Jackets start new season off with dominant win
Calhoun gets great outing from Potts, plays fundamental offense, defense
It was a chilly night for Calhoun’s season opener on Tuesday, but neither the temperature or the Pepperell Dragons could cool off the Jackets’ hitting, pitching and defense.
Calhoun rode a stellar outing by starting pitcher Brett Potts, an opportunistic offense and a solid defensive effort to earn a 10-0 win over the visiting Dragons to start the season off with a lot of positive momentum.
“This was a really good start, but it’s a long season and a long journey ahead,” said Calhoun coach Chip Henderson. “I’m sure we’ll have some bumps in the road at some point, but we’ve just got to stay focused and battle through. My message to the guys is to always stay in the game and mentally be ready because you never know when your number will be called. If you perform well, it will be a lot easier to call that number again.
“This was a good start, and we’ll build on it. We’ve still got some areas to clean up, but we’re getting there.”
The lefty Potts was dominant on the mound, going 3 2-3 innings to earn the win and not allowing a hit while striking out six and giving up two walks. Nate Bonner came in to pitch 1 1-3 innings of scoreless relief. He struck out four and allowed a hit and two walks. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth with no damage as that was the Dragons only real chance at putting runs on the board.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better start out of Pottsy,” said Henderson. “He was efficient, pounded the strike zone and kept his pitch count down so he could possibly come back later in the week if we need him. It was a really solid outing out of him.
“Nate came in and got in a jam in the fifth, but got out of it. Hopefully that will give him some confidence going forward.”
The Jackets’ bats backed up the shutdown effort on the mound with 10 runs on eight hits. They jumped out front early with six runs in the bottom of the first thanks to a combination of patience and a couple timely hits. They drew six walks in the inning total.
Calhoun wasn’t satisfied there, however, as they continued to push runs across to put the game out of reach. They scored one in the second, two more in the third and added the final run in the fifth on a groundout by Potts to give them the 10-0 mer- cy-rule shortened win.
Tanner Gallman and Alex Hinojosa each had two hits apiece with Gallman tallying a double and two RBIs and Hinojosa driving in one and scoring two runs. Austin Trammell and Brett Potts both had RBIs and drew two walks apiece, Jackson Braden and Ethan Crump each added a hit, an RBI and a run scored and Bryson Davis had an RBI and a run scored. Cason Kemp reached base three times from the leadoff spot with a hit and two walks and scored two runs.
The Jackets played solid defense as well to complete the total effort, making the routine plays as well as a couple defensive gems. Henderson said his team’s offensive output and ability to play solid, fundamental defense were keys in the opening win.
“We didn’t really hit it a lot in that first inning, but we took advantage of what they gave us and were patient,” said Henderson. “We steadily built the lead and then kept adding on. We got one here and one there and that was big for us.”
“It’s really overlooked making routine plays defensively, but it is a huge part of the game. After we got those six runs, we came back and made a heck of a play on a double play after they got the first two batters on with walks. Those first two innings were backbreakers for (Pepperell), especially after we kept them off the scoreboard in the second.”
Avery Gambrell was the only Pepperell player with a hit on Tuesday. Parker Covington, Braden Adams and Cole Baker all drew walks.
Calhoun was back at home on Thursday, hosting Coosa. ( For details on that game, see Wednesday’s Calhoun Times.) They visit Walton on Saturday at 3 p.m.