Sophomore and junior varsity baseball player Tom Gilley warms up in the batting cages in the A.B. Weathersby Field during practice on March 22. The JV baseball team has been preparing for the final two games of the season against Stephen County High School on March 24. “I think our pitching has grown. We started working on hitting but I think just overall, we’re getting a lot better,” Gilley said. “I’m looking to get two wins out of here. We’ve been working pretty good last month, so I think we deserve these two wins.” Photo by Cadence Schapker
The CCHS junior varsity baseball team will compete in their final two games of the 2021-22 season against Stephen County High School on March 24.
The Clarke Central High School junior varsity baseball season is coming to a close on March 24 as they compete in their final two games against Stephen County High School.
The season started on Feb. 14 but the team has missed eight games due to inclement weather. According to head JV baseball coach Tucker Crumpton, players have remained resilient despite their challenges.
“They’ve handled (the rain-outs) really well,” Crumpton said. “Of course, they’re bummed that we haven’t been able to play as much or do as much baseball-related activities as in years past. They just want to play baseball and I feel bad that we’ve had eight games taken away and it doesn’t look like we’re gonna make them up.”
To JV baseball player Tom Gilley, a sophomore, the baseball team has been able to improve their skills throughout the season by utilizing their practice time, which has also yielded improved team morale.
“Everybody’s locked into the game, everybody knows what they’re supposed to be doing, everybody wants to help, contribute in some way.”
— Tucker Crumpton,
Head JV baseball coach
“I think our pitching has grown, we started working on hitting, but I think just overall, we’re getting a lot better,” Gilley said. “Last year we’d always get down on each other and when somebody’s making a mistake, but now I think we’re picking people up a lot better this year and definitely encouraging a lot more.”
Crumpton has also seen the team’s morale improve, as well as their concentration, as they approach the end of their season.
“They’re focused, they know they have a chance to win. Some of those early games might have been silly or they might have been talking about something that’s not baseball related in the dugout. It’s like all of that has stopped,” Crumpton said. “Everybody’s locked into the game, everybody knows what they’re supposed to be doing, everybody wants to help, contribute in some way. That little shift has been real nice to see.”
