The diamond Raiders picked up a non-region victory Monday night before entering into the daunting region schedule. Madison County (3-2) came from behind to beat Franklin County 10-3 in Carnesville in its final tune-up before 8-AAAA play.
The Raiders trailed 3-1 in the third with two outs, but Matt Kennison drew a walk and Ian Drake belted a two-run homer. Madison County added an insurance run after that to take the lead for good.
“It was good see us put three runs up with two outs, down by two,” coach Charlie Griffeth said.
Madison County hopes it took on enough top-tier teams during non-region play to ready it for the all-important region schedule.
The Raiders were scheduled to start their 20-game region schedule this past Wednesday against Heritage (results weren’t available at press time).
Madison County’s collection of non-region foes included defending Class AAAAA champion and nationally-ranked Brookwood, Class AAA runner-up Stephens County and a respectable Jefferson outfit that went to the quarterfinals in last year’s Class A playoffs.
“I think we’ve played a preseason schedule to prepare us,” Griffeth said.
Madison County continues its 8-AAAA schedule Friday against Salem and Monday against Loganville.
Griffeth said his team is ready to take on the region.
“We might as well,” he said. “You always feel like you would like to play some more, but then it’s a whole lot funner to play for something that really counts.”
As for the Franklin County victory, Drake’s homer was part of a five-RBI night from the senior. Other big hits came from Bo Dalton, who ripped a two-run double in the fourth and Ethan Seagraves, who drilled a solo homer in the fifth.
Ben Morris worked five innings for the victory, allowing three runs (two earned), three hits, no walks and striking out three.
Before beating Franklin County to get above .500, Madison County split its first four games.
Brookwood, which finished at no. 3 in last year’s ESPN national high school baseball rankings, downed Madison County in Snellville behind a clutch two-out, three-run homer in the third inning.
The Broncos, 34-3 last year, added runs in the fourth and fifth.
Madison County limited Brookwood to just four hits, but the three-run homer was the difference in the ball game.
Matthew Robinson finished with a single and a double and drove home a run to lead the Raider offensively. Kennison and Dalton each had singles.
The Raiders left six runners in scoring position.
“We had our chances,” Griffeth said.
One day earlier, the Raiders scored a dozen unanswered runs to come from behind to beat Stephens County 12-2 in just six innings Friday.
Madison County enjoyed offensive outbursts in the second and sixth innings, scoring four and six runs respectively, as it won for the second time this year.
Dustin Roberts’ mound performance factored heavily in the win, as well.
He pitched three and two-thirds innings of stellar relief, facing just 12 batters, allowing only two base runners and retiring the side in order in the third and fifth innings.
Making Roberts performance all the more impressive was that he threw the day before against Jefferson.
“And he didn’t want to come out,” Griffeth said. “He said he felt great. He was a real big picker-upper.”
Robinson came on and worked a perfect sixth inning. Raider pitching surrendered just five hits.
Offensively, Madison County pounded out 11 hits.
Roberts had two hits and collected three RBIs. Dalton drove home two runs with a single and also had a double. Kennison had two RBIs and a single. Seagraves had two hits.
Seth Fleming also had a RBI single and Morris’s two-run double in the sixth inning upped Madison County’s lead to 12-2, bringing the 10-run mercy rule into effect.
The big win over Stephens County followed a 4-3 loss to Jefferson March 5.
Jefferson, which Madison County beat 8-0 on Feb. 26, scored three runs in the third and one in the fifth to beat the Raiders. Madison County scored two in the second and one in the third.
Dalton ripped a two-run homer, his second of the year, and Robinson had a single and a double, but Dragon pitching limited Madison County to six hits.
“They’ve got some good arms over there,” Griffeth said. “The first kid they started had a pretty good arm and good breaking stuff … Then they brought (Chris) Beck in and he’s lights out.”

