As the 2026 season begins, the Morgan County baseball team is ready to build on last year’s success.
In 2025, the Dogs finished 32-10, captured a region championship, and reached the semifinals, leaving a “bitter taste” that has fueled their offseason motivation.
This year, the team returns a veteran core of seniors, aiming to take the next step and contend for a state title. Head coach Steve Westmoreland knows what it will take.
“Our goal each year is the same: to get better,” Westmoreland told Lake Oconee News. “We want to improve on the things we didn’t do as well last year and build on what we did really well.”
Pitching continues to be the Dogs’ strength. Seniors Ty Tillery, Davis Strickland, and Caylem Richardson anchor the rotation, bringing experience and talent that few programs can match. But Morgan County will need to replace a few key bullpen arms from last year.
“They’ve all been three-year starters on the mound, even some as freshmen, and they bring a lot of experience and quality stuff,” Westmoreland said. “One area we need to build on is the bullpen. We had a lot of depth last year, but those guys have moved on. We’re still looking for some guys who can eat innings out of the bullpen, but we have plenty of options; they just need experience on the mound.”
Defensively, the Dogs are solid, especially in the outfield. With five skilled players — Tillery, Richardson, Jack Whitlow, Wyatt Singleton, and Gavin Hunt — Morgan County has options and flexibility that could be critical in close games.
The catching position, however, remains a question mark following the graduation of multi-year starter Robert Pearson. Returners Grady Whitaker and Brody O’Neal will compete for the starting role early this season.
“That’s one area we need to nail down in the first couple of weeks,” Westmoreland said.
Offensively, Morgan County can generate runs throughout the lineup. Power hitting and doubles have been a hallmark for the Dogs, but this season, they may need to rely more on speed and smart base running to create opportunities. Last year, the Dogs stole over 120 bases while being caught just nine times, highlighting their aggressive approach.
“Offensively, we can really move the ball around the park one through nine, but strikeouts have been an issue,” Westmoreland said.
“We try to score in two ways: by hitting home runs and doubles, and with speed on the bases. Towards the end of the season, against better arms, we struggled to get on base,” he continued. “We need to improve our two-strike approach and find ways to reach base beyond just hitting the ball around the park.”
Morgan County is in a challenging region that includes Callaway, Pike County, and Jackson. To win another region title and secure a top seed heading into the playoffs, the Dogs will need to show up ready to compete every game.
“It’s a schedule where if we don’t show up ready, we’ll go home with a loss,” Westmoreland said.
Morgan County starts its season Feb. 13 at McIntosh and will again play on the road against Newton the following day.