MOULTRIE – One year ago, Tony Kirkland had every reason to feel good about his Colquitt County High baseball club contending for and outright winning the Region 1-7A championship.

Midway through 2017 – right when region play was starting – the longtime head coach was simply hoping to get through each day without hearing more bad news.

But what do you know, at the end the Packers overcome it all and wind up No. 1 in 1-7A after all.

It was quite a senior day also, with tales of how all these players grew up playing together. The group was comprised of three of the four starting infielders, two of the three starting outfielders, the three-year starting catcher, and the starting pitcher who stepped in and arguably saved the season taking over the Game 1 series spot.

Today, the story is almost the same for Kirkland and the Packers. It’s another large senior class of 12 players who will fill several of the important roles needed to be successful in a baseball season. Plus, there’s that thing known as the desire to win and repeat as region champs.

“This group has already said that that’s what they want to do,” said Kirkland. “You think, last year we started a senior behind the plate, a senior at third, a junior at shortstop, a senior at second, a senior at first, a senior in centerfield and a senior in right field. We graduated a bunch.

“This year, we are going to start off with a senior behind the plate, and a senior at third, a senior at shortstop, a senior at second, a senior at first, a senior in center and a senior in right. Not all of them got a lot of time last year, but they have had one heck of an offseason.

“We have run more intrasquads this year than we have ever done. It’s been exciting to watch. Our pitching has been really, really good.”

It was in pitching where Kirkland had to rethink his plans as the 2017 season progressed. He said two players who did not finish the season, senior left-hander Dylan Collins (6-3, 160 pounds) and senior sidearming right-hander Cory Newsome (5-10, 192 pounds), are back.

“DC’s probably the biggest and most pleasant surprise I’ve had here in a long time,” said Kirkland.

The region doubleheaders of 2017 were put in the hands of senior Wheeler Hunnicutt and junior Ethan Phillips. Phillips (5-11, 164 pounds) developed in his role so much he threw a no-hit shutout at Packer Park to beat and end the first-round series vs. McEachern. He was also first-team All-Region as he led the Packers with 53 innings, 61 strikeouts and five wins with a 2.64 earned run average.

“All of them, they want the baseball,” said Kirkland. “That’s the most important thing. They want it. Ethan took advantage of that situation and ran with it. We wouldn’t have been able to do anything like we were able to do without him.”

With Phillips now in his senior season, Kirkland said it gives Packer pitching a lot of complimentary parts. The coach can start Phillips, Collins and Newsome.

“That gives us a right-hander of Ethan’s caliber, a right-hander who’s a sidearm guy (Newsome), and a left-handed power pitcher (Collins),” said Kirkland.

“Jared Horne’s been another big surprise. He has been absolutely dominant through the course of our scrimmages. He’ll primarily be a reliever, possibly our closer.”

A closer like John Samuel Shenker last year?

“That does not exist,” said Kirkland. “Shenker was a special human being, being able to throw it 90 mph or better. (Horne) is going to be a lot more crafty from underneath.”

Horne is also in the senior class, as is the starting catcher Mack Crosby. Kirkland used Jay Saunders in that role for three season, and Saunders now plays for Georgia College.

“We’ve been extremely blessed to have a run of catchers who were spectacular,” said Kirkland. “It managed to work out where one fed into the other. Mack did not get a whole lot of opportunities. He’s going to have some nice competition. Callon Kubiak, a sophomore, there will be games where we catch Callon because we don’t to put ourselves in the same situation next year.”

The Packer infield lost Buck Blalock, Austin Singletary and Logan Wheeler. Who’s back is perhaps the state’s best shortstop in Gavin Patel, a member of Team Georgia during the offseason and, like Newsome, already signed to play for Gordon State.

“Best one I’ve had,” said Kirkland. “He’s swinging the bat very well. Defense is a given. I’m asking him to be more of a leader. He’s been able to sit back. He’s a quiet boy. I’m asking him to take more ownership this year.

“It all starts with him. He’d probably hit leadoff (Tuesday).”

Fans can see where Patel is in that batting order Thursday when Colquitt County hosts Worth County for a scrimmage at 5 p.m. They can also see how the rest of the infield shapes up. The coach said senior Dylan Dalton, who had several at-bats in 2017 as designated hitter, is the second baseman.

“He doesn’t strike out,” said Kirkland. “He did an incredible job last year at a spot we needed.

“Raines Plant will start at third. We have puzzle pieces we’ll have to figure out because Patel has to pitch. We will have to figure out what we’ll do on the infield when we take Gavin off short. We do not have the next shortstop who’s ready now.”

First base is also a “committee” area, because Kirkland said both Phillips and Newsome can play there when not pitching. It may eventually go to an underclassman as Kirkland likes junior Turner Sircy and sophomore JC Harden.

The outfield has its question marks related to injury issues. Returning seniors are Tanner Wilson and Tucker Buckner, and Kirkland said they are battling arm issues.

“We are tinkering with Tanner on the mound,” he said. “He is a hard-throwing righty who has come out of nowhere. I don’t think his arm is quite used to being a pitcher, so we are taking our time with him.”

More junior outfielders who could contribute are Alex Bledsoe (whose brother Hayden graduated last season) and Tucker Hathcock (whose brother now starts as a senior at Valdosta State).

What kind of offense can this Packer club produce? Saunders was the team leader in hits (36) and RBI (15) while Shenker was tops in runs scored (22).

“That’s something we’re going to have to see how it works,” said Kirkland. “We have potential to score a lot of runs. We have a nice mix of speed guys, line drive hitters and power. I’m not sure if we’re going to be an execution team or if we’re going to be able to stand up there and just hit it. We’ll find out.”

While Colquitt County lost its senior group, the region as a whole lost a lot of talent. Camden County does not have Milan Ellerson and Tift County does not have Christian Avant. Lowndes High, however, may have the most returning experience. Junior Dalton Smith, a left-hander, is already committed to defending NCAA champion Florida.

Colquitt’s regular season opens Monday with a 5:45 p.m. home start vs. Cairo. That’s followed by eight more in a row at home against the likes of LaGrange, Hillgrove on President’s Day, The Georgia-Florida Challenge vs. Clay and Lincoln on Feb. 24, 6A runner-up Lee County and defending AA champion Jeff Davis.

“Every year I want to play those teams that have a good chance of beating us,” said Kirkland. “That’s the only way you make sure you’re better come playoff time. I want us to get better every day. By the time we hit March 9, when we start our region schedule (at Lowndes), we should have a good idea of where will be. Our region’s going to be nip and tuck.”