CALHOUN, Ga. – It’s not a subject usually relevant in high school baseball this time of the season.
Perfection.
There is no accurate account of how many times a prep baseball team has completed a perfect season, but consider that in Baseball American’s national top 25 list of teams, only one, Rockwell-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, is undefeated.
Calhoun attempts to join the ranks of the immortals today as the 33-0 Yellow Jackets travel to Adel to take on 30-3 Cook County in the GHSA Class AA best-of-three championship series. The feat is so rare that, in Georgia’s Class AA, the last Georgia unbeaten squad was Berrien County in 1988.
“Due to the nature of the game, it’s very hard to do,” Calhoun coach Chip Henderson said. “Even to get this far, all the credit goes to the kids. They’ve never accepted defeat this year.”
The Jackets came close to falling in their semifinal sweep at Lovett, the defending state champions. Calhoun trailed 4-1 in game one and 7-1 in game two before rallying to win each. It was only then that a senior group which has helped the program compile a 111-12 record would allow itself to think about perfection.
“That would be the best way to end my high school career,” said first baseman Jordan Poole, who, if not drafted, is headed to Ole Miss next season. “I can’t imagine any other way that would be better. It would be unreal.”
Added senior pitcher Carter Harrison, who is 13-0, “That would be a huge achievement. I know it’s never happened at Calhoun. I don’t think anybody’s worried about sweeping right now. If it goes to game three and we win, that’s perfectly all right with me.”
Calhoun all-star shortstop Mott Hyde, who has signed to attend Georgia Tech and is likely to be a high-round draft pick later this month, said it’s a subject he and his teammates cannot escape.
“It’s on everyone’s mind, but it’s something we can’t think about,” he said. “We have to focus on the next game and, if it happens, it would be incredible. What a way to go out.”
Ringgold ready to go
Ringgold’s Class AAA championship series against Columbus is set for 2 p.m. today at Columbus State University. The 28-9 Tigers and 30-5 Blue Devils were postponed Saturday due to heavy rain in the Columbus area, and continued rain through Sunday and a possible chance of further rain today caused the switching of the sites. The Columbus High field does not have lights.
“We would rather have played in a high school setting,” Ringgold coach Brent Tucker said, “but we have to do what we have to do and this is the best option. We’ll be ready to play regardless of where we are.”
A potential game three Tuesday would also start at 2 at the Columbus State.