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| COACHES (Click-On The Coaches Photos For Their Individual Profiles)... |
 JV&Softball Head CoachDave McKenna |
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 Middle School Head CoachJay Davis |
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| We caught up with Coach Williams recently, and sat down with him to discuss the 'State of Trojans Baseball'. What follows is the dialogue that was exchanged between The Trojan's Lair and Coach Williams... |
TTL: Coach Williams, the '07 campaign had to be a big disappointment to you, as it was the first losing season (8-17; 7-9) that you have experienced in your 5-years at the helm of the Lamar County Baseball Program. You knew going-in, that it was going to be tough, because you lost 7-senior-starters from the '06, 21-5, 4-AA Region Runner-Up-Team. |
| CW: We certainly underachieved in ‘07. I knew that we would struggle at first, but, I honestly thought that we would find a way to be in the playoffs by the end of the year. We all know that didn’t happen... To be quite honest, we failed in the leadership department which was very disappointing. I believe, and always have, that everything happens for a reason. I will take a long hard look at myself, and my assistant coaches, in making sure that we have a very productive season, and hopefully, turn it around in ’08. I really liked what I saw this summer with this new group of players. We also look to have a strong group of underclassmen, as the JV finished last year with a 12-4 record. We will field a team in '08 with NO-SENIORS, and only 4 returning juniors, but I am 99.9% positive, that we will find a way to win more than we lose in '08. We will still be young, but with a little hard work and some leadership, we will be a scrappy bunch. I know that the players are hungry to get back to the post season. |
| TTL: The off-season, during the summer & the fall, is always important... Do you have any thoughts about the summer & fall team programs, that you would like to share with the fans? |
CW: Again, I really liked how we competed this summer. We did a lot of traveling and played a lot of schools in larger classifications with strong baseball traditions. We played very hard, every game... Some of the highlights from this summer was tying a very strong Buford team and beating Dacula High School. We also hosted our own tournament here in Barnesville, and played over at powerhouse Jones County. I am hearing some great news about the Fall Ball Team. I understand that they are working hard on strength and agilities, which we desparately need, and there are some new faces in the crowd that I’m anxious to take a look at... |
| TTL: Folks close to the program know that the '08 team will be extremely young, as this team will field 'no-senior-players', and only 3 juniors. Unless, of course, there are some players to make the team that are not currently on the roster. What do you attribute this class separation void on the roster to... ? |
| CW: I’m not really sure that I have the correct answer to this question. I guess that you could just say, that this year’s senior and junior class separation stemmed from not having that many students that truly loved the game of baseball. For some reason, or the other, attrition really hit hard. The numbers for the sophomore and freshman classes are outstanding. I encourage these players to work hard, and know that being a Diamond Trojan is a privilege and a special opportunity. |
| TTL: Although it is extremely early, what do you perceive to be the strengths of the '08 team? And, what areas will you have to address for improvement, if any...? |
CW: I won’t be too detailed, but some of our strengths will be that a lot of the players will have some varsity game experience under their belts this year. We should be a much better disciplined team this year, that executes when the situation arises both offensively and defensively. It doesn’t take much talent to hustle, so I will guarantee you that we will bust our tails in practice. Pitching is always a key... We need to find out who our #1, #2, and #3 pitchers are early, and be able to rely on them. We’ve been successful in the past when our pitching rotation was set and reliable. I think that we, also, need to get much stronger in the weight room. |
| TTL:The Lamar County Baseball program has never enjoyed winning a region championship in its history. The '06, senior-led, team finished as runners-up (21-5; 16-4) to neighboring Pike Co. Close, but no-cigar. What do you think that it will take to get the program over-the-hump, or as some might say... What will it take to knock the lid off of this program? |
| CW: Sometimes it takes great timing and a little lady luck. If we finish the ’05 season with the same record as ’06, then we win the region by a landslide! We also have a shot in ’07 with the ‘06 record. I just believe that it takes the right timing and playing the game the way that it’s meant to be played, and then the rest will take care of itself. |
