26-04-2025
Cottondale aiming for first playoff victory since 2002
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Cottondale High School baseball team is preparing to host Blountstown in the Rural Regional Quarterfinals after a second consecutive district title.
Facing challenges with missing key players throughout the season, the Hornets entered the year with a goal of simply reaching the postseason.
Now, after capturing back-to-back district titles for the first time in program history, a new reality has been set: the Hornets are no longer considered underdogs.
Head coach Skylar Davis feels the recognition has been earned, even if the feeling is unfamiliar.
'We had to get adjusted to a new role,' Davis said.
'We're not really the underdogs right now for the first time. I mean, I still feel like we're underdogs every game. But, you know, we've won the district two years in a row.'
'I feel like at the beginning of the year, we played with a lot of pressure because we hadn't experienced the expectations. But it took a while, and towards the end of the year, we got confident and started clicking.' Davis said.
Even without star pitcher Cam Odom, adversity was overcome and a playoff run was secured. That resilience will now be tested against Blountstown, a small-town rival.
'We just kind of felt that it was time to go in or go home,' junior pitcher Lane Johnson said.
'A few weeks before our season ended, we started clicking, getting some hits, winning some big games. And it's just, we kind of feel it now. So we're looking to go there Monday and show who is the best ballclub.'
Cottondale will host Blountstown in the best-of-three series starting on Monday, April 28.
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