Chase Chumley makes a play in the home win over Brew Tech. Photo by Kyle Thornton

Baseball clinches playoff spot

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee baseball team missed the post-season just five times between 1985-2017, but have failed to reach the playoffs every year since 2018. The drought is over.

The Tigers swept Brewbaker Tech last week earning their first playoff berth in five years. The first win came on Tuesday in Tallassee, an 11-1 victory in five innings. On Thursday, the Tigers won 9-3 in Montgomery.

"I told the kids after we punched our ticket Thursday night," THS head coach John Goodman said, "this is just as important right now in the history of Tallassee baseball as winning a state championship - getting back to the playoffs. It is a big deal to get back."

Jackson Rhodes improved to 4-1 on the season with the win on Tuesday. The senior threw a two-hitter, going all five innings with four strikeouts and five walks. He also led the charge at the plate with two hits and three RBIs.

Brady Mason got the win on Thursday in his first decision of the season. The junior allowed just one run in six innings, striking out eight and walking two. Rhodes, Chase Chumley, Cade Everson and Thomas Lemmond had two hits each. Eighth grader Brue Milner hit his first varsity homerun.

Goodman understands that there have been inconsistencies in a 9-9 season to date, but believes things are looking up.

Brue Milner celebrates going yard

"It's like when you crank up a car that's been sitting in the yard for a long time. You get it going and its runs good for a little while. Then it sputters. Then you have a flat tire. Then it runs good for a while. That's the way we're playing. Once we get everything cleaned out with some good gas in it, good things are going to happen. Right now, they're starting to play probably the best baseball they've played all year."

That best may be necessary with a solid Elmore County team (15-7) scheduled this week which will decide who wins the area title and hosts the first round.

"They've got a great ball team - probably the best team they've had over there in a long time," Goodman said. "They've got a chance to make a run at it. They've got all the right ingredients. They've got some older kids, some great pitching. They're hitting the ball extremely well.

"We're in a situation where we're glad we don't have to play to get in. We can relax and play. We don't have to be uptight."

The first game will be between the two varsity teams in Eclectic on Tuesday afternoon, April 11 at 4:30. The Tallasee junior varsity will wrap up its season in the nightcap. The JV squad is 11-0-2 on the season.

The varsity teams return to Tallassee on Wednesday, April 12 to face off at 4:30 p.m. A second game (if necessary) will be played for tiebreaker purposes only. The Wednesday game was originally scheduled for Thursday but moved due to rain in the forecast. WTLS/Score 94.7/Hit 106.9 will broadcast live Wednesday beginning at 4. Video will be simulcast on Facebook Live.

Schedule/Results

*Photos by Kyle Thornton