Sports

Hello Dawg Nation its time for a new season of Georgia baseball. I would like to take us back circa June 2008. It was hot. It was the midwest in the Summer. There were our Dawgs were poised to take Omaha by storm. There were names like 3B Gordon Beckham and pitcher Josh Fields that who were wearing the silver britches back then. The Dawgs ascended to the top of Omaha only to fall to the other Bulldogs from Fresno State. Since this point, we have had our struggles. In part to a stacked SEC East. Where at one point last year the third best team in the league, South Carolina, was third in the country. Then went on to win the national championship against who else but the Florida Gators.

The Dawgs come into this new season ranked #11. Other preseason SEC hopefuls include:

1) Florida 3) South Carolina 4) Arkansas LSU 10) Vanderbilt 11) UGA 22) Mississippi

Starting line for the Dawgs

1. rf Peter Verdin #16

2. cf Conor Welton #11

3. ss Kyle Farmer #17

4. LF Hunter Cole #6

5. 2B Levi Hyams #3

6. 1B Colby May #25

7. Dh Brett DeLoach #22

8. C Brandon Stephens #5

9. 3B Curt Powell #8

Starting Pitcher: Alex Wood

Top 1st

Andrew Williams pop out in left field (Hunter Cole) to start the season. Alex Wood registers his first K of the year against Jay Lizanich. On the third batter Wood clocks a nasty change up to retire the side.

Bottom 1st

First hit of the new season is by the center fielder Conor Welton. With two outs and Hunter Cole’s first time to the plate Welton gets the signal to go…. safe. 3 pop outs end the inning. Hunter Cole is a highly recruited freshman from South Carolina, and got a good crack at it but it wasn’t enough.

Top 2nd

Alex Wood lets Kenny Wood on after a tough one to his left shoulder. However, the defense did its job and little doing in the 2nd for the Blue Hose.

Bottom

Levi Hyams knocks it about 350 feet to CF, but it stays in the park for the fly out. We have 4 really good cracks at it, but nothing doing so far. You get the feeling that the flood gates are about to open.

Top 3rd

Wood’s fastball is on today with his 3rd strikeout of the ballgame coming against Brandon Paul. Hunter Cole runs down an over the shoulder catch to end the top of the inning.

Bottom

One pitch. First homerun of the season for the Dawgs comes from the catcher Brandon Stephens. Curt Powell and Peter Verdin both hit back to back easy infield choppers to only be bailed out by SS and 3B errors. Again! Conor Welton lays down a perfect left infield bunt, and the pitcher slips. The bases are loaded! Kyle Farmer chucks it deep, and Curt Powell comes in on a sac fly. 1 out. Hunter Cole sees one pitch…. fly out. 2nd out, men still on 1st and 2nd. Wild pitch to Levi Hyams moves everyone a base. He goes down on strikes. Dawgs 2-0

Top 4th

With two easy outs, prior to the center fielder Conor Welton comes flying in to make a sliding out.

Bottom 4th

Brandon Stephens is having a big opening day. He records an easy double with a hit deep to left. Curt Powell brings him in with the two out single. Dawgs 3-0. Peter Verdin with a hit to left-center pushes Powell over to third. Two outs with Connor Welton to the plate. Welton will take a base after the walk. Big hitter Kyle Farmer is at the base with the bases loaded….pop out behind third base. The Dawgs get one and squander three.

Top 5th

RF Peter Verdin lays out for the grab and the ball slips through the glove. Stand up double to start the inning for Gabe Grammer. Peter Verdin grabs the next one at the warning track. Billy Motrant hits a slow chopper midway to third and Alex Wood barehanded throws him out at first. Andrew Williams brings in Grammar on the single. Dawgs 3-1.

Bottom

Levi Hyams takes an early crack at it, the first baseman Kenny Bryant knocks in down but cant hang on. Single. The next pitch he takes off and is safe at 2nd. He scores after a quick single (Dawgs 10 hits). Dawgs 4-1.

Top 6th

Alex Wood looks like he is starting to waiver just a bit. He gives up two easy singles to start the inning to Jay Lizanich and Brad Zebedis. Wood strengthens a bit with two straight Ks. Matt Peden up…. and down 3ks.

Bottom

Curt Powell takes the 6th by storm with a crowd pleasing triple. Verdin takes a force out to second, but Powell comes on home. Dawgs 5-1. Conor Welton walks. Kyle Farmer rips it to the corner and brings him in. 6-1.

Top 7th

#34 Pete Nagel replaces Cone. Brandon Paul single gets the ball rolling but not much else.

Bottom 7th

Brandon Stephens takes one to the right field wall for the double. One out. Two more batters go by with little success. Still 6-1 Dawgs.

8th Inning

Not much happening for either team in the 8th we go to the 9th with the Dawgs up 6-1.

9th

Bryan Benzor comes on for the save. 3 up 3 down. Dawgs win! 6-1. Go to 1-0.

Georgia plays the Blue Hose Saturday at 2. Good night.