MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — As another baseball season kicks into gear, Baldwin has hopes for a fresh start this year. After finishing 6-20 with no region wins in 2016, the Braves start the year with a new coach, and after a GHSA realignment, a new region. First-year coach William Emadi said he wants to win at least 15 of the 30 games on his schedule.

The Braves make the move from Region 2 in Class 4A to Region 3, competing with Burke County, Cross Creek, Hephzibah, Richmond Academy and Thomson.

Emadi, a 2015 graduate of Georgia Southern, gained experience as an assistant coach at Chapel Hill High School in Douglasville, before coming to Baldwin to teach economics and finance last fall. With the position open, the school offered him his first head-coaching position.

“Our goals for the season are pretty simple,” Emadi said. “We want to do some special things here and make the state playoffs for the first time since, I believe 1987.”

Emadi will look to both young talent and established leaders on the team to accomplish his goal, which would require finishing the season fourth in their region.

“Its a healthy balance of both,” he said, when asked if his team was young or experienced. “We have a few senior, junior leaders that really are fantastic players. But at the same time, our outfield is a bunch of sophomores.”

Junior Jordan Rouse and senior Hunter Davis will lead the charge in pitching.

“Hunter led the team in ERA with under 2.50 last year, with three wins,” Emadi said. “Jordan had two [wins], with an ERA a little bit over 3.00. They’re the one-two punch that we have.”

Davis will also play a key role offensively, after posting a region-best .423 batting average in 2016.

Emadi also looks for junior Victor Hill to excel the field.

“He’s capable of playing just about anywhere on the field. He’s a special athlete with a huge bat,” Emadi said. “We’re looking for those three guys to really lead this team.”

First baseman Josh Horton and second-baseman Brett Bass, both seniors, will add to that core foundation of leadership and Erron Bolston will step in to the role of starting catcher as a sophomore. Sophomores C.J. Hurst and Dylan Sallad will look to contribute in the outfield.

The Braves will not only face competition from a new region this year, but will also face local schools, Georgia Military College and John Milledge Academy for the first time in many years. John Milledge particularly is known for its quality baseball program. Emadi said he was confident though, in his team’s ability to compete.

“Any opportunity to play a county rival is a fun one, and I know these kids are looking forward to it, and I’m certain they’re looking forward to it,” he said.

Baldwin will face GMC March 7 and JMA March 18. Region play will begin March 14 with Richmond Academy.

“We’ve got some big games on our schedule in a new region and we’re hoping that we get everything we possibly can out of this season,” Emadi said.