Greenville coach Bobby Hughes was like a kid on Christmas morning who could not wait to see what was under the Christmas tree.

For the past week, the first-year Tigers coach has been eager to see how far his club has come since the first day of conditioning.

After two games were postponed by inclement weather, the Tigers opened the season with a 12-2 victory over Butler County rival Georgiana at Beeland Park on Friday.

&#8220They were real nervous because it was their first game,” Hughes said. &#8220But they got into the game, and I was real impressed with how well we played defense and running the bases.”

Greenville jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second inning following a scoreless first and cruised the rest of the way.

Georgiana (1-3) scored both runs, which were unearned, in the third to trim the Tigers' lead, but could not muster anymore offense.

Greenville starting pitcher David Stephenson was credited with the win after pitching three innings allowing three hits and striking out three.

Stephenson also accounted for two of the Tigers 13 hits in the game. He went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Zac Smith also went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI, while Demarcus Robinson was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

&#8220We did a good job moving runners over on the base paths, but we've got to get better in the first and second innings,” Hughes said. &#8220We've got to hit the ball better and not wait until the second or third inning to get going.”

Kevin Brogden and Gerard Lee each scored a run to account for Georgiana's offense.

Greenville faced G.W. Carver on Tuesday in a doubleheader before traveling to Montgomery to play in the annual FCA Jason Armstrong Memorial Baseball Classic. The Tigers (1-0) open the tournament in a 6 p.m. matchup with Class 4A power St. James at Paterson Field.

Greenville then takes on Alabama Christian at 2 p.m. Friday at Montgomery's Riverwalk Stadium and then closes out the Classic in a 4 p.m. matchup with Brew Tech at Riverwalk Stadium.

&#8220We are going to find out if we can step up and play at that level,” Hughes said. &#8220I'll find out who I can count on when it comes down to area play.”