ALBANY - South Georgia manager Wally Backman couldn'€™t contain his frustration at his team's lack of preparation for big games, like Saturday's doubleheader against a Macon Music team it will see in the South Coast League championship series.
"œIf I had my way,"€ Backman said. "€œI'€™d cut 5 or 6 guys right now."
Macon'€™s starting pitcher Ashley Hooks baffled the Peanuts' offense in the first game at the Paul Eames Sports Complex, allowing just one run on three hits in a complete game in a 6-1 Macon win. The Peanuts had a chance at redemption in the nightcap but the Peanuts' late rally wasn't enough as they fell 6-5.
It earned Macon its first series win against South Georgia in Albany and clinched a winning record (10-7) against the Peanuts.
"€œ(Hooks) threw well, but we clobbered him last time. We just were not prepared," Backman said. "Only two guys took batting practice before the game."
Hooks not only dominated the Peanuts (56-27 overall, 23-17 in second half) on the mound, but he got it done at the plate as well going 2-for-4, including an RBI double in the eighth to help put the first game out of reach. Hooks' success with the bat was no surprise as he came in to Saturday night's game batting .295 in the 36 games he has played. Hooks improved to 9-1 on the season, with his only loss coming the last time he faced the Peanuts.
In the second game, the Peanuts fought back in the bottom of the seventh when leadoff man Johnny Washington worked a walk. After Mike Caruso delivered a pinch-hit single up the middle the runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball by catcher Felipe Del Rosario. Curtis Goodwin Sr. popped up to short to record the first out. Second baseman Joey Hooft walked loading the bases for top RBI-producer Doc Brooks, who also leads the SCL in hitting with a .351 batting average. Brooks worked the count full before grounding in to a fielder's choice allowing Washington to score from third making it 6-4. First baseman Desi Wilson hit a hard grounder that shortstop Justin Huff fielded but tossed over the head of second basemen Steven Trout allowing another run to score making it a 6-5 game. But the rally would die there with catcher Josh Eachues striking out to end the rally and the game for the Peanuts.
"€œIn baseball you can'€™t have an off/on switch,"€ Backman said "€œWe need to play like we did in the seventh the whole game and this team is capable of doing it."
