By Thomas Sellers Jr.
With a roster full of upperclassmen talent, the Tipton-Rosemark Academy Rebels are poised to return to Murfressboro after a one-year absence.
Head Coach Brad Smith has a combination of seniors and juniors with big-game experience and skills to be one of the best Division II-A West Region teams.
“That seven *seniors) has been a good group,” Smith said. “A lot of them have played early and often. I got some arms in this group. I’ve got a lot of guys who have eaten up a lot at bats and innings played defensively in this group.
“They are solid ball players,” he continued. “We’ve got 16 guys in our senior and junior classes, 8 and 8. We’re going to be playing this spring with 14 of them.”
Two players won’t be able to touch the field in 2020 because of injury with senior JT May rehabbing for Samford University Football next year.
May’s absence will be filled by several players. His fellow seniors Coalter Bridgers, Ethan Petrowski, Jacob Dodson, Johan Van Kampen, Logan Jones, Mac Fullen and Tyler Byrd will take charge of leading the team on and off the field.
The junior class will led the way on the mound in 2020 starting with a pair of aces Patrick Green and Zach Seward.
“All of our arms are juniors and seniors,” Smith noted. “We’ve got some solid arms. I’ve got the most left-handed arms in the history of my program. We’ve got five lefties in our top 10 pitchers. We’ve never had that.
“I’m getting my basketball kids back today,” he said Feb. 27. “They’ve got some work to do. My top two arms were sophomores last year. You’ve got Zach Seward, a righty and Patrick Green (basketball player), a lefty. They pitched some very big games for us last year.”
Other arms in the rotation will be senior lefty Dodson. Other 12th graders expected to log several innings are Bridgers and Petrowski.
“Noah Roland is late bloomer who had put on muscle and increase his speed,” Smith noted. “We’re going to develop Tyler Byrd, Logan Jones and Hyden Sprenkle into relief guys.”
Then a youngster to watch out for in 202 is freshman left hander Eli Ramsey.
Offensively the Rebels have been taking advantage of intersquad games facing all those arms.
“It’s a lot of competition and getting barrel to the ball and being more consistent,” Smith said. “If you hit a dry spell, you’ve better watch out because somebody will be right there ready to take those reps and earn that spot.”
Several Rebels will see time in the lineup during the early part of the season building a consistent lineup 1 through 9.
Returning guys from the lineup are junior catcher Tucker James (led team in hitting), Dodson at first, Van Kampen at short, Byrd penciled in at third base and returning leadoff guy Green.
The outfield will have names like Seward, Fullen and Petrowski. Coach calls them a trio of speed that can cover major ground.
Back in the infield, Bridgers, Jones and Sprinkle will compete with Ramsey to see innings. Smith said all the arms, speed, bats and defense will be needed to get out of the West in May.
“Our district we play in is tough,” he said. “To get out of our Region is even tougher. Everybody around here plays good baseball. These teams have really good coaches and men leading the programs that I respect to a high level.”
USJ will be in the mix in the district. The league has picked up Trinity Christian out of Jackson who played in Class A State game last season. Fayette Academy has good arms and upperclassmen.
Across the way, St. George’s ECS, FACS and JCS will battle for Sub-State spots.
“Anybody can beat anybody in our Region any given night,” Smith concluded. “You have got to pitch it and you’ve got to make plays. Make the other team field tough balls and make mistakes. Whoever pitches better and hits better that night will win.”