Raiders return seven seniors off state tourney team
Madison County’s veteran players want to make sure last year’s 20-8 season wasn’t a one-and-done type scenario.
The Raiders open today (Thursday) at home against non-region Jefferson, hungry for another 20-win season and trip to the state playoffs.
“We’ve got a bunch of seniors,” Raider coach Charlie Griffeth said. “They came ready to work and accomplish something. They didn’t come living on success they had last year. So it proves that it’s a new year.”
Madison County’s roster includes seven seniors.
Griffeth, in his 22nd year with Madison County, noted that most of these players have started since they were sophomores and got a taste of the state tournament last year — albeit a brief taste.
Marist bounced Madison County from the playoffs in two games.
“They want to go deeper,” Griffeth said.
Though several experienced bats from last year’s team return, Madison County lost two of its top pitchers — Taylor Hart (drafted in the 44th round by Atlanta) and Blaine Seagraves.
Replacing those arms was a major objective of offseason and preseason work.
The bats apparently had the upper hand during preseason practice, which started Feb. 2.
“It’s early to tell,” Griffeth said. “When we were intrasquading a lot, it was like we’re either the best hitting team in the state of Georgia or the pitching is really struggling,” Griffeth said.
But when facing someone else, the Raider arms fared well.
Jack May pitched four strong innings in Madison County’s victory over Hart County Friday in an exhibition, and Dustin Roberts, Matthew “Raybo” Robinson and Matt Kennison each pitched an inning of relief as Madison County rolled to a 10-1 win.
Ethan Seagraves, Ben Morris, Roberts and May all return with mound experience from last year.
The projected starting rotation comprises Seagraves, an established starter over the past couple of years, Morris and May.
Robinson, the starting shortstop, and Kennison, the starting catcher, will also be called into pitching service this year. Robinson, a submarine pitcher, will work as a reliever, while Kennison will shed the catching armor in late-inning situations and toe the rubber as a closer.
Brandon Doolittle and J. Ben Hardman could see time on the mound as well.
Apart from pitching, the rest of the defensive lineup from last year’s state tournament team remains mostly intact. Kennison is behind the plate, Bo Dalton at first, Ian Drake at second, Robinson at short, Fleming at third, Bracken Turner in left field, Seagraves in center and Roberts in right.
Turner will back up at catcher, while Hardman is the reserve at first. Fleming will shift to shortstop when Robinson pitches and Morris will man third.
Matt Dean is the team’s top outfield reserve while Morris is also working in the outfield.
Kyle Dean is the bullpen catcher.
The team has already lost one player, Stephen Tiller, to a knee injury. He’ll be out for a month.
With nearly all the offensive clout back from last year, Griffeth hopes this team puts its share of runs on the board.
“You’re not going to hit it everyday, but potentially, we’ve got a chance (for batters) 1-9 to produce anywhere in the order — a lot of experience,” he said. “Guys are a little bigger and stronger from last year.”
Madison County has six non-region games this year to tune up for a realigned Region 8-AAAA. The region season doesn’t start until March 11. Gone are Jackson County, Dacula, Alcovy and Eastside. Apalachee and Monroe Area join the fold.
The Raiders will especially miss Eastside, having not lost to the Eagles since 2001.
“I hate to lose Eastside,” Griffeth said. “That was somebody that beats a lot of people and we always seemed to beat.”
Madison County enters this year having snapped a three-year state playoff drought.
“Yeah, it’s something to build on,” Griffeth said. “We were just OK the first half and just kept getting a little better and a little better and then we got on a roll. It kind of reminds you of a couple of teams we had in the past.”

Raider Field renovated
Madison County will unveil a renovated Red Raider Field this spring.
Final touches were applied over the weekend.
“It’s been ongoing,” Griffeth said. “It’s been a big undertaking.”
Among the changes to the four-year field is the replacement of backstop. It has also been moved 10 feet closer, so a passed ball or wild pitch isn’t an automatic score.
“It will play different 10 feet closer,” Griffeth said. “It will make it a little more challenging.”

Season tickest available
Season passes cost $40 and are available at the ticket gate.
Student season tickets cost $10. That fee covers admission for any middle school, junior varsity or varsity home game.