By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

Here’s the challenge for the Callaway Cavaliers.

If they’re going to advance in the Class AA state playoffs, they’ll have to do something that hasn’t been done all season - beat the Calhoun Yellow Jackets.

With a series sweep of Westminster in the opening round, Calhoun stands at 27-0.

The Yellow Jackets have an offense that boasts a team batting average of .447, and they’ve hit nearly two home runs per game

Calhoun also has some power-armed pitchers who are striking out about 10 batters per game.

And the man in charge, Chip Henderson, is a veteran coach who has been down this state road plenty of times before.

That’s what the Cavaliers face as they head north for their second-round series.

The two teams will play a doubleheader today beginning at 4 p.m., with a third game, if needed, set for Thursday.

“They know how good they are. They know what their record is,” Callaway coach Dusty Hubbard said. “Our thing is, we have to go up there thinking we have a chance to win. And I think our kids believe they can win.”

Dominique Smedley, a junior who banged out two home runs in an opening-round win over Union County, said the Cavs will keep doing the same things that have helped them post a 19-8 record.

“We’ll come out and play the same way and see what happens,” Smedley said.

Added freshman pitcher Kane Keith, who will start one of today’s two games: “We just want to keep our season going. I think we can win it.”

The challenge is a monumental one, though.

Calhoun, which is ranked second in Class AA, hasn’t even had many close games, although it was pushed by Westminster in the opening round.

After taking the opener 6-3, the Yellow Jackets survived 8-7 in the second game.

Still, the end result was the same.

“You don’t go (27-0) if you don’t know how to play,” Hubbard said.

Calhoun has a balanced lineup filled with guys who not only hit for high averages, but can hit the ball out of the park.

Georgia Tech-signee Mott Hyde is the ringleader.

Through the regular season, Hyde was hitting .482 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs.

His batting average, as impressive as it is, isn’t even the team’s best.

Zach Bradley is hitting .520.

“We have had a lot of good hitters come through here, but from top to bottom this might be one of the better hitting teams,” said Henderson, who has been at the helm for 17 years. “These guys are seeing it well and taking a good approach at the plate.”

The Cavaliers were solid defensively in the Union County series, and Hubbard said that will have to continue this week.

“We can not give Calhoun extra outs,” Hubbard said. “It’s going to be a tall enough task as it is. If we give them extra outs, it could get ugly.

“We just know that we have to catch the outs, we have to throw strikes, and we can’t walk guys.

“If you lay it in there and and they beat you hitting the baseball, you can live with that. I think our kids will do that. We’ve been solid defensively the last few games.”

The Yellow Jackets aren’t just an offensive team.

On the mound, their 1.23 earned run average is the state’s best, and they’re led by staff ace Carter Harrison, who is 10-0.

The Cavs don’t have those dominant numbers, but they do know how to win.

They proved that in the Union County series when they shook off a 12-2 loss in Game 2 to win 3-1 in the series finale.

“It takes a lot of character to come back after you get beat like that in the second game,” Hubbard said. “You have to make our kids believe they can do it, and we had a good mindset.”

The Cavs rode the arms of Keith and senior Tanner Thompson past Union County.

Thompson pitched five shutout innings in Game 3 to get the win, and he also won Game 1 with two innings of scoreless innings.

Keith threw six brilliant innings in Game 1, and he finished off Game 3 with a two scoreless innings.

Hubbard also has Brew Parker, Hunter Heath, Hunter Harrington and Chris Laye he can call upon to pitch.

Parker got the start in Game 2 against Union County.

At the plate, the Cavaliers don’t hit many home runs, but Smedley showed off his slugging prowess with two dingers in the Union County series, including a long ball in Game 3.

Senior Chris Laye also packs a punch at the plate, and Kyle Williams, Tanner Thompson, Tavin Thompson, Josh Alise, Chaz Bowles, Caleb Shelnutt had key hits during the Union County series.

Brandon Bowen, Daniel Crowe and Chase Bowles have also contributed offensively this season for the Cavs this season.

Hubbard said a key to the team’s success this season has been the ability of some young players to assimilate nicely into the lineup.

Freshmen Alise (shortstop), Keith, Luke Buruss (catcher) have each played huge roles this season, as have sophomores Tavin Thompson (third base) and Parker (pitcher).

“The hardest thing about having young kids is just setting roles,” he said. “The kids’ roles change from the year before. About three quarters of the way through, the kids understood what their roles were, and that tends to lead to a more balanced team, a more positive dugout

“Guys know what to expect. That’s as big a thing as anything is just settling on roles and guys knowing what they’ll do when they get there.”

Hubbard said the veterans on the team have welcomed the young guys into the fold.

“I give credit to some of our older guys,” he said. “It was tough on them at first, but they understand what their role is.”