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King's Ridge Magazine: Triple Play
IS CHARLIE JONES NOT JUST THE PERFECT BASEBALL NAME?
Well, the King's Ridge corner infielder's game is as good as his name.
Making the decision to focus on baseball after his freshman season has paid off for the 6-foot-3 slugger, who has committed to Air Force.
VYPE caught up with Jones for our Triple Play feature, getting under the hat of the talented Tiger.
VYPE: What's your strength and what did you love about Air Force?
JONES: "Hitting is definitely my strength, but I'm also a pretty good fielder. As far as Air Force, the head coach is amazing and I love how he treats all of his players. They showed a lot of interest, so it was a pretty easy decision. I feel like I'm going above and beyond every kid's dream playing DI baseball and hopefully beyond."
VYPE: Who do you love to watch playing baseball and what else do you feel you bring to the dugout?
JONES: "Mike Trout is my favorite player right now. Just the way he plays the game. He plays so hard and he's really good too. Inside the dugout, I like being a leader. I feel like I am a team leader. I like picking my teammates up after having a bad game. That's what I live for."
VYPE: How has the King's Ridge experience been?
JONES: "It's a small community and I've loved getting to know everyone. I talk with and have made friends with people I may never had ended up talking to somewhere else. Baseball wise, our new coaching staff has been great. I've also got a bunch of buddies here and we are involved in Young Life… a place where we can go talk about the Lord.
King's Ridge Magazine: Coaching Chops
MIKE POWER IS A SELF ADMITTED, PROCESS-ORIENTED PERSON.
Well, his process has worked is in his first season as the King's Ridge skipper. Power comes over from Roswell High School and is one of the state's all-time winningest coaches (525- 225). He has three state titles, numerous Coach of the Year Awards, and has been inducted into the Georgia Dugout Hall of Fame.
"There are certain things we talk about every day to be successful," he said. "Making the routine play, situational hitting, moving runners, throwing strikes, not making errors, and winning the freebie plays. You focus on those things and you can win 90-percent of the time."
He has coached some of the best prospects to come out of Georgia and nationwide as an assistant for Team USA. He has been a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins for over a decade.
"There's a lot of life lessons that young people learn through the game of baseball," he said. "Accountability, showing up on time ready to work, busting it every day until it's over. These are things they will take with them through college and into the workforce in the future. That's what I'm also trying to teach."
King's Ridge finished the regular season with an 18-6 overall record and entered the state playoffs as the Region #6 No. 2 seed as Power's philosophy is sinking in throughout the dugout. With his resume, who wouldn't hang on every word? He's seen virtually everything the sport can throw at you.
"This is a wonderful place with great people," he said. "There is a really good baseball tradition here, but they have been in a little lull for a few years. This is an attractive school for kids to come to and we are going to be successful here. That just breeds more success."
With his college and pro contacts and baseball acumen, just sit back and watch as Power puts together a "power" program in the talent-rich Peach State in a short period of time. Bet on it.