The talent and coaching is in place for the Habersham Raiders to return to contention in 2017, and they’re already off to a solid start.
The boys went just 3-22 in 2016, and 5-21 the year before. Since the move into Class 6A, the Raiders have struggled to find their footing. However, coach Chris Akridge’s team has shown signs of being on the cusp of contending for a top-four spot in the region.
On Monday, the Raiders opened the season with a decisive 11-0 win over Cedar Shoals, putting them already halfway to their win total from last season. Wednesday at White County, the boys fell in a hard-fought 7-4 game. In the loss, juniors Hunter Ingle and Jarred Jones and senior Seth Blackburn each had two hits. Jones doubled drove in a pair of runs, scored one and stole two bases. Ingle also notched two stolen bases.
This season presents a new region in 8-AAAAAA, and the Raiders have a roster consisting of guys who have been in the program for awhile, as well as pure athletes.
Habersham would love to return to the state playoffs in 2017, and have as good a shot as any team in the region with six teams total. The Raiders last tallied double-digit win totals in 2011 (11 wins) and 2010 was the last .500 season (13-13).
Among the 2017 Raiders is a large senior group of seven players: Brice Austin, Josh Baird, Blackburn, Brandon Mitchell, Dustin Sheffield, Cole Wilbanks, and Jon Williams. Five juniors and four sophomores round out the roster. Mitchell returns as one of the team’s top offensive threats from last year, while sophomore Colby Jones is one of the lone pieces from the pitching staff returning.
The Raiders have a little more than a month to prepare for region competition, as they won’t taste region play until March 20 against Apalachee. Until then, Hab Central takes on non-region foes White County and Stephens County twice each, East Jackson, Duluth, Cedar Shoals, Chestatee and Franklin all in home-and-away two-game sets.
The 2017 slate consists of 14 home games and 16 away, accounting for a 30-game regular season schedule. The region is comprised of six teams: Habersham Central, Gainesville, Winder-Barrow, Apalachee, Dacula and Lanier. The Raiders return to action Friday, February 17 as they travel to Stephens County.
