By Austin Lewter, Jefferson Jimplecute
The Jefferson Bulldog baseball team contended with multiple weather cancellations over past week, but still emerged with a few more firsts under their belts.
“We have our first win, our first loss and our first big win against a good team,” said head coach Tyler Foster.
After opening the year with a 13-5 over Frankston early last week, the Dawgs traveled to the Spring Hill Tournament over the weekend looking to extend their run.
Two of the four planned games were rained out.
Their tournament opener on Thursday ended with a 11-3 loss to Pine Tree.
“We came out flat,” Foster said. “He didn’t get warmed up right, we didn’t have our minds right and it showed.”
Pine Tree scored eight runs in the first inning—a hole the Bulldogs could not dig out of.
The redeemed themselves on Saturday with a 5-1 win over Spring Hill.
“That was a huge win,” Foster said. “Spring Hill is a top 20 team. They are always in the conversation and have a tradition of playing deep into the playoffs. They are a big time program with several Division I commits. Anytime you can get a win over a team like that, you deserve praise… and our kids were stoked. They got texts from players all over the district asking, ‘How’d you beat Spring Hill? The attention has been welcome.”
Foster credited the slick work of freshman pitcher Bryce Clark for the win.
“Bryce had a complete game and our batters got it done,” Foster said. “That’s how you beat a team like that.”
Foster also credits the leadership of key seniors Trent Foster, Baylor Varnell and Dameon Warren.
Trent is Coach Foster’s youngest brother.
“I’ve been coaching those three kids since t-ball,” Coach Foster said. “It’s a privilege to be able to coach your little brother, but I am just as attached to Baylor and Dameon.”
Coach Foster, a 2015 JHS grad, said there was a bit of an adjustment last year when he was welcomed as the program’s skipper.
“It didn’t take long for the boys to understand that I am now Coach Foster and not just Tyler,” he said. “The mutual respect was in place and we’ve done nothing but build upon that.”
Tuesday’s game against Harmony was likewise canceled due to bad weather.
The Bulldogs take to the road this weekend in the Frankston Tournament.
JHS baseball will host Healthcare Appreciation night Tuesday, March 9th, at Schellinger field. “We will thank our healthcare workers pregame before the player introductions,” Coach Foster said. “Please be at the ballpark at 6:30 p.m. that night. Thank you to our amazing healthcare professionals for all the work, time, hours and heartache they have had to endure over the last year.”