After delays, Diamond Devils back in action

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March 1, 2013

After delays, Diamond Devils back in action

Becky Taylor CNHI The Tifton Gazette Fri Mar 01, 2013, 06:43 PM EST

TIFTON — The Tift County Blue Devils baseball team has only played a single game, a 7-5 win against the Crisp County Cougars, 7-5, but new coach Kyle Kirk believes it is the start of a big season. “We’re real deep,” he said. “You can expect a good quality team on the field.” They have a doubleheader today in Gray against two different teams. The first pitch against the North Oconee Titans is at 2:30 p.m. with a game against their hosts, the Jones County Greyhounds at 5 p.m..

The season was supposed to be further along, but Kirk and his players have had to deal with unexpected delays. They were slated to play games in Jefferson against the Oconee County Warriors and Jefferson Dragons, but Mother Nature intervened and rain forced the cancellation of both games. Kirk said he is going to try to fill out the schedule against schools from middle Georgia to make up for the trip they had to miss. “We’ll have a back-loaded schedule,” he said.

If those games are added, they will be later in the year and before their games today, the Devils have been off since their regular season opener against Crisp County on Feb. 19. “We have to try keep focused,” he said of the delay.

After spending several seasons at Clarke Central in Athens, Kirk is thrilled to have this group of Tift County players, a place he considers more loaded with talent.

“We have so much depth,” he said. “It was tough to make cuts. They’re all good players.”

Among the talent on this year’s diamond crew are Zach Bullard, Alex Abbott, Will Reinhardt, Blake Suggs and Deviner McCrary. Abbott is considered one of the state’s top prospects according to MaxPreps. Kirk was also impressed by Patrick Watson. “He’s been a real surprise for us,” he said.

Kirk elaborated on what makes this team, who made advanced to the sweet sixteen in state last year, so special:

“It’s their leadership qualities. This is a special situation I have inherited. They do all the little things.”

The Devils finally return home on Friday, March 8 for a doubleheader against the Camden County Wildcats. Games will then be played in quick succession. They travel to Lee County on March 12 and then host Lowndes on March 15.

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After delays, Diamond Devils back in action

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