MOULTRIE — Longtime Colquitt County High pitching coach Keith Croft remembers with fondness some of the outstanding left-handed pitchers the Packers have had in his tenure.

The 1997 state championship team had an outstanding one, of course, in Hayden Gliemmo.

The 2003 state champions had a pair of able southpaws in Aaron Eubanks, the Region 1-AAAAA Player of the Year who currently plays at Georgia Southern, and Cody Green.

But Croft can’t remember the last time he has had three left-handers as prime contributors to the pitching staff.

The Packers are likely to use as many as six pitchers in the Hornet Classic tournament that begins Mon-day in Adel.

And three of them will throw from the left side.

Junior left-handers Matt Weaver and Andrew Wallace, who got some experience on the mound for the Packers last year, are joined this year by sophomore Andrew McDowell.

Those three underclassmen will join right-handers Chance Pitts, Scotty DeMott and Tyler Perryman as the anchors of the 2006 pitching staff.

“We’ve gone many years with no left-handers,” Croft said. “I’m pleased with the possibility of having three on the bus with us.”

In 2005, the Packers counted almost exclusively on three seniors: Sherard Reynolds, Mike Mobley and Blake Williams.

That left just 30 innings between Weaver and Wallace, who were sophomores.

“We usually have one starter back who has a lot of innings,” Croft said. “But we lost our one and two and those are big shoes to fill.”

Weaver and Wallace are more experienced than McDowell, who is likely to make his varsity debut this week, perhaps in the 5:30 p.m. Monday season-opener against Worth County in Adel.

“I like having left-handers,” said Croft. “There’s something about them. They’re crafty and sneaky.”

Croft said he is unsure why southpaws are generally so effective at high school level, where most batters hit from the right side.

“But anytime you’ve got one who can throw, you’ve got to like it,” he said. “And we’ve got three who can help us.”

Croft said he expects the entire staff to have to learn as it goes this season.

“It’s a young staff,” Croft said. “They are going to make some mistakes. But they’re smart and they’ll make adjustments. We just have to be patient.”

Croft said who the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 pitchers are “is not set, by no means.”

“I like this group,” Croft said. “They do what they’re told and they’re responding well to us.”

The staff should get plenty of work next week.

After playing Worth County on Monday, the Packers will return to Adel to meet Valdosta at 4 p.m. Wednesday and will conclude their three games in the tournament with a 7 p.m. Friday game against Cook High.