Baseball
The Raiders baseball team of coach Derek James had another stellar year. Bacon County fought for first place in the region until the bitter end, finally falling to the region No. 2 Benedictine to finish 10-4 in region play. Bacon finished the regular season by splitting two games with Region 2-AA champ Jeff Davis County and had an overall regular season record of 18-10.
“I am really proud of this group,” James said. “They have really worked hard each day, and each individual has accepted their role on the team. Our seniors have done a good job this year leading the team on and off the field, as well as our underclassmen making some key plays during the year.”
During the season they swept tough region series against Bryan, Toombs, Vidalia, and Metter.
“We are trying to make sure we are playing our best ball as we enter the playoffs,” James said.
As the region’s No. 3 seed, Bacon County traveled to Harlem High School outside of Augusta for a rematch of last year’s playoffs. The Harlem Bulldogs were the second seed from Region 4-AA.
In game one, Harlem took an early 2-0 lead until the sixth inning, when Lane Foster hit a triple to start a two-run inning to tie the game. Tyler Altman drove in two RBIs in the seventh to give the Red Raiders the victory. In Game 2, Bacon County took the lead in the fourth inning 4-3, but Harlem tied it in the sixth 4-4. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Dawson Dyal drove in Peyton Nobles to give the Raiders the lead for good 5-4.
With the win, Bacon County advanced to the second round, where they hosted the Rabun County Wildcats in Alma.
Track and Field
The Region 2-AA track and field championships were held at Southeast Bulloch High School in Brooklet. For the boys, senior Trae Stewart led the way when he took home region championships in two events. First he won the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 4 inches. He won the triple jump by almost 2 feet, and then finally finished second in the long jump.
Vidalia High School won the overall team championship for the boys with Bacon County finishing fifth.
“This track year has been a good year,” said Willis Yates, Bacon County head track coach. “I have really enjoyed it with my kids. I believe that they all have something to achieve, and they are doing a very good job. I am proud to say that I coach them all. The best thing I can say out of this year is each player gave it their all.”
Along with Stewart, Kevonte Merritt also qualified for sectionals in the long jump.
On the girls’ side, freshman Felicity “Fifi” Green finished second in the 100-meter, just .07 seconds out of first place. She also finished second in the long jump. Junior T.J. Smith finished third in both the shot put and the discus for Bacon County. Both ladies qualified for the sectionals.
Jeff Davis County won the girls overall team region championship with the Lady Raiders finishing sixth.
SE-SF-0517-Bacon page
By Rob Asbell
Photo by Debra Tanner
