“In the spring of the year a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” Well, that iconic line from the English poet Alford Lord Tennyson, might still be true some of the time, but in this part of Georgia this week, there are a whole lot of young men (and medium and old men) whose thoughts and fancy are turning towards other things.
One of those “things” will certainly be high school championship baseball, and there will be a whole lot of folks all over Emanuel County whose thoughts will be turning that way in the next few days. That is due to the fact that the ECI Bulldogs have worked their way into the 2026 GHSA Class A Division 2 State Championship series. After sweeping Charlton County in the final four last week, the Bulldogs are now set to take on their state championship challenge this Friday against the Lanier County Bulldogs. This “Duel of the Dogs” will begin at 11 a.m. Friday morning at J.I. Clements Stadium on the Georgia Southern University campus.
The ECI Bulldog team, led by Head Coach Brooks Collins, is a seasoned group who have literally grown up together on the diamond. This year has not always been an easy one for the ECI team
but with the help of Assistant Coaches Caleb Pressey, Derek Harnage and Schuyler Johnson, the team finished strong, and the reward is definitely deserved and validates all the hard work, training and dedication that has persisted from day one. Another essential to the success has been the support and standards of their school and their fans. From all appearances this team is a group whose time has come. One thing’s for sure…it is not easy to make it to this level, and this is an achievement that our entire county can point to and be proud of. The record of this season has earned the Bulldogs the respect of their competitors, the respect of the GHSA, and the respect of everyone out there who understands the value of effort and commitment that is required by playing the game and never giving up. Most importantly, this victorious season has earned each player the self-respect that comes from a job well-done. Congratulations to the ECI Bulldogs and good luck on Friday!
