Worth County baseball eyes next step in Sweet 16 clash with Banks County

SYLVESTER — By this time of year, nobody is guessing anymore.

The scouting reports are done. The tendencies are known. The weaknesses have been exposed.

What’s left is execution.

For Worth County, that’s exactly where the confidence lies.

The Rams (24-8) will host Banks County (22-9) in the Class A Division I Sweet 16 beginning Thursday in Sylvester, with Game 1 set for 4 p.m. and Game 2 to follow at 6:30. An if-necessary Game 3 will be played Friday.

“The bottom line is when you get down to the last 16 teams, you’re in good company,” said head coach Will Smith.

Worth County didn’t arrive here by accident.

The Rams had to grind through a three-game series with Swainsboro that tested just about everything — from their pitching depth to their patience at the plate. After a 1-0 loss in the opener, Worth County answered with a shutout in Game 2 and then broke things open late in a 9-4 win in the deciding game.

It wasn’t pretty at times.

It didn’t have to be.

“We’ve got to stay focused, play our game and stay true to ourselves,” Smith said.

That identity starts on the mound — and it may be the reason Worth County is still playing.

Senior Avery Kilcrease has been dominant all season, leading the state in strikeouts and ranking third nationally. DJ Easom has been just as steady, and Colby Griffis has emerged as a reliable arm down the stretch. Add in Brodey Hancock and others, and the Rams have built a staff capable of carrying them deep into May.

“Our pitching has been really strong,” Smith said. “We’ve thrown strikes, and we’ve played good defense behind it.”

That combination has allowed Worth County to control games, even when the offense hasn’t come easy.

And when it has, it hasn’t come from just one place.

“The middle to bottom of our lineup has been huge,” Smith said. “Brady Weaver, Brodey Hancock and Culley Hendley have gotten big hits in pressure moments.”

Then there’s the rest of the lineup — Kilcrease, Luke Rogers, Griffis, Hayden Short, Lyndon Worthy and Caleb Parten — a group that has found ways to produce when it matters most.

“Caleb has had some big hits in big moments for us,” Smith added.

Still, Smith knows what this round demands.

Not more talent.

Not more hype.

Just cleaner baseball.

“It’s the little things,” he said. “Backing up plays, not giving extra bases, not giving free passes. We can’t help teams.”

Banks County isn’t the kind of opponent that needs much help.

The Leopards swept Washington County in the opening round, winning 16-6 and 13-0, and arrive in Sylvester with both offensive momentum and pitching discipline.

“This is a team that’s going to throw strikes,” Smith said. “You don’t get to this point and have that kind of record if you don’t.”

Which means this series may look familiar.

Pitchers in control. Defenses under pressure. A handful of swings deciding everything.

For Worth County, that’s not uncomfortable.

That’s exactly where they want to be.

Throw strikes. Make plays. Stay within themselves.

Do that, and the Rams believe they’ll still be playing next week.

Because in late April and May, that’s the only thing that matters.