The history of the moment was not lost on the North Hall baseball team last week when the final out was made to wrap up a tidy sweep of Franklin County in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs.
Coaches and players were fully aware that no Trojan team in the 53-year history of the program had made it to where they were now standing.
"We knew no team had gotten this far and it's something we talked about before and during the season," senior third baseman Griffin Olson said after the series win over Franklin County. "We wanted to make history."
But as time moves on, so does history. And as the Trojans prepare to play Pierce County on Tuesday in their best-of-three quarterfinal round series in Blackshear, they also realize that last week's moment is over.
First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. for Game 1 of a doubleheader. Game 3, if necessary, will be Wednesday in Blackshear.
"That was a special moment for us and the fans of the program," coach Trent Mongero said. "But we've already moved on. As a team we're very hungry. We're not satisfied with going further than any of the other teams. We're going into every series expecting to win it."
North Hall (28-2) to this point has been dominating and efficient, both on the mound and at the plate. The Trojans, behind solid starts from senior left-handers Preston Graham and Colton Duttweiler, have allowed just two runs total in sweeps of Decatur and Franklin County. Going back the last nine games they have allowed just three total runs with seven shutouts.
Offensively they have pummeled opposing pitchers scoring 34 runs in four games (8.5 rpg) in the playoffs. During their current 17-game win streak the Trojans have averaged 9.5 runs a game.
But in Pierce County (24-6) they see almost a duplicate of themselves. The Bears, who were the state-runners up in Class AA last season, won the Region 1-AAA title and have made quick work of their first two opponents, sweeping both Haralson County and Swainsboro by a combined 45-4 in the playoffs.
The Bears also are no stranger to this point in the playoffs having made at least the quarterfinals six of the last seven years. But Mongero said experience can be somewhat overrated.
"We're like a mirror-image of each other," he said. "Both teams pitch well, play good defense, and can hit the ball. Experience is nice to have but our group is very tough mentally and physically.
"We went down to LaGrange two years ago and faced elimination and won and then were basically one out from sweeping Allatoona before a walk-off homer kept them alive. We feel we have things we can draw from even though we haven't made it this far."
Leadership will be a key for the Trojans. Seniors Graham, Duttweiler, Olson, Zach Mize, and Adam Kelly give North Hall a solid group.
"The leadership has grown each year which is what you want," Mongero said. "These guys have led the way all year. They have taken good care of their team and really stepped up. It's a great group. I think it has had a lot do with our success so far."
As for the series with Pierce County, Mongero said it will be the little things that matter most.
"It usually does but especially at this point in the season," he said. "Everyone is good and one mistake can cost you a game. No one is perfect and it sounds cliche, but the team that makes the fewest mistakes mentally and physically will win.
"I expect tight games and I expect small ball will be a key. You can't sit around and wait for the home run. Both teams pitch very well so runs will be tough to come by I'm sure."
Both teams have gotten off to quick starts in their opening series. Something will have to give.
"We would love to get a quick start but even if you do that doesn't mean you win. It also doesn't mean things are over if you don't and the other team does," Mongero said. "Good teams find a way to win in any situation. We've been a very resilient team all year and I don't see anything changing."
Friday
February 7th, 2025
11:05PM
