THOMASVILLE — After grinding through the regular season, Thomas County Central has regained its confidence and excitement.

At least that is what Yellow Jackets’ coach Chad Parkerson hopes with the Class AAAA playoffs startng Friday. Central, the No. 2 seed from Region 1, hosts Effingham County in a 4 p.m. doubleheader. If necessary, the third game will start at 11 a.m. Saturday.

“Right now, they’re peaking at the right time and they’ve got a little confidence going,” Parkerson said about the Rebels (15-10), adding the 17-9 Jackets need to match that confidence level. “I feel like we are. We better be. You can’t have bad days in the playoffs. I feel like the kids are really concentrating at practice, working on stuff a little bit extra hard and a little more urgency. That’s kind of what you want.”

Central’s confidence boost surfaced in the 4-1 finish to the season that saw the Jackets rise from the fourth spot in the region standings. The playoffs also have helped, according to Parkerson.

“It’s tough to go through a 26-game season, it’s a grind,” he said. “Everything being repetitive and stuff, but now it’s a new season. A little breath of fresh air, a little more competition in the air and I think the guys are excited.”

Some of that excitement could be deflated by Effingham County’s stout starting pitching, headed by Zach Dotson.

“Everybody I’ve talked to says he is legit,” Parkerson said. “He’s 86 to 89 from the left side and he can pop 90 or 91 every now and then. But, he’s going to pitch in the upper 80s. He’s a good pitcher.”

Dotson is joined on the mound by senior right-hander Dylan Scott and junior right-hander Evan Jarmon.

Still, the Knight have featured a well-rounded game in recent weeks, a trend that concerns Parkerson.

“As of recently, they’ve been pitching, playing defense and hitting,” he said. “Anytime a team is doing three of them, you’re going to have to play well to compete with them.

“They’re hitting when it matters. We’re going to go out there and try to throw some strikes, make plays and get some hits when we need it.”

n ACE IN THE HOLE: In countering the Rebels’ strong pitching staff, Parkerson is hopeful senior Gary Smith will be able to pitch Friday. Smith left his start against Americus-Sumter in the second inning Friday with a rib injury.