Greenbrier offense needs to liven up to get wins

By now, many of you know that Greenbrier High School dropped a pair of games last weekend to AAAAA powers Brookwood and Parkview.

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That they lost the games is not really a big deal. These were nonregion games that really mattered only to those who like to argue on Internet message boards (shamefully, I have fallen into this category on occasion).

Also, keep in mind that Greenbrier dropped several nonregion games early last season before going on an incredible run all the way to a state title, and the Pack did have region games with Statesboro on Friday and Lakeside on Monday.

Coach Rodney Holder used his No. 1 starter in the region opener against Statesboro. Nolan Belcher was brilliant as usual, going the distance and striking out 14 in a 1-0 Greenbrier win. That meant Belcher would not be available for the double-dip Saturday.

Holder also saved No. 2 starter Patrick McGowan. With Shane Nelson out for the season, the Pack was basically using the bottom part of their staff Saturday. There is no shame in losing to Brookwood. They are nationally ranked and beat the No. 2 team in AAAAA (Kennesaw Mountain), 15-2.

The concern is not losing or pitching. Pack faithful are more concerned with Greenbrier's offense, or lack thereof. Greenbrier managed just three runs in the Statesboro-Brookwood-Parkview stretch.

Now, they were definitely facing quality pitching, perhaps the best pitching they will see all year. And it is early in the season. Other than Nolan Belcher and Patrick McGowan, however, most of the Pack's key offensive weapons have struggled in recent games.

The optimist in me chalks this up as early season growing pains and fully expects the bats to come alive soon. But there are some folks wondering whether Greenbrier really has enough offense to make another deep postseason run.

I remember these same concerns last season, and even with one of their top bats booted off the team, Greenbrier came through just fine. Therefore, I will give Holder and his squad the benefit of the doubt.

They need T.D. Davis to be a consistent run producer all year, and they need Nick Page to get 100 percent healthy. If these two things happen, the Pack will be just fine.