Dunwoody Baseball Players Enter State Playoffs

baseball players believe they're peaking at just the right time.

As the Class AAAA playoffs begin with Friday's 5 p.m. doubleheader against Flowery Branch, the Wildcats (20-6) are on a three-game win streak and have won nine of their last 10. Perhaps most importantly, though, they've corrected what at times has been troublesome defense.

"Defensively, the guys have started buying into our system and are listening a lot better," Wildcats coach Chan English said. "We had some guys struggling a little, but they now seem more comfortable in their own skin."

Seemingly a distant memory is a five-error, 7-2 loss to Florida's Nova amid four spring break games there a month ago. In nine wins since, the Wildcats have outscored opponents 112-9, in part the result of not kicking the ball around.

"(Defense) was something we really preached after the first few games, when we'd gotten a little sloppy," English said. "At times, our hitting had made up for it, but we had been struggling at points in the field. The kids are taking a lot of pride in what they're doing defensively right now."

Dunwoody's winningest pitcher, Wes Bancroft (7-2), said he survives on ground-ball outs and feels confident in players behind him.

"It's nice to know if I need a double play, I can almost assuredly get it," he said. "It makes going out there a whole lot easier."

Outfielder Mason Wood, whose .952 fielding percentage includes only one error, agreed defense will be key to advancing past the second round of for the first time since Dunwoody won state under coach Tom Bass in 2007.

"When we need a big play, we're confident our defense can get it," Wood said. "Our main objective is to keep the ball in front of us, and if we can't make an out, at least keep base runners from advancing."

But Flowery Branch (17-6) likely isn't overlooking Dunwoody's offense, which has been led by second baseman Stelen Stulberger and pitcher Logan Elliot's .462 and .412 batting averages, respectively. Catcher Jared Martin has a team-high seven doubles and infielder Chris Hale a team-most three home runs.

Pitching has been stingy, too, with Dunwoody's two winningest hurlers owning ERAs under 1.50, and a third pitcher under 3.0.

The Wildcats begin their sixth consecutive playoff appearance having outscored opponents by an average of five runs a game. But English said he expects playoff margins to be slimmer, beginning with Friday's doubleheader and Saturday's potential final game of the best-of-three series at 1 p.m.

He said Dunwoody plans to change little for the playoffs, confident in the puzzle it has pieced together.

"We're in a weird situation because we've got guys who've surprised me, but we also have guys equally as talented backing them up," English said. "We have the leeway this year that we can fill in for guys and still be confident with who we're putting out there.

"For the most part," he added, "we're going to stick to the things we've done well."