After 0-7-1 start, Milan baseball beginning to put it all together and pick up wins

MILAN — After the first eight games of the 2018 season, Milan baseball didn't look like a team that was ready for a postseason run. And definitely not one that was ready to compete for a District 13-AA title.

The Bulldogs were 0-7-1.

But that didn't seem to affect the team. According to Milan senior Griffin Miller, a record doesn't mean much. It's about how you play at the end of the year.

Going into Friday's game against Haywood, Milan had won three straight games and was 3-3 in district play, and the Bulldogs were showing that they shouldn't be counted out.

"The kids are working hard, and we went back to fundamentals," Milan coach Todd Holden said. "We are hitting tons and tons of fungoes. We are working on the little things. They are determined and working hard. It is not about about our effort. We had to slow down and get back to the basics."

After losing six starters from last year's team that made a Class AA sectional appearance, there were going to be bumps in the road for the Bulldogs (6-12-1, 3-3).

"Our attitude has changed since the beginning of the season," Miller said. "We were kind of down and didn't know what to do. We lost a big group of seniors and didn't know who the leaders were."

Seniors like Miller were going to have to lead, so that the younger players could settle in quickly.

And the young players had to adapt quickly to the varsity game, playing against much better talent than in middle school or on the junior varsity level.

"We have inexperience, and we are young," Holden said. "The seniors we have have been in the program for four years, and they are leading us. We are putting the pieces together and putting everybody in the right spots."

Taylor Lockhart, Nick White and Miller are the three starters back from last year. Catcher Hunter Wray was supposed to get lots of playing time last year, but he battled mono all season.

"Some of the seniors from previous years have helped me become a leader," Miller said. "Having that older brother figure around like Connor (Creasy), Mason (Holder), Cameron (Oliver) and Jay (Hatfield), they taught me how to step up and lead."

Now in those first eight games, the Bulldogs did play some talented teams like University School of Jackson, Chester County, Union City and Huntingdon. Those games helped with experience.

And Thursday's 4-3 win over McNairy Central avenged a 9-4 loss to the Bobcats during those eight games.

Milan has two series left in 13-AA play with Obion County (0-6) and South Gibson (6-0). The Bulldogs are in third place with the potential to climb.

"I am confident in this team," Miller said. "This is a scrappy bunch. I think we will go deep."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.