by: Kaleb Edwards

SANFORD – When the baseball season started in late February, expectations were high at Lee County High School, despite a new head baseball coach, Amos Hardee, leading the team.

Hardee began his career as an assistant coach at LCHS and returned this season when Jevon Wade left for a new school. Hardee says he is excited about his position as head coach and the impact he has for athletes at LCHS.

“It is where I had my first coaching job as an assistant coach, Hardee said. “Baseball is important to this community and it is fun to coach in an area where players want to learn and get better.”

After seeing the team in scrimmages, Hardee was not satisfied with how the team was playing, so he increased the intensity of practice and says it paid off. “The intensity and toughness we play with has definitely contributed to our success,” said Hardee.

But Hardee is not the only one who thinks the new intensity has made an impact. Senior pitcher Walker McDuffie believes Hardee is responsible for the newfound success. “Our coach has really been hard on us, so it’s good to prepare us for the big moments,” said McDuffie.

With coaching from Hardee, the team knew they had something special from the first game.  “We had a big win over a really good team, and I could see our mindset and intensity change,” said Hardee. 

After winning that first game, the Jackets won their next six games to start 7-0, its best undefeated start in over 15 years. Since then, the Jackets have dropped three straight to sit at 7-3 on the season.

Hardee’s intensity was able to properly prepare the team for their game against Richmond High School. “I would say the first game. We played a pretty big team and we upset them,” McDuffie said. “We weren’t supposed to win that game but we did so it really set the stone for us and our season.”

The team now strives to reach both conference and playoffs, but are trying to take things slow and focus on each game.

“We have goals to win the conference, but, we want to start off with that, just try to take one thing at a time,” said McDuffie.

“I am proud of how hard the team has worked to get to this point,” Hardee said. “It is rewarding to see players work hard all year AND have success.”