CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. — Winning a state title is supposed to be difficult, with the level of competition and the added pressure combining to create a truly unique challenge in any sport.
To win this year’s GHSA Class A Division I baseball championship, Gordon Lee and fellow finalist Pepperell will also have to conquer their surroundings.
Rome’s AdventHealth Stadium, home to the Atlanta Braves’ Class A affiliate Emperors, is significantly larger than the home park of either team taking part in the best-of-three title series that starts Monday with a 5 p.m. doubleheader (if necessary, a third game would be played at noon Tuesday). AdventHealth Stadium also has synthetic turf instead of natural grass for its playing surface, which will produce faster-moving ground balls and higher bounces in the outfield.
“It’s 400 to dead center and 335 down the lines, so it’s a big park,” said Gordon Lee coach Mike Dunfee, whose Trojans practiced this weekend at another high school inside Walker County, Ridgeland, because the Panthers also have a synthetic turf field. “Our outfield is 315 down the lines and 360 in center. Also, the foul territory is much bigger, so there is a lot more ground to cover.
“Offensively, you have to change your approach a little bit and make sure you’re being patient and squaring up balls and not swinging for the fences.”