COAL MOUNTAIN — North Forsyth baseball coach Jim Cahill was not timid about his thoughts of his 2018 squad despite coming off a 9-21 campaign in 2017.
“I feel like this team is capable of having a big season and making a playoff run,” he stated in AccessWDUN's 2018 season preview last month.
With 10 seniors, eight juniors, and seven sophomores that all experienced growing pains last year there was reason for optimism. So far, the Raiders are living up to the early billing.
They did drop their first two region games to a loaded South Forsyth team over the last three days, including a stellar pitching duel involving Georgia Tech-commit Brody Westbrooks, one of the state’s top junior hurlers. However, that came on the heels of a 10-game winning streak, their longest since 2006 when Cahill guided the Raiders to a program-best 27 wins and a trip to the quarterfinals where they lost to eventual state champion Greenbrier.
Cahill said he already is beginning to see some similarities between the 2006 squad and his current group.
“We’re very balanced I feel like and that was something (the 2006) team had and these guys are really playing for each other right now,” he said. “We had some experience and youth (on the '06 team) and this team does as well. We had very good pitching in 2006 and I think this team has the ability to be real good on the mound by the end of the season.”
During the 10-game run, the Raiders (11-3, 0-2 Region 5-AAAAAAA) got outstanding pitching allowing just 2.6 runs a game. The offense battered opponents for 6.7 runs a game, including taking wins over Gainesville and Woodstock, the 2017 Class 7A state runner-up, on the road.
Two of their three losses have been by one run, including a 3-2 thriller on Wednesday against South Forsyth that saw Westbrooks lock horns against the War Eagles’ Cooper Davidson, an Austin Peay-signee.
Cahill said the combination of upperclassmen and youth is driving the group right now.
Seniors Kyle Martin (first base), Colin Sanders (catcher), and Clayton Bardall (right field) are providing the leadership while sophomores Garrett Staton (shortstop) and Miles Hartsfield (second base) are both two-year starters now. Fellow sophomores Nicky Dalmolin (designated hitter/catcher) and Anthony DiMola (pitcher) also see significant action as do juniors Caleb Vercek (centerfield) and Carter Mullikin (left field). DiMola's breakout game came in a win over Gainesville on the mound.
A big factor in last year’s drop off -- after two playoff seasons in 2015 and 2016 -- was a plethora of injuries. The Raiders lost several key starters for significant portions of the season, forcing the then-freshmen onto the field.
“Our seniors are giving us really good leadership and we’re getting solid productivity when they’re on the field,” Cahill said. “Our success is due to a lot of both. The younger guys got a lot of action last year because we just had a ton of injuries.
“(Last year) was humbling as a coach because you feel for the kids that are out. but you know the season doesn’t stop, and you’re almost forced to play kids that probably aren’t quite ready for the kind of schedule we have to play in our region.”
However, that unexpected playing time for the then-freshmen may now be paying dividends.
“I think so. The kids are a year older and a year longer in the system with playing time,” Cahill said.
After getting that varsity taste in their mouth, Cahill said the sophomores, with guidance from the upperclassmen, began to prepare for this season back in the summer.
“They worked extremely hard in the offseason. I think they saw they had the potential for a good season. The older kids led with their leadership so I could see the makings of a pretty good year back in August,” he said.
But, Cahill also was quick to point out that even with significant improvement already over last season, getting out of Region 5-AAAAAAA will be tough. He said the playoffs started on Tuesday.
“I think it’s the best region, top-to-bottom, any classification in the state,” he said. “Every game is like a playoff game with the atmosphere and knowing that any one game could keep you out of the playoffs. Every team has one or two guys on the mound with Division I potential so you’re going to face a tough pitcher every time out.
“The key will be not making mistakes. One play could cost you the game; it’s that tough of a region. There is no real favorite and all six teams are capable of finishing first or finishing last. The key will be finding ways to scratch out runs.
“We have to win what we call ‘the freebies war.’ Can’t give away runs and have to take advantage of any mistake the other team makes. But I absolutely believe we have a team capable of making the playoffs.”
