NATCHEZ — Adams County Christian School’s baseball team did not have the type of season it was hoping for this spring. But, summer brings new hope for the Rebels, and they are trying to make the most of it by getting an early jump on the 2012 season.

Last week, the Rebels started two weeks of practice leading up to a stretch in which they will play approximately 14 games over the next month, head coach Hunter McKeivier said.

“This allows us to evaluate players and see what positions we need to fill,” McKeivier said. “We can see players that have matured and players that have gotten better. (It gives us a chance to) play more baseball.”

ACCS will start playing games May 24 against Amite School Center. The Rebels will have practiced six times leading up to their first game.

The Rebels will play games against Amite School Center, Copiah Academy, St. Aloysius and Porter’s Chapel, McKeivier said.

Another thing the Rebels will be working on this summer is adjusting to the new bats that will be required next season, McKeivier said.

Next season players will be required to use bats that meet Bat-Ball Coefficient Of Restitution (BBCOR) standards. Meaning the bats will more resemble wooden bats.

“The biggest thing is the change in the bats to BBCOR,” McKeivier said. “We are going to try to use wooden bats this summer to show (the players) the adjustments, because it is comparable to wood.”

The Rebels will also limit the number of innings the pitchers throw during the summer. ACCS has approximately 10 pitchers, and they will not throw more than four innings a week, McKeivier said.

McKeivier said ACCS played summer games a couple of years ago, but it is sometimes difficult for players to juggle their hectic schedules this time of year. ACCS does its best to work with the players so they can play the games and also keep other commitments, such as summer jobs, he said.

McKeivier said that goal number one for the summer is to win games, but he also wants to focus on fundamentals and working on things for next season.

“There is no championship (for the summer),” McKeivier said. “The goal we’re working for is to get better, so we can compete for state next year.”