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Jones Senior freshman pitcher Kyle Smith prepares a pitch against Pamlico earlier this season. After going winless for the last four seasons, the Trojans have already won eight games in 2008.
Jess Huffman/Sun Journal
Delivering the goods
Trojans serve up victories in 2008
TRENTON - In the first game of the season, the Jones Senior baseball team took Northside Jacksonville into extra innings. Heading into the 10th inning, the score was tied at 7.
With two outs, junior Robbie Scott reached first base with a walk. He stole second and was attempting to steal third, when the throw from Northside's catcher sailed into the outfield. Scott scored the go-ahead run, sending jubilation throughout the Jones Senior dugout.
The Trojans shut the door in the bottom of the 10th and escaped with an 8-7 victory.
The upperclassmen on the team were celebrating the biggest moment of their high school careers. The freshmen, while also rejoicing, knew the win was big, but weren't fully aware of the significance.
On that Feb. 26 afternoon, the Trojans won their first game in four years and just their second since the 2003 season. Finally, Jones Senior gained some confidence, as the team had become acquainted with winning.
"I think that was a big confidence booster," said Jones Senior coach Glenn Smith. "The upperclassmen were running around like they won the World Series and our freshmen were like, ‘Hey guys this is just a ball game, you act like you have never done this.'
"It was rewarding to see the upperclassmen have some success. And they are really better than I anticipated, coming into the season, as far as talent."
The Trojans went on to win their next four games.
Now standing at 8-9, the Trojans are on the verge of remaining a tough opponent for several more years.
"It is a real honor to be playing here, considering we haven't won a game in about five years," said junior Ruffin Koonce. "Everybody works hard and sticks together."
Several other games were lost by a close margin. Entering the Easter Tournament April 10-12 at Ayden-Grifton High School, five of the Trojans' six defeats were suffered after the sixth inning.
"We want to show improvement, we want to get better each game we go out and we've had enough close games that I feel like we've learned a lot," Smith said.
Prior to the season, only 14 students tried out for the team. There weren't enough kids out to make up a junior varsity team, so they made just one team.
There are just 13 players on the Jones Senior roster, including six freshmen, one sophomore and four juniors. They only have one senior - outfielder/third baseman Brandon Ward.
Two freshmen, Kyle Smith and Tyler Provost, pitch for the Trojans. Two other freshmen - Matthew Sutton and Nick Smith - earn significant playing time at first base and catcher, respectively.
"They are getting an opportunity that a lot of kids don't get to do, playing as a freshmen," Smith said. "They are going to play a lot and they are going to make some mistakes, but they are getting that opportunity. A lot of freshmen would love to be able to play varsity competition."
Nick Smith leads the Trojans in hitting with a .348 average with 11 runs batted in. Sutton is hitting .347 with seven RBIs.
However, the Trojans are yet to hit a home run.
"Teams aren't giving us a whole lot of respect and we haven't given them a whole lot of reasons to get respect," Smith said. "We are not a power hitting team at all."
The players and coaches on the team agree that pitching and defense is their strength.
"The thing we really lacked the most, last year, was defense," Scott said. "This year we have committed less errors."
Scott has an earned run average of 2.26, while Kyle Smith has an ERA of 2.95.
One reason the Jones Senior baseball team is on the rise is because of the development beginning in middle school, Scott said. Also, many of the players compete in AAU baseball during the summer in New Bern.
"When you play a lot of travel ball on the weekends, it is a big commitment on the parents," Smith said. "We have got a lot of parent support, which is one of the biggest things that has helped us more than anything."
The Trojans also have leadership, which is something they have lacked the past several years.
"It has been outstanding," Smith said. "I had to get on them and break them down early, but I think they realize we are trying to build something here and they have bought into it."
The Trojans hope to continue their improvement, but this week's slate of opponents does not present an easy task. They travel to East Carteret on Tuesday and Dixon on Wednesday. On April 29, Jones Senior hosts Pamlico County.
This week will be a chance for the Trojans to make a strong statement in the Coastal Plains Conference.
"As coaches you would always like to have success and win, but we tell them that is not the most important thing," Smith said. "We want to try to be successful and win, but the most important thing is just to represent Jones Senior High School in a positive matter. We are going to try to do things the right way and if we can continue to instill that in them then the wins will take care of themselves."
Adam Thompson can be reached at (252) 635-5670 or at athompson@freedomenc.com.
