ahead to a busy weekend

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

After more than a week of not playing, the No. 5 ranked Charles Henderson Trojans got back to work Wednesday and suffered a late-inning loss to Tallassee.

The Trojans dropped a 4-3 decision in the final inning after giving up two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run blast to left to tie the game and one run in the seventh on a game-winning single to right.

CHHS head coach Steve Garrett wasn’t happy with the way his team played.

"We weren’t playing Charles Henderson baseball," Garrett said. "It’s simple, when we play error-free baseball we win. When we don’t, we lose. These guys will play Charles Henderson baseball this weekend."

Garrett and his squad don’t have to much time to worry about the loss to THS, however. The Trojans will get started on a long weekend with a double-header against Northview today and then what should be a gem as the Trojans face No. 7 ranked Stanhope Elmore Saturday in a battle of Top 10 teams.

That type of weekend might have a lot of people worried, but not this group. The schedule is tough by design Garrett says.

"Last year I didn’t know what I was getting into team-wise since it was my first year here," Garrett said. "I think our schedule was even tougher last year. Still, win or lose, the way I look at it you try to play the best possible teams you can. It doesn’t matter if your .500 going into the Area, if you’ve already faced the best then you’re ready."

The game Saturday against Stanhope has all the makings of classic. With both teams ranked in the State’s Top 10 neither will have to be given any incentive to play their best ball, but a little spice is thrown into the mix anytime Charles Henderson and the Mustangs take a playing field together in any sport.

The Trojans lost one game to the Mustangs already this season in a 9-1 loss that doesn’t rank very high on Garrett’s best-memories list. CHHS gave up five runs late in the game which should have the defensive-minded Trojans looking for payback come Saturday.

Still, Garrett says that they aren’t concentrating on Stanhope Elmore until they get past their double-header with Northview today.

"Stanhope is ranked No. 7 in the state, but we’re not going to look at that game like it’s a must win or anything," Garrett said. "Of course we want to win, we want to win every game, but we’ve still got to play Northview twice on Friday before we play them.

"We’ll see who’s left to throw on Saturday and throw them," he continued. "We’ll play them hard, that’s all you can do. If that was an Area game I’d probably change my pitching around, but we’re not going to worry about that."

In the Tallassee game the Trojans were held to only four hits in the ball game. The CHHS offense went in order in the first three innings and in their final at bat in the seventh.

David Taylor had the only extra-base hit for the Trojans with a double, Will Jones, Clint Pugh and Jason Barron all had singles.

CHHS and Northview will kick off on the road starting at 5 p.m. Saturday’s game with No. 7 ranked Stanhope will begin at noon.