on who’s on the mound sometimes. With Jenkins on the mound we feel two runs are enough. We don’t have to worry too much about offense. We also know that if we’re facing a stud on the mound we have to be a little more patient. But we also don’t panic if we get down. Against White County, we were down 4-0 in the second game and 5-0 in the third game and we just let the guys continue to be aggressive at the plate. We always feel like we can generate runs.


Q: Next week y’all take a break from the region schedule before opening a three-game series with Marist in Atlanta [April 10]. You still have Blessed Trinity left to play as well. What will it take to win either of those series and what do you think it will mean for the program’s growth at this stage if you can?

A: Well, you just have to play very clean baseball against those teams. They don’t make mistakes so you have to not make errors, hit the cutoff man, get bunts down, all the little things. You definitely need some good pitching and some timely hits. Again, with Jenkins on the mound we feel we can beat anyone. He will keep us in the game. Hopefully we can help him and then find a way to scratch out runs and find a way to win. It would be huge for the program and show the young guys that they can play with anyone. But, right now the biggest games of the year are (Friday) against Chestatee. One win and we will own the tiebreaker over both Chestatee and White County and that would be huge in being able to clinch a playoff spot.


Q: It may be looking a bit down the road, but if you get into the playoffs again, what will it take, and how prepared is this group to get that first-ever playoff series win?

A: When you get to the playoffs you can’t make mistakes. You have to play clean. That is something we’re working on is making all the routine plays. You have to be able to handle the pressure of the moment, especially the young guys. Developing a little more pitching is something we’re working on and we’re getting closer in that area. I feel like we’ve got the program moving in the right direction to be competitive every year. We just need to make that next step. I feel like this team, if it keeps improving, is capable of getting us over the hump.

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