CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. – As his Gordon Lee High School baseball team edged closer to another region championship, Mike Dunfee reiterated the ultimate goal for the Trojans has become much higher.
Gordon Lee (21-2, 9-0) made four runs in the first inning stand up Tuesday in a 4-1 win over Region 6-A public rival Trion (10-8, 6-4), all but clinching another region title. Though Dunfee, a professed perfectionist who has led the team to two consecutive state titles, wasn’t ecstatic about his team’s play but admitted some facets of the game were encouraging.
“We had two games Friday where we swung it well and it was all good,” Dunfee said, referring to 21-6 and 14-0 wins over Bowdon. “Tonight we hit the ball right at them, got doubled up and what-not. It didn’t fall tonight, so our pitching and defense did it. You have to learn how to grind it out at times, especially moving forward.
“A region title is big,” he added. “That’s always a goal for us, but our ultimate goal is bigger. This is something that happens along the way. That’s our only goal, to win the big prize. We learned winning the region wasn’t as big a deal when we were in that tough region with all those private schools from Atlanta. It’s nice, but it’s not the big deal. If you stay focussed on that big goal the rest of it takes care of itself.”
The Bulldogs, who are battling with Bowdon for second place in the region, broke out on top with a run in the top of the first against Gordon Lee starter Bo Rhudy when Jackson Morrison reached on a two-out error, scoring Brandon Drover. The Trojans played with patience, getting three walks, Cade Peterson’s sacrifice fly, Cody Thomas’ RBI single and a two-run single from Garren Ramey for a 4-1 lead.