The Briarwood Academy Diamond Buccaneers will open their season with two GISA Region 1AA contests this Thursday and Friday.
"We really want to come out of the gates with a good start, because our first game is actually our first region game," Coach Bo Fleming said.
The Bucs will open the season this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in Conyers with region opponent Young Americans Christian Academy. The Bucs will follow that region game with another on Friday when they open at home in a 4:30 p.m. contest versus Piedmont Academy of Monroe.
The Bucs' eight-team region is one of the toughest in the state, according to Coach Fleming who expects the top region teams to beat this year will be Piedmont, Gatewood School and the defending state champs of Windsor Academy.
Seniors Ethan DeMore and John Spivey and junior Cane Gilmer are the only starters returning from last year's team, which finished in second place in region competition.
All three will be pitching for the Bucs this season. Additionally, DeMore will play at shortstop and second base, Spivey at first base and catcher, and Gilmer at shortstop.
Other team members include senior Carl Chapman, outfield; junior Ryan Gerlach, second base and outfield; junior Jonathan Gay, third base and pitcher; and sophomores Adam Hardy, third base and pitcher; Coty Clark, second base and outfield; Eric Johnson, first base and outfield; and Trey Stadler, catcher and pitcher. Eighth grader Dalton Reese will play at shortstop and in the outfield.
