The schedule for Georgia Tech has the Yellow Jackets heading into a big week with some newfound confidence.
After winning a road series at Pittsburgh, one of the bottom teams in the ACC and a wild comeback against Presbyterian in the mid-week, GT has created something they’ve desperately needed- momentum.
While Pitt is far from a power program in the conference, they are a program that has given Georgia Tech trouble in the last few years, and did again at times over the weekend.
With plenty of time left in the season, the results from the weekend could end up being a spot where fans, coaches, and players look back as the turning point of the season.
It could also just simply be a blip in the radar of another trying season, and a bright moment for a team that has been put together via the transfer portal piece by piece. Danny Hall compared the way they put together the roster to the Tampa Bay Rays. It is still unclear if that is the Devil Rays version who struggled to win more than 60 games, or the current Rays team that is a perennial contender.
The defining moments from the weekend series against Pitt weren’t by way of the one-year transfer bunch, but rather the youngsters-
Freshman OF Drew Burress has been a breakout player all season. In key moments, guys like C Vahn Lackey, 3B Ryan Jaros, IF Carson Kerce, and SP Tate McKee all showed Pitt and the rest of the conference why they were as highly-rated coming out of HS as they were.
With Indiana transfer Matthew Ellis showing an increased level of comfort and confidence when lining up as the DH, Lackey started two games over the weekend, and made the most of his chances. Ellis was having the best weekend of his Tech career, and Lackey was able to match that intensity defensively with his approach at the plate both as a battery-mate and as someone in the field.
Ryan Jaros was given a start on Sunday, and he paved the way for some big innings as he finished 3-4 at the plate, scoring two big runs. After struggling early in the season, Jaros has really begun coming into his own. Going 3-4 with two runs scored was big for the Jackets on Sunday. It wouldn’t surprise in the least if Jaros finds his way into the lineup as the season progresses. He’s made the most of his chance. and with the proven results, he could easily end up as the everyday 3B as Hall and Ramsey continue to shuffle things up a bit.
Sunday’s game was the best of his college career thus far.
Starting pitcher Tate McKee likely cemented himself as a weekend starter with his start on Sunday, striking out nine and giving up 1 run on 1 hit in 5 IP. McKee is now second on the team in K (33) despite being fifth on the team in IP with 22.1 IP.
Sunday was the best game of his career as well, as you could see the confidence growing for the freshman throughout his start.
This growing collection of young talent will face a big challenge this week, with matchups against a feisty Georgia Southern team that had a lead until the 8th inning in the matchup in Statesboro earlier this season and against a VT team that is coming off a sweep by a loaded Wake Forest that seem to be finding themselves.
Georgia Tech fans have already closed the book both on this season and on the career of head coach Danny Hall, but with a strong performance this week (3-1, even 2-2) the path to the post-season just might be back in-play.
Lose 3 out of 4, and the program will be right back where it started. The easy part of the schedule is now a thing of the past.
Following the series this weekend against the Hokies, the remaining weekend series for the season are as follows-
AT Virginia (#11)
vs. Miami
AT Clemson (#2)
vs. Duke (#7)
AT Florida State (#10)
No one is currently projecting the Yellow Jackets to make the tournament, and who can blame them given the inconsistencies of the team, particularly on the mound thus far this season.
As big changes potentially await the Jackets after the season, the big week upcoming will go a long way in determining the fate of many.
After winning a road series at Pittsburgh, one of the bottom teams in the ACC and a wild comeback against Presbyterian in the mid-week, GT has created something they’ve desperately needed- momentum.
While Pitt is far from a power program in the conference, they are a program that has given Georgia Tech trouble in the last few years, and did again at times over the weekend.
With plenty of time left in the season, the results from the weekend could end up being a spot where fans, coaches, and players look back as the turning point of the season.
It could also just simply be a blip in the radar of another trying season, and a bright moment for a team that has been put together via the transfer portal piece by piece. Danny Hall compared the way they put together the roster to the Tampa Bay Rays. It is still unclear if that is the Devil Rays version who struggled to win more than 60 games, or the current Rays team that is a perennial contender.
The defining moments from the weekend series against Pitt weren’t by way of the one-year transfer bunch, but rather the youngsters-
Freshman OF Drew Burress has been a breakout player all season. In key moments, guys like C Vahn Lackey, 3B Ryan Jaros, IF Carson Kerce, and SP Tate McKee all showed Pitt and the rest of the conference why they were as highly-rated coming out of HS as they were.
With Indiana transfer Matthew Ellis showing an increased level of comfort and confidence when lining up as the DH, Lackey started two games over the weekend, and made the most of his chances. Ellis was having the best weekend of his Tech career, and Lackey was able to match that intensity defensively with his approach at the plate both as a battery-mate and as someone in the field.
Ryan Jaros was given a start on Sunday, and he paved the way for some big innings as he finished 3-4 at the plate, scoring two big runs. After struggling early in the season, Jaros has really begun coming into his own. Going 3-4 with two runs scored was big for the Jackets on Sunday. It wouldn’t surprise in the least if Jaros finds his way into the lineup as the season progresses. He’s made the most of his chance. and with the proven results, he could easily end up as the everyday 3B as Hall and Ramsey continue to shuffle things up a bit.
Sunday’s game was the best of his college career thus far.
Starting pitcher Tate McKee likely cemented himself as a weekend starter with his start on Sunday, striking out nine and giving up 1 run on 1 hit in 5 IP. McKee is now second on the team in K (33) despite being fifth on the team in IP with 22.1 IP.
Sunday was the best game of his career as well, as you could see the confidence growing for the freshman throughout his start.
This growing collection of young talent will face a big challenge this week, with matchups against a feisty Georgia Southern team that had a lead until the 8th inning in the matchup in Statesboro earlier this season and against a VT team that is coming off a sweep by a loaded Wake Forest that seem to be finding themselves.
Georgia Tech fans have already closed the book both on this season and on the career of head coach Danny Hall, but with a strong performance this week (3-1, even 2-2) the path to the post-season just might be back in-play.
Lose 3 out of 4, and the program will be right back where it started. The easy part of the schedule is now a thing of the past.
Following the series this weekend against the Hokies, the remaining weekend series for the season are as follows-
AT Virginia (#11)
vs. Miami
AT Clemson (#2)
vs. Duke (#7)
AT Florida State (#10)
No one is currently projecting the Yellow Jackets to make the tournament, and who can blame them given the inconsistencies of the team, particularly on the mound thus far this season.
As big changes potentially await the Jackets after the season, the big week upcoming will go a long way in determining the fate of many.
