When asked his thoughts on his team going for a third straight championship in Region 1 of the state’s highest classification, Colquitt County baseball coach Tony Kirkland answered quickly.

“Our kids expect to win the region,” Kirkland said as the Packers prepared for today’s 6 p.m. scrimmage against Worth County at Ike Aultman Field.

“We’ve done some team-building things and goal-setting things and I think they are going in expecting to win it again,” Kirkland said.

Despite losing a number of key seniors — including Matt Creech, Austin Dykes, Corey Moore, Dillon Presley and Vann Pitts — the Packers will be a favorite in a revamped Region 1-AAAAAA that has added Brunswick and Camden County.

The Packers return a number of key contributors from last year’s team, including Vanderbilt signee Aubrey McCarty, outfielders Daren Kent and Jared May and infielders Colin Kirkland and Blake Bennett.

But a promising group of underclassmen has optimism high.

After winning the region last season, the Packers reached the second round of the state playoffs, where they were eliminated by Brookwood.

In his three years at the helm of the Packers, Kirkland has led the Packers to 13-12, 22-14 and 19-10 records.

To repeat as region champions, the Packers will have to make their way through six Friday region doubleheaders.

The three on the road are at Brunswick on March 8; at Lowndes on March 29; and at Coffee on April 5.

The three home region doubleheaders are against Valdosta on March 15; Tift County on March 22; Camden County on April 12.

Packer fans will get a preview of the Packers tonight in scripted scrimmage against the Rams.

At least six pitchers will throw and perhaps two groups of hitters will go to the plate, Kirkland said.

“It’s baseball against somebody else,” Kirkland said. “But it’s not a real game.”

The first “real” game is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 22, when the Packers meet Crisp County at Lee County.

The Packers will play a doubleheader the following day Centennial and Lee County, also in Leesburg.

Today, the Packers are expected to start Vanderbilt-signee Aubrey McCarty on the hill. He could go two innings.

McCarty will be followed by Cole Bryant, Jonah Bozeman, Zack Saunders, Ross Goforth and Blake Bennett, each of whom will work one inning.

Clayton Brown and Ryan Chatmon also are expected to throw for the Packers this season, but neither will be available tonight.

McCarty, who will continue his ambidextrous pitching ways this season, was 9-2 last year with a 2.91 ERA.

He is expected to be the starting pitcher for the first game of each of the region doubleheaders.

Brown, Bryant and Chatman are vying for the No. 2 spot.

Saunders, who did a strong job in relief for the Packers last season, is slated to play a similar role this year.

Bozeman has been effective in preseason work.

Goforth adds some depth and Bennett is expected to get plenty of innings. Both Goforth, expected to start at third base, and Bennett, who will be the starting shortstop, are both being counted on in the infield.

Goforth, despite not having played a varsity game, is already being heavily recruited after a strong summer season.

Bennett, who was the Packers  starting center fielder last year, moved back to the infield to fill in for Daniel Mobley, who will likely miss all or most of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery.

“Blake is absolutely a blessing to our team,” Kirkland said. “It’s unbelievable the number of runs he saved us last year in center field.

“Now he has moved back to the infield and he has been exceptional.”

Pitching coach Zach Grage also likes the potential of freshmen Kodi Bishop and Beau Dalton.

The Packers will need two solid catchers with the large number of doubleheaders coming up and appear to have them in Cody Carr and Preston Berry.

Carr has been sidelined with a knee injury, but should be back soon. Sophomore Warren Funderburk has been getting plenty of work.

McCarty, who has been scalding the baseball at the plate this preseason, will play first base when not pitching.

When he is on the mound, Bozeman will play first, Colin Kirkland will be at second, Goforth will be at third and Bennett will play shortstop.

When Bennett goes to the mound, McCarty will be at first, Goforth will be at shortstop and Bozeman will be at third.

Gabe Mobley, who also is nursing a knee injury, will play first base and serve as a designated hitter when he has mended.

Daren Kent, who started at third base last year, volunteered to move to right field to get Goforth’s bat in the lineup.

Seniors Garrett Pearce and Jared May are vying for outfield positions, as are juniors Tony Simpson, Andy Bush and Mack Hathcock.

Hathcock has been idled with an arm problem, but should be back soon and will slide into the center field position.

He is unlikely to pitch this season, but should be back on the mound in 2014.

PACKER NOTES: The Georgia Dugout Preview magazine lists the Packers as the Region 1-AAAAAA favorites and has McCarty, Kent and Colin Kirkland listed among the region’s Players to Watch.

Surprisingly, McCarty did not make the preseason Class AAAAAA All-State team first team. He was selected for second team as a utility player.

The publication lists Colquitt County at No. 15 in its Class AAAAAA preseason top 15. The Packers are the only non-Atlanta area team on the list.

Camden County, Coffee, Lowndes and Tift County are listed as “others to watch.”

Both Coffee and Tift County have new coaches, with Jamey Shouppe taking over the Trojans and Kyle Kirk now running the Blue Devils.