TRENTON, Ga. - Experience and hard work are paying off for Dade County's baseball team, which has reached uncharted territory. For the first time in more than 10 years - and possibly in program history - the Wolverines have reached the round of 16 in Georgia's Class AA state playoffs after sweeping visiting Lamar County 9-5 and 8-3 Friday night.
"I've asked around and I know it hasn't been done in 11 years, and a couple of guys who've been around here a lot longer said it's never happened," Wolverines coach Brent Cooper said. "It's just proof that hard work pays off, because these guys have bought in and worked their tails off since we started working out in November.
"We were 8-15 last year and started this season 0-3 in the region, but we're older now and the guys just kept playing hard and believing in themselves."
Dade County (19-8) will play at Thomasville in a best-of-three series that begins with a doubleheader Thursday.
Wolverines junior Greg Templeton provided the go-ahead RBIs in the first game, then earned the pitching win in the nightcap, striking out a season-high 18.
"I knew I had to throw strikes and trust the guys behind me," said Templeton, who improved to 7-0 for the season. "I had a lot of confidence in my fastball, and I could tell early on that I was on.
"Winning this playoff means a lot to all of us."
Dade County had won 11 straight Region 7 games to earn the second spot and the right to host a playoff series for the first time in more than 10 years.
In the first game of the series the Wolverines struck for four runs in each of the first two innings, answering each time Lamar County scored. Dade's first inning output countered Lamar's three-run top of the inning, and after the Trojans had tied the game in the top of the second, the Wolverines again pushed four across the plate, taking the lead for good.
Templeton's two-run single broke the tie, and Coby McBryar and Lee Spencer followed with run-scoring base hits. That was enough of a cushion for sophomore Harley Walker (6-2), who struggled early with control before settling in.
"Greg has really contributed with his bat this year, not just on the mound," Cooper said. "Believing in yourself is about 90 percent of the battle, and he's got a lot of confidence.
"We start six juniors and two seniors - Coby McBryar and Bryce Nethery, who lead by example - and that experience is really paying off for us."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.