CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. – With his team having not played a baseball game in nearly two weeks, Gordon Lee coach Mike Dunfee was understandably concerned about the Trojans’ sharpness entering Monday night’s GHSA Class A public school second-round series with Clinch County.
It took only a few innings to ease those worries as the Trojans (22-8) swept in dominating fashion, 10-0 and 9-0. They will host the winner of the Charlton County/Taylor County series Friday in the quarterfinal round. Those two teams split games Monday, with game three today in Folkston.
“We were worried about the time off, but the kids did a great job last week of prepping for it,” Dunfee said. “We were focused and ready to play and this was a lot of fun.”
Not only did the Trojans cruise into the quarters, but they also welcomed back senior Dylan Minghini to the lineup. Minghini tore his meniscus in March and initially was ruled out for the season. However, after a second opinion and minor surgery, he was cleared to play and filled the designated hitter role Monday, hitting a three-run homer in game two to go with three doubles on the day.
“After I injured my knee they were saying it was three or four months of recovery, but I went to Dr. (Edward) Cain in Birmingham and he said he could just trim it up and I would probably be out only three weeks or so,” Minghini said. “That was great to hear. To be able to play some more with my teammates when I thought I was done is just great.”