By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Hopefully we’re officially ready to start the Colter Millican Era at Millington Central High School this week.
Back in 2020, the first-year Head Coach stepped into the role as head coach of the Millington Trojan Baseball team replacing Zane Adams, who moved into administration. Millican was set to use his pitching expertise, well-rounded staff and youthful energy to take the next step with his Millington program.
Then a global pandemic struck shutting down those plans.
All the action the Trojans saw in 2020 was a doubleheader before the TSSAA canceled the season.
“Absolutely, this feels like my first season,” Millican acknowledged. “My hopes for the season are just to complete it. I do feel like we well but I also said the same thing last year.”
The Trojans graduated six seniors in 2020. Most of those players missed out on a chance to chase a District 15-2A title, build up stats and most importantly take the field in the black and gold one more season.
“It was hard because I realized some of the kids will never get to play again,” Millican said. “I don’t think they realized it until it was over. Last year we had six seniors and this year we’ll have six.
“Our thoughts are really positive,” he continued. “I feel as a collective group these guys really get after it. That’s all you can ask for and I feel really, really good about this group.”
The group of 2021 seniors are Josh Coates, Julio Hernandez, Tyler Jordan, Anthony Acquaye, Jack O’Connor and Jayce Fiene.
Millican said Fiene is an intelligent mind that will help the team in many phase of the game. O’Connor will be on the mound and has improved at the plate.
Acquaye is a transfer from Wooddale and will provide athleticism into the Millington lineup. Jordan is a top of the batting order player and one of the Trojans’ best overall players will be Hernandez.
Coates will see time as both parts of the Trojans’ battery. He will catch and is one of the top arms on the roster.
“I hope I have that top district duo,” Millican said. “I think I have one, two and three. And there is really two options who could jump into that No. 1 spot. Josh and Matthew Johnson.”
The team all District 15-2A participants are aiming at are the Covington Chargers. The Chargers dominated in 2019 and was picked to win it all in 2020.
“Until somebody beats them, it’s Covington,” Millican said. “On championship day I think it could be us and I really hope it is us.”
Millican said for Millington to compete with Covington, Haywood, Ripley and Bolivar it will take enough arms who can throw it across the plate and compete and don’t give away free runs.
“My expectations, I am very realistic with these guys,” he concluded. “I think it’s been the late 70s since we’ve been out of a district tournament. I would like to think we’ve got as good of a shot as anybody to get out of our district. I believe in this group.”
