Cedartown to host Rockmart in rivalry game Friday
The Cedartown Bulldogs and Rockmart Yellow Jackets baseball programs were set to start their seasons at the beginning of the week, but the real matchup is this Friday as both teams look to continue the rivalry on the baseball di- amond. If the weather cooperates.
The forecast from the National Weather Service at press time gave Polk County a 20 percent chance of showers on Friday, with highs up into the 60’s by week’s end. Chances of showers were better to interrupt the schedule earlier in the week fol- lowing a wet weekend in Cedartown and Rockmart.
Both the Bulldogs and Jackets were set to start their seasons early this week, with teams from around the region coming to visit Cedartown and Rockmart on Monday and Tuesday, if the fields proved dry enough to play.
The rival squads are eager to get back onto the field to prove their talent and see who is tops in Polk County for 2018 after Cedartown took the crown last year, going 2-0 against Rockmart in early season non-region play.
Cedartown will be looking to repeat that success this year as Doyle Kelley’s roster includes a slew of new talent for the Bulldogs, while Kenny Yanzetich’s squad will likely be headed by senior pitcher Kole Holder taking the mound.
The Jackets may be the team to beat after winning a region championship and making it all the way Columbus and the Final Four round of games against Jeff Davis before falling to the eventual state champions foe 2017.
They finished the 2016 season while still in AAA with a 20-9 record and fished behind then region rival Cedartown in second place before heading into the playoffs.
Cedartown rounded out their 2017 season finishing at 20-7 after heading into the playoffs following a fourth place finish in 5-AAAA play, losing to Marist in the first round in two games.
Those who can’t make the 6 p.m. game in Cedartown this Friday will have a second chance on Feb. 27 to see the Jackets and Bulldogs play in Rockmart. That game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. as well.