Every Wednesday night the baseball team goes to team dinner also known as “Bash Night”. The name comes from Buffalo’s Cafe $18.99 all you can eat wings and fries on Wednesday nights. The tradition was started in 2023 with Tommy Bethel and Logan Floyd. They were looking for team bonding opportunities other than the team trip to St. Simons Island. They eventually landed on team dinner at Buffalo’s Cafe. Senior Joshua Butler wanted to bring this tradition back after not doing it last year.
“I wanted to have a strong team bond, and be connected for my senior season,” Butler said. “We have a really good team, and we are already have a good core, but I wanted it to be stronger.”
Team chemistry is very important in the sport of baseball, it is team sport that relies on individual talents, therefore communication and trust in your teammates is key.
“We are playing as a team, other team’s aren’t as close as us,” Butler said. “Everyone, including freshman, are communicating on the field, not afraid to speak up in the locker room and it is showing on the field right now
With affordability, customer service, taste and convenience being deciding factors, the baseball team has had to change “Bash Night” locations multiple times this year.
“The first restaurant we went to was Buffalo’s, because that’s what “Bash Night” is, but we had to make a switch because they don’t have very good service. Next was Buffalo Wild Wings, they didn’t have very good wings,” Sophomore Cooper Norris said. “After that we decided to go to Las Palmas and that was the spot for four or five weeks, but it got old, so right now you can find us at Moe’s Barbecue on Wednesday nights after practice.”
Team chemistry plays apart in how the team plays on the field as well. Coach Matt Larry has always said, how you handle stuff off the field, translates to the field(i.e. locker, locker, room, grades)
“Obviously, we have a good team bond, we are 3-0, and that’s the best start we’ve had since 2015,” Butler said. ” I think we’ve done a good job of taking care of ourselves off the field too, which might be why we are seeing success.”
The core of the Tigers lineup from the 2024 season will be back for 2025. This group knows how to win, winning the FCAA Championship in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Also, making a final four run in the GHSA State Playoffs in 2023.
“I think bash night continues to improve the core of the team,” Norris said.” We have played together since middle school, and have been successful in the past, and look forward to making a playoff run this season.”