North Augusta baseball is looking for a fresh start in the playoffs starting Monday.
The Jackets split a two-game series with Greenwood to finish off a turbulent regular season. After winning a close 1-0 game on the road, they returned home to lose 12-4 on Thursday night to the Eagles.
After finishing the first half on a seven game losing streak, North Augusta saw an uptick in momentum through its last six games.
“This season has been nothing but challenges for us,” said head coach Kevin Lynn. “It's been a lot of teaching moments, a lot of growing moments. I thought we made some turns towards getting better, even though some of the results weren't what you would think or what you would want. But just the little things that we're focusing on.”
After locking up the second-place spot with a series win over rival Midland Valley, North Augusta will start its playoff run at home against Greenville on Monday. Lynn said having the home-field advantage is a big deal because the team will be fresher and more focused.
“We get to wake up in our bed,” he said. “And not have to worry about getting on a bus and driving and then getting off the bus and being sluggish or anything like that. It's definitely nice to be at home, but we’ve got to take advantage of being at home.”
North Augusta will have to make several adjustments at the plate to have any success in the playoffs, Lynn said. While the Jackets have improved in the past few weeks offensively, they’re still trying to capitalize more on scoring opportunities.
“We have to be better at situational hitting,” Lynn said. “Tonight, we had some opportunities to score some runs to kind of chip away at the lead and we didn't do that. So those are the things that we've been preaching. Hopefully, the boys continue to work hard at it. And when those situations come up, they can believe in themselves in that moment and get the job done.”
Against Greenwood on Thursday, North Augusta had runners on base in almost every inning with only two strikeouts all night but was only able to bring in four runs. In game three against Midland Valley, the Jackets scored 12 runs on 12 hits, finding their groove at the plate.
How well they can execute when it’s important will set the tone for the postseason, Lynn said.
“When we did execute we looked strong,” he said. “When we didn't execute, we got exposed. So that's the thing that we're still trying to battle.”
On the mound, the Jackets have put their trust in senior Jaxon Jean to get outs and keep them in games all year. And with several fresh faces in the playoffs this year, Lynn is looking for Jean and other seniors to continue being the backbone of the team.
“I'm really counting on the guys like Jaxon Jean, Brigs Watkins, Walker Geddes, Brodie Chapman, guys that have been here, the seniors that have played in the playoffs and helped us in a run last year to lead by example and hopefully the younger guys can cling on and pick up the slack.”
First pitch against Greenville is to be announced and will take place at Riverview Park in North Augusta.