| TTL: The Diamond Trojans will begin their 3rd season playing on the new, and beautiful, Aldora Field at the Trojan's Athletic Complex. Aldora Field was named the 2006, State Class AA Field Of The Year, by the Georgia Dugout Club. What improvements have been made to the facilities going forward...? And, can you project any facility improvements for the future, that is currently on the drawing board, or that is on the 'proverbial-wish-list'? |
| CW: Aldora Field has had some cosmetic changes since the first pitch was thrown back in 2006. We have sodded the baselines, built a brand new press box and concession stand... Right now, we have on the drawing board the task of replacing our backstop with viewer friendly netting, and installing some professional looking safety screens in front of each dugout. In the future, the DugOut Club is looking into covering our batting cages, and maybe even providing the baseball team with its own indoor hitting facility and locker rooms. |
| TTL: The Lamar County Trojans DugOut Club is entering its third year in existence, since being chartered in the '06 season. Do you have any comments that you would like to make regarding the progress of the baseball program, as it relates to the booster's club? |
| CW: Sure! The Trojan's DugOut Club has been very instrumental with getting the program, and Aldora Field, to where it is now. Our officers, and members, are well organized and prepared... We have consistent attendance at all of our meetings. Our fundraisers are so successful, because our members believe in them, and work as a team to make sure that they are successful. We’ve come a long, long, long way since playing at the recreation department, in making our program as outstanding as it has become... I hear all of the time how Lamar County used to be the place that no one talked about, and didn't love to play at for obvious reasons. Now, we are a program that has earned the respect that we deserve... I believe that all of this can be contributed to the fact that we have such wonderful people in the DugOut Club, committed to our players and program, and working behind the scenes to get the job done... |
| TTL: The program has come a long way in the last 5 years. Where do you see it going in the next 5 years? Lamar County is beginning to experience some growth from the spill-over of the Atlanta, Ga. sprawl. Also, there are some new industries locating in Lamar Co. with the General Protecht Group being one of them. If this growth continues to be sustained, do you see Lamar County High School moving to the AAA, or higher, classification within the next 5 years? |
| CW: Well, growth is coming, and there’s no doubt about that... It’s not a matter of “if”, but “when”, it hits Lamar County. That is the question that will be answered as time goes by... We are already seeing some of our neighbors like Pike County growing, and they are expected to make the jump to AAA next year. To be honest, I’m in no rush because I fore-see us being very successful in our region, and in AA for the next 4-5 years. |
| TTL: Let's play psychologist... If you could convince your teams, and players, of one thing that it takes to become a champion... What would that 'one-thing' be, and why...? |
| CW: All of my players are champions, if they go through an entire four seasons in the Diamond Trojans Program! Wins and losses doesn’t make a player a champion in my book. I believe that at the end of each senior night every year, that each one of my players has learned how to be champion in life. I like to believe that they have been taught to have heart, class, desire, great character, and an actual understanding of what the word commitment means. However, trophies are nice too! |
| TTL: Without putting you on the spot, (lol) what former coach(s), or mentor(s), have had the greatest influence on your approach, and philosophy, in coaching baseball at the high school level? And, what is that approach, or philosophy that you adhere to...? You don't have to name just one... |
CW: Whoa….! Let’s see. I would say that my coaches in the past have had the greatest influence on me wanting to get into this career. My old Legion Coach (Jeff Benton) is the one who taught me to work to be GREAT, and not to just be satisfied with being average. My college coach (Brian McClain) at Georgia Southwestern State University really opened my eyes to coaching, after my playing career was over. I just thought that I wanted to be a coach, until I spent my graduate assistant year under him, and then I knew for sure, that this is what I wanted to do... It’s a lot different being on this side of the game... It also can’t go without saying that both my Dad, and late Grandfather “Jiffy Jack”, is the reason I fell in love with the game of baseball, at such an early age... |
From The Top Trojan...
"Let's not be satisfied with where we have been, but excited about where we are going..."
Coach Williams
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