Sports

Region on line today for Baconton and Seminole

• Baconton was the team to beat last season in Region 1-A, but Seminole can hold off the Blazers from a possible repeat if it wins today.

Derek Barichello

SEMINOLE — Baconton's season is on the line tonight.

After winning Region 1-A last season, the Blazers find themselves a game behind first-place Seminole County and needing to defeat the Indians today at their place to have a chance to repeat as champions and secure an automatic bid in the state playoffs.

After all, at this point last year, it was Seminole County and the rest of the 1-WA sub-region chasing Baconton for that top spot.

Now, the roles are reversed.

"This game is crucial," said Baconton coach Bubber Birdsong, whose team enters with a 16-3 overall record and 10-1 in region — its only loss coming to, you guessed it, Seminole.

Added Birdsong: "We're disappointed that we're the ones chasing them right now, but I feel like they deserved to be there."

It was April 1 that those roles changed.

The Indians took an early 7-0 lead on Baconton ace Tyler Pinson and eventually defeated the Blazers 18-12, shaking up the hierarchy of the sub-region and the confidence of Birdsong's Blazers.

“You have to tip your hats to them,” Birdsong began, “they beat us good.”

Since then, Baconton has gone undefeated.

"It was a wake up call for us," Birdsong said of his Blazers' loss to Seminole. "We were rolling then, and we haven't been quite as sharp since. I think we lost a little confidence. Hopefully the necessity of the game will bring it back."

But if you ask Seminole coach Truett Johnson, the roles have not changed at all from last year — even if the standings say so.

"Coming into the year, Baconton was the team to beat and that's how our guys are approaching it still," said Johnson, whose Indians lost to Baconton twice last year by a combined 10 runs. "Those guys are experienced. We know how good they are. They've whooped us pretty good the last couple of years."

But this season, the Indians have been a surprise — even to their coach.

Johnson knew his team would be competing for a top three spot in the sub-region but could not have predicted his guys to be on top heading into tonight's showdown.

"Our young guys are seeing what it's all about," said Johnson, whose Indians were 5-5 in region play last year and are currently on a nine-game winning streak. "I honestly don't know what it is, but our guys have been finding a way to win and we're jelling together.

“And the confidence is growing."

Leading the way for the Indians tonight will be its most consistent offensive player Santez Richardson, while Seminole will also be paced by its two senior leaders Dylan O’Hearn and Grant Zachery.

As for Baconton, even though Blazers ace Pinson was tagged back on April 1, he will get the nod once again and the chance to redeem himself.

"He's still our ace," Birdsong said. "He'll get his shot (to redeem himself tonight)."

Hoping to give Pinson offensive support will be Birdsong's two seniors: second baseman and No. 2 pitcher Jakie Williams and third baseman Preston Maier.

Of course, keep a lookout for red-hot hitting sophomore catcher Chance Tompkins, says Birdsong.

When the dust settles after this one, confidence as well as playoff implications will be in the balance.

And that's why Birdsong believes tonight is as close to a must-win as it gets.

If the Blazers win, they would tie Seminole County for the sub-region and both teams would settle the tie in a five-inning game at a neutral site April 22 — should the Indians beat Calhoun County in their final game one day later.

"Right now, nothing is a lock," said Birdsong, who noted that if the Blazers lose they would be the No. 2 seed for the Region 1-A tournament and would have to win against the No. 3 team from 1E-A in a three-game series to clinch a playoff berth. "That's why it's so important to win and get that No. 1 and be in the driver's seat."

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