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.
"Good discipline was the key that first inning," Dunfee said. "Cade Peterson smoked one to center right at them for a sacrifice fly. Later in the game we had good at bats and they started pressing a bit, so I told them to just keep doing what they were doing. The minute you press you fail."
What also pleased Dunfee was the work of pitchers Rhudy (five innings, three hits, no earned runs, five strikeouts) and Brodie Genter (two innings, two hits, three strikeouts), who combined to strand nine Trion runners. The Bulldogs were held scoreless over the last six innings despite having two runners on in the second, fourth and fifth innings.
Thomas, who returned last week after recovering from a torn ACL during football season, was 3-for-3 with an RBI and run scored to lead the Trojans' attack.
"Cody has given us a great lift and the kids love having him back," Dunfee said of the senior infielder. "We weren't great today, but both teams battled. Bo Rhudy battled and didn't let them score after a rough first inning and Brodie shut them down the last two."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com; follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.