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12 v 11 ’ v *f- ' "•*' - >s Vrff 1 • - \ s >.. -, a .vw 'Wkj®v j® ; JMpf •’ /:' X C>• Jlw w**m* f^Hftji^ftnn)^' l JHBnKPW \ t&jMdflflttS -| “ ""■•' : : ■ " •;-■■ ■■■: ■' ;■ T7^W‘f Fill | Th* Rkp * Black ▲ Outfielder Zach Cone led the Diamond Doga in RBIs (S3) and home runs (10) last season and expects more of himself this season. 3§f§ „ „ , ai s i 1 |l| m Bfffiiiinßlwltiß / mmlMmt / mb: \ ,ij.J, ' , r .'i~'-s~i/'f^^V i ~ ''" j ’ ? * T My ' \ IV' \ \\| ] gH -„ BT \ WHHBb! gj \\ x. I Hallig / ' i gKv w Vmwtl j Mi I l , PARKER (gjUMOCMCntt \ \ K ( I l ; r. T|][TJ RiVl RW AI K L~ - '. - ftomi m *n**G*9* Ml linim Lane MMI warn Finals Edition —■■■■■■ ■■■ \M&A {LANDMARK " (proVbrtibs 1 * SPORTS Junior striving to improve to get Dogs back on track By DAVID MITCHELL The Red & Buck Zach Cone is just a little bit different. Not because of his gaudy statistics as an outfielder for the Georgia baseball team, nor for the fact that he’s a Bulldog in a family of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Cone is different because he’s willing to learn and, according to head coach David Pemo, that makes all the difference. Despite being picked in the third round of the 2008 Major League Draft and an instant success in college, Pemo said Cone is commit ted to doing whatever it takes to get better. “He’s a tremendous ath lete,” Pemo said. “He’s got the skills, he’s learned and— most importantly he’s j’ ( r x JOINER a m Vm . 11l - • • ] still willing to learn- He’s coachable, and I think that’s very important and unique in players of his cal iber." In 2010, a season in which the Bulldogs floun dered to a 18-37 record, Cone was a rare bright spot, hitting .363 with 10 home runs and S3 RBIs. But Cone, a junior, said this year is all about improv ing Individually and as a team. “I had a good year last year, but as a team we still didn’t do real well,” Cone said. “This year is all about finding areas I can improve my game and help the team turn it around. I hope I can put up the numbers, but winning ballgames is what’s most important.” © Tl* Lodfyr AIU# N* [£>(%. I Pemo stressed this point as well. “I think the moat impor tant thing for Zach and his teammates is to learn how to win again,” Pemo said. “I don’t care what type of numbers he puts up. Our focus going forward needs to be winning. We’re going to find out what type pf leader he is this year, and I’m sure he won’t let us down.” If Cone’s first two years are any indi cation, that is a safe bds Aside from the HSKST” PERNO numbers he put up in his first two years in Athens, Cone points to his positive leadership as one of his best characteristics as an athlete. “I’m always smiling,” Cone said —with a laugh, of course. “I think trying to always be positive is a big thing even if things aren’t going so great. Sometimes Coach will ask me what I’m smiling about —but that’s just me.” Despite his constantly encouraging attitude toward his teammates, Pemo noted that one of Cone’s biggest weaknesses is setting very high expec tations for himself. For somebody that expects the best, Pemo said, anything short is a disappointment. “He wants to do so much and tries to do so much that sometimes he gets himself in trouble,” he said. “Sometimes learning to fail is the most important thing a great athlete can do. Everyone here has experi enced success. They haven’t experienced as much failure.” Cone didn’t disagree. “I am hard on myself,” he said. “No one likes mess ing up, but you just have to be confident in yourself and your teammates. I’m trying to fix that this year.” And judging by Cone’s opinions on this new Bulldogs team, he’s going to have some help. This year, Cone said he expects to see a lot of improvement out of the entire team. “I know we’re going to be good this year,” he said. “There’s such a positive atmosphere and every body's improved. I know that when I’m not doing well, the guys behind me are going to pick me up.” With the improvement he sees in himself and the rest of his team, this sea son’s goal is clear. “We want to win the SEC and we want to get to Omaha,” Cone said. “That’s our expectation. It won’t be easy, but we’re going to be ready.” And after that? “Who knows?” Pemo said. “I think he’s a guy that could play profession ally down the road —but let’s worry about this sea son first.” WINTER BREAK BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Man’s Basketball • 12/16 vs, Arkansas State at noon, Mt to air on CSS • 12/21 vt. High Point at 7 p.m., set to ah-on CSS • 12/23 at Mercer ad 7 p.m., set to air on CSS • 12/28 vs. Charleston Southern at 7 p.m., set to air on CSS • 12/31 vs. Eastern Ktnfc'Hrv eipm ♦♦* air on Fox Sports South • 1/8 vs. Kentucky at 4 p.m., set to Mr on SEC network rieiwwi vik Women’s Basketball • 12/18 vs. High Point at 2 pm • 12/22 at TCU at 7:30 p.m., set to air on CSS •FIU Fun & Sun Classic in Miami, Fla. (Dec. 29-30) • 12/29 vs, Louisiana Tech at 8 p.m. •12/30 vs. FiU/Marquette at2or4p.m. • 1/2 v*. South Carolina at 2 p.m. ■WoiWflwttaH*!