Bradwell Institute baseball coach Rhett Hellgren guided his team to a pretty good season last year, going 16-12 overall and 13-5 in Region 3-AAAAA and made it to the first round of the state tourney.
On Wednesday afternoon, Hellgren and his squad started the 2013 season on a high note by beating McIntosh County Academy, 7-3, on the Tigers’ home field.
The Buccaneers were up 2-0 as the third inning progressed, but Hellgren said his pitching rotation did well for its first game. James Moon started on the mound, Stephen Felton came in the fourth and Sage Sammons came in near the end.
“We were on a 45-pitch count today, and all three pitchers did well,” Hellgren said. “I was very happy with how they came out and threw strikes.  If we can keep runners off the bases from walks and hit by pitches, we will be all right.”
Bradwell’s Caleb Wells hit a solo home run as the Tigers chipped away at the Buccaneers’ lead.
Hellgren said he was pleased with the season opening win but was cautiously optimistic.
“It is obviously a great start … but it is still early in the season, and we are going to have to continue to work hard in practice,” he said. “Practice is where you get better.”
Next action for Bradwell is 6 p.m. Tuesday at Long County.