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Beau Baker got the start on opening day at Southside Field last week.
Photos by Kyle Thornton

Tigers' season underway

By Michael Butler

Tallassee had to sit on its two losses on opening day for a full week. The Tigers had just three hits total in losses to Dadeville and Clay Central on Feb. 18. Against Handley on Monday, Tallassee three hits in a six-run first inning.

Tallassee beat Handley 12-11 in a game that lasted 3 hours and 6 minutes. Jackson Gantt picked up the win in a relief role. He added a double in the big first inning.

Bruin Hathcock went 3-for-4 with a double and 3 RBIs. Reece Graham added 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

It was a big contrast from the previous Monday in losses to Dadeville, 8-3 and Clay Central 1-0. The Tigers struck out 15 times and were no-hit in the shutout vs. the Volunteers.

"After Monday, our kids came in focuses on the things that we made mistakes on," coach Adam Clayton said. "They want to get back out there and prove people differently."

Clayton is fielding a young team with a lot of inexperience.

"You don't want to make that excuse for them. When you have a lot of new guys in the lineup, even some of the seniors. For some it's their first varsity start. People don't realize going from middle school and JV to a varsity atmosphere and being able to play at a high level.

"We're obviously not going to let the first two games of the year dictate our whole year. In my tenure, we've started 0-4 or 0-5 before and won 20 games. We've started hot before, 10-0 or 11-0 and ended up finishing at .500. You really never know."

The Tigers recorded two forfeit wins for games scheduled vs. Carver on Saturday.

Tallassee (3-2) is scheduled to play next in Seale vs. Russell County for a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m. (Central Time) on Thursday, Feb. 28. The Tigers host Oak Grove and Marianna, Fla. for a doubleheader on Friday, March 1 starting at 2:00 p.m.