Diamond Leopards using summer to rebuild for spring

High school baseball season is over, but the Diamond Leopards are already looking ahead for next spring.

The summer baseball season is well under way and Banks County coach Joe Lord is encouraged by what he is seeing coming together for next year’s team.

“I have been very encouraged by the overall attitude and dedication that our players are showing this summer,” Lord said. “The philosophy of summer baseball is somewhat different. The record really doesn't mean too much, you just look for improvement each time out. We have a lot of holes to fill after graduating 10 seniors, so right now we're trying to figure out where guys can help us the most.”

Because the stats and records that are usually associated with the game go out the window during summer, the Leopards and Lord can focus more on improving skills, talent and team building for the spring.

In the crosshairs for Lord, is the Leopards’ pitching staff as well as the team’s defense.

“We are going to have to throw strikes and pitch to contact, and our defense has to make plays. We lost virtually all our offense, and our hitting is a work in progress.”

For more summer baseball, see the June 10 edition of The Banks County News.