GHS makes history with third straight state appearance
When the Gilmer Bobcats earned a berth into the baseball state playoffs, they made program history.
The Cats’ trip to the postseason marked their third in a row, which established a program standard.
“That was a broad goal that we had going into this season,” said head coach Jeff Thurman. “Then it became a point where we just continued to send that message to the guys. We started talking about being the first team to get there in back-to-back-to-back seasons and explained what an accomplishment that would be, especially for our five seniors.
“I was glad that we were able to get enough quality wins.”
GHS posted a 13-17 regular season record and was 6-12 in the region. Eight of the losses were by one run, and eight of the Bobcats’ 10 opponents reached the postseason. Gilmer earned an at-large bid and entered the Class 3A state playoffs as the No. 27 seed and took on No. 6 West Laurens in the opening round.
Thurman decided to break the 211-mile trip into segments. They left GHS at 8 a.m., and after stopping in Macon for lunch, they continued to Dublin for batting practice at Trinity Christian.
“I told our guys after the trip and the games that they handled it very well,” Thurman said. “You always wonder how the teenagers are going to handle a long trip like that and getting out of their routine. And with taking the charter bus, we tried to explain to them the games are the main thing. We said, ‘keep the main thing, the main thing.’
“And they did, and I didn’t really expect anything different. They were mature and did a great job. I wish the games had turned out a little bit differently.”
Gilmer found itself down 7-0 at the conclusion of the second inning of game one. West Laurens went on to secure an 11-1 win. The Cats’ season ended with a 6-3 loss in game two.
“We just let game one get out of hand early and never could claw our way back in,” Thurman said. “And then game two was a little more of what I expected. It was a battle, and we were right there in it and, literally, one hit away from taking the lead late in the game and just couldn’t get it done. That game was more of what I expected out of our guys.
“Our boys deserved to be there. They earned it, and we’re proud of them. I told those guys they don’t realize it now, but years from now when they bump into each other, that’ll be something that they talk about, being the senior class that went three years in a row. That’ll be special for them.”