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Hammonds after being introduced as the new skipper with THS athletic director Mike Battles and baseball assistant coaches LD Bell and Jacob Gibson.
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Hammonds set for first season
By Michael Butler
Tallassee will start a new baseball season on Feb. 17 vs. Chilton County at Southside Field. It will be the first with THS for new head coach Kyle Hammonds.
"We're looking good," Hammonds said. "Being my first year, I'm still evaluating. I've definitely leaned on the other coaches."
While at Oak Grove, Hammonds' teams were a regular post-season contender reaching the quarterfinals twice and semifinals once. He won seven area titles there.
"I'm going to stick with what I know; hard work, fundamentals and no excuses. It's served me well over the years, Hammonds said after being hired last April. "Baseball is not a hard game. A lot of people try to make it a hard game. I try to simplify it and do the little things right. When we're succesful is when team is more important than the person."
Tallassee is coming off a 7-16-1 season in 2021 missing the playoffs. The 2020 season was cut short due to Covid. The 2019 squad was 10-16 and was also absent from the post-season. Despite some struggles of late in the program, Hammonds is familiar with the championship history that includes seven state titles.
"I know the expectations in Tallassee, but I promise my expectations are going to be the highest of anybody. I want us to compete for area titles, win area titles, compete for state championships and go win a state championship."
The competition in 2022 is expected to be difficult.
"You're never going to get any better unless you play the best. Sometimes you take on the chin. That's alright. You keep your head up and keep moving."
A spring break tournament will be played in Gulf Shores with out-of-state opponents. Tallassee will play teams from Illinois, Tennessee and a state champion from Arkansas.
"You get all the kids together on a trip. That helps with bonding. You get to play teams you'd never get a chance to play otherwise. It's always a good gauge."
Tallassee will also play in the FCA Tournament in Montgomery at Paterson Field and Riverwalk Stadium.
"The most important thing to me, especially in this first year, is they're learning how we do things and how I want them to play. The wins will come."
Varsity/JV Schedules
SMS Schedule
Tallassee Baseball History
Year |
W-L |
Postseason |
Coach |
*1959-70 |
No Program |
|
|
1971 |
|
|
Duane Webster/Jack Finlayson |
1972 |
|
|
Dan Bianchi |
1973 |
5-12 |
|
Dan Bianchi |
1974 |
|
|
Dan Bianchi |
1975 |
13-2 |
|
Ronnie Baynes |
1976 |
8-8 |
|
Ronnie Baynes |
1977 |
12-3 |
|
Ronnie Baynes |
1978 |
8-7 |
|
Ronnie Baynes |
1979 |
9-3 |
Lost to Thompson 8-5, 1st Round State Class 3A Playoffs |
Ronnie Baynes |
1980 |
9-6 |
Lost to Thompson 3-2, 1st Round State Class 3A Playoffs |
Ronnie Baynes |
1981 |
6-7 |
|
Tim Posey |
1982 |
6-8 |
|
Ronnie Baynes |
1983 |
2-13 |
|
Ronnie Baynes |
1984 |
8-8 |
|
Ronnie Baynes |
1985 |
15-8 |
Lost to Wilson in Class 4A State Finals |
Ronnie Baynes |
1986 |
21-5 |
Won over Pleasant Grove, 1st State 4A title |
Ronnie Baynes |
1987 |
26-4 |
Won over Litchfield, 2nd State 4A title |
Ronnie Baynes |
1988 |
18-4 |
Lost to Haleyville, 4A Quarterfinals |
Ronnie Baynes |
1989 |
19-8 |
Won over East Lawrence, 3rd State 4A title |
Ronnie Baynes |
1990 |
24-3 |
Won over New Hope, 4th State 4A title |
Ronnie Baynes |
1991 |
29-1 |
*(22-0 Regular Season)
Won over Pleasant Grove, 5th State 4A title |
Ronnie Baynes |
1992 |
22-8 |
Lost to Daphne, 4A Semifinals |
Ronnie Baynes |
1993 |
19-6 |
Lost to Opp, 4A Quarterfinals |
John Goodman |
1994 |
20-7 |
Lost to Grand Bay, 4A 2nd Round |
John Goodman |
1995 |
30-6 |
Won over Jacksonville, 6th State 4A title |
John Goodman |
1996 |
20-7 |
Lost to Ashford, 4A 2nd Round |
John Goodman |
1997 |
29-8 |
Lost to Grand Bay, 4A 2nd Round |
John Goodman |
1998 |
33-5 |
Won over Pleasant Grove, 7th State 4A title |
John Goodman |
1999 |
12-23 |
Lost to T.R. Miller, 4A 2nd Round |
John Goodman |
2000 |
20-14 |
Lost to Greensboro, 4A 2nd Round |
John Goodman |
2001 |
15-12 |
|
John Goodman |
2002 |
21-11 |
|
John Goodman |
2003 |
13-19 |
Lost to Elmore County, 4A 2nd Round |
John Goodman |
2004 |
13-22 |
|
John Goodman |
2005 |
15-14 |
Lost to Gulf Shores, 4A 1st Round |
John Goodman |
2006 |
23-16 |
Lost to St. James, 4A Semifinals |
John Goodman |
2007 |
18-21 |
Lost to Bibb County, 5A 2nd Round |
John Goodman |
2008 |
15-15 |
Lost to St. Paul's, 5A 2nd Round |
John Goodman |
2009 |
17-19 |
Lost to Beauregard, 5A 2nd Round |
Adam Clayton |
2010 |
28-10 |
Lost to Beauregard, 5A 2nd Round |
Adam Clayton |
2011 |
20-17 |
Lost to Russell County, 5A 2nd Round |
Adam Clayton |
2012 |
13-19 |
Lost to Charles Henderson, 5A 1st Round |
Adam Clayton |
2013 |
14-18 |
|
Adam Clayton |
2014 |
18-12 |
|
Adam Clayton |
2015 |
28-8 |
Lost to Rehobeth, 5A First Round |
Adam Clayton |
2016 |
27-9 |
Lost to Charles Henderson, 5A First Round |
Adam Clayton |
2017 |
26-15 |
Lost to UMS Wright in 4A Quarterfinals |
Adam Clayton |
2018 |
16-14 |
Lost to Munford, 4A First Round |
Adam Clayton |
2019 |
10-16 |
|
Adam Clayton |
2020 |
8-6 |
*Latter half of season canceled due to COVID-19 |
Adam Clayton |
2021 |
7-16-1 |
|
Adam Clayton |
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