The best memory that Georgia Tech first baseman Jake Davies holds of playing Georgia was his first.
As a freshman relief pitcher in 2009, Davies entered the game as the Bulldogs, then ranked first in the country, were rallying. In the bottom of the seventh with the score 9-5 in Tech’s favor at Georgia’s Foley Field, Davies was called on with the bases loaded and one out. He struck out the next two batters to retire the side. When he got back to the dugout, he went to give starting pitcher Jed Bradley a high five, but missed and poked Bradley in the eyes.
“He’s crying in the dugout the rest of the game because I poked him in the eyes,” he said. “That was a fun moment.”
As a senior, Davies’ memories of playing Georgia have mostly been warm. The Jackets have won the season series the past three years. On Wednesday night, Tech and Georgia will play at Russ Chandler Stadium with the series 1-1. Bulldogs seniors such as second baseman Levi Hyams have their last chance to break the streak.
“They’ve taken it to us the past few years,” Hyams said. “We really want to get this for revenge and prove we’re the best team in Georgia.”
Chances are good that either Davies or Hyams, or both, will play a central role Wednesday. Davies is hitting .335 and leads the ACC in RBIs with 1.13 per game. In the past 10 games, he has five home runs and 14 RBIs. Not coincidentally, he would tell you, teammate Zane Evans gave Davies a Mohawk haircut just before his hitting spree.
For superstitions, “some guys wear the same jocks and don’t wash them,” Davies said. “I just happen to cut my hair.”
Hyams has cleared himself of a miserable slump and is 6-for-15 in his past four games. He credits his recovery to something a little more orthodox than a Mohawk. With his average drooping to .216, coach David Perno told Hyams he would give him the day off in the second game of the LSU series to clear his mind.
“I’m just so glad Coach decided to sit me,” said Hyams, who hit .333 as a sophomore and junior. “I never thought I’d say that, but I’m so glad it worked out.”
In their own ways, both Davies and Hyams have been valuable to their teams through their versatility. Hyams, a starter since his freshman season, has played shortstop and second and has hit up and down the order.
“I swear, I don’t think there’s a spot he hasn’t hit,” Perno said.
Davies, along with his barber Evans, was one of 20 players named Monday to the watch list for the John Olerud Award, given to the best two-way player in the country. Davies has a 3.45 ERA in 10 appearances this season. He started against Charlotte on Sunday, going 4 2/3 innings with one earned run.
“I think he’s playing his best baseball at a time when we need him to play his best baseball,” coach Danny Hall said.
Chances are he’ll do so Wednesday.
“I love playing against those guys,” Davies said. “Any day you get to play against Georgia is a fun day.”
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