CALHOUN, Ga. — In years past, playing a baseball game against the Calhoun Yellow Jackets meant you better bring some big bats.
It wasn’t uncommon for Chip Henderson’s three-time state champions to average nearly 10 runs a game with players such as Brody Pullen, Mott Hyde, Charlie Culberson and Matt Robbins in the lineup. As the program begins its first season in Class AAA, the Jackets will bring a bit of a different look to the diamond.
“We’re not loaded with a bunch of power hitters, but we have nice gap-to-gap hitters,” Henderson said. “We’ve got to have some quality at-bats and move runners. We’ve also got to make the routine plays. We’re not good enough offensively to give teams four and five outs in an inning.
“What we do have, though, is a good group of senior pitchers and great leadership.”
It wasn’t by accident that Henderson’s three starting pitchers — seniors Spencer Cross, John Allen Kendrick and Matt McHan — signed college letters of intent on the same day. Instead of having the spotlight to themselves, the three longtime friends wanted to share the moment.