Bob Jones clinches Area 15 with perfect mark, again
Senior Day at Bob Jones, top Coach Bell, seniors Stewart, Parker, May, Lester, Leach, Bolger, bottom Dodson, Bowen, Flowers
MADISON- Just like last year, the Bob Jones baseball team went undefeated in Area 15 games and will host a first round playoff series against Decatur starting Friday night April 19 with a doubleheader.
The Patriots had already clinched first place in the area when they met Sparkman Saturday afternoon. But that wasn’t good enough for the players who wanted to finish with an undefeated mark. They did just that with a 2-1 win over Sparkman and finished 6-0 in area games.
“Last year we were expected to win and this year we came out and surprised everybody and ourselves,” said senior Matt Bolger who was among the nine seniors honored after the clinching win. “We didn’t expect to be here. We play hard and never give up.”
Last season, Bob Jones graduated 10 seniors who went on to play baseball at the next level. Expectations this season were tempered when the team started out with a 1-5 record. Since then, the team has been almost impossible to beat. They have now won 15 games in a row.
Matt Sanders (.510 avg. with 49 RBI’s) and Bolger (.390 avg. with 40 runs scored) have led the team with timely hits all season. Newcomers like speedy Reid Vershoore and first-year corner infielders Trey Ward and Grant Chandler have had big seasons.
“A lot of these other guys have stepped up too. We’re all contributing,” said Bolger who will play for South Alabama next year.
Pitcher Matt Bowen has seven wins including a 10-1 win over Sparkman on Friday night. Austin May leads the team with eight wins and will get the call against Decatur.
“We‘re confident, we’re playing really good baseball right now,” said Bob Jones coach Jeff Bell. “When you get in the state playoffs at the 6A level ever team is really good. We just have to keep doing the things it takes to win.”
The team wants to atone for last season when they were upset by Sparkman in the first round of the state playoffs.
Going into the playoffs, Bell has found extra depth at pitcher.
Jessie Wheeler came on strong with performances against James Clemens and then pitched seven innings to win the clinching game against Sparkman.
“Jessie broke his hand and has been out for six weeks,” Bell said. “He pitched great today and that will make us five deep on the mound. He filled up the strike zone today.”
The team has developed a knack for winning close games by moving runners along and laying down sacrifice bunts. Against Sparkman, Bolger and Matt Sanders had RBI hits.
“We seem to get a big hit when we need it,” Bell said. “It’s a credit to those guys stepping up and driving in runs when we need them.”
“Last year we were really talented, this year we’re not nearly as talented but this team does the small things right and it’s the little things that win big baseball games,” Bell said.
Sparkman finished second in the area and will open the playoffs at James Clemens who won Area 16. Buckhorn and Hazel Green did not make the playoffs.
