Losing to Cartersville in the second round of the AAAA state playoffs, 4-3, after defeating the Purple Hurricanes, 14-2, in the second of a three-game series ending the 2015 season will be motivation for the Wayne County Yellow Jackets baseball team during the upcoming 2016 season.
The Yellow Jackets certainly have had talent on the mound, up the middle, and at the plate. However, with a couple of 20-plus wins under the belt a region title or two, Wayne County Head Coach Justin McDonald knows that he is still working towards the goal of playing for state championship.
“We still haven’t attained the ultimate goal,” McDonald said. “I think it is okay to talk about that goal, but we as a program have to stay humble and appreciate the process of getting there. We have had some great years, but that is all credit to have great players and assistant coaches.”
The Yellow Jackets will finish their final season in Region 3-AAAA. With the bi-annual movement of schools, the GHSA will place the Yellow Jackets back in the friendly confines of Statesboro and South Effingham, two of the traditional powers that Wayne shared a region with for years.
“We have built some rivalries in that region and it is exciting to get to pick those back up,” McDonald said.
Some of the games that Wayne County has played against Statesboro in the past have been considered some of the best baseball played in Southeast Georgia and certainly delighted a baseball loving fan base.
As the Yellow Jackets opened practice for the 2016 season, McDonald preached a simple but effective philosophy; a philosophy that has helped his Yellow Jacket veterans succeed.
“We want to play as well as we possibly in all phases of the game and execute 100% of the time,” he said. “If we can do this we will win games.”
Wayne is sitting at 14-4 so far in the 2016 campaign as the season starts to move towards that region tournament. McDonald has always built a tough non-region schedule, and while it usually does lead to a few losses early in the season, that tougher competition has been what has paid off in making the Yellow Jackets play harder and more focused in the stretch leading to the region tournament and state playoffs.
“I am a firm believer in that early competition will bring out the best in your team at the end of the season,” McDonald said. “We will be tested early and that is how we have always done it. No doubt we will know a lot about our team and we will be better after those trips.”
This season, Wayne lost a close game to Wesleyan, 4-3, but defeated John’s Creek, 7-4, the next day. The other three losses this season have come at the hands of old time foes Statesboro, Ware, and 3A-AAAA region member Thomson. Despite the four losses this season, Wayne County battled back to defeat Statesboro, Thomson, and Ware in subsequent meetings.
Pitching coach Jordan Mullis’ impact continues to help produce strong pitchers in a program that has been pitching rich for years.
“Pitching is going to be good again,” McDonald said. “Coach Mullis does an outstanding job with our staff and I can assure you that they will be playoff ready come May.”
Another area that has been a constant for McDonald’s teams is that he will continue to have a strong cadre of upperclassmen, but there will be young players that will be able to contribute almost immediately.
“We have a good group of seniors along with some newcomers,” McDonald said. “We will look for guys from all classes to contribute.”
The Yellow Jackets find themselves in a more competitive region than other years. The improving Liberty County Panthers, who finished as fourth seed in Region 3-AAAA, create a better local region opponent.
“Can’t take anyone lightly in our region,” McDonald said. “It’s important to play them one game at a time and see what happens.”
Wayne’s baseball staff includes Mullis, Jesse Barfield, Andrew Carroll, and Mike Roberts.
“We will use the first part of the season to fill out the best lineup as well as build positive chemistry that wins,” McDonald said. “Also we have a tendency to get off to a slow start. We want to change that this season and remain consistent throughout.”
Wayne won its region and defeated traditionally strong Perry High School in a three-game series, but ended up having to make a long trip to North Georgia to face Heritage High School in Ringgold Gap, Georgia. Heritage, who has a couple of Division I signees, swept Wayne County in a two-game set. The Yellow Jackets finished the season 21-8 overall and 8-1 in region play.
Southeast Georgia/ May 2016
Wayne County finishes in second round of state playoffs
By John Wood
Photos by Shawn Smoak
Wayne County High School
