Brody Goodman is congratulated by Bry Hathcock Photos by Kyle Thornton

Tigers playoff bound

By Michael Butler

The playoffs get started this week and Tallassee is back among the teams in the field for the first time since 2018. It is a shift in the right direction for a team that was 4-25 last season.

John Goodman in his first season back as head coach after a 16-season run from 1993-2008, is excited about the turnround and the opportunity for post-season baseball.

"Our number one goal was to make the playoffs," said Goodman. "We are going to use this extra time to get better and give our guys the experience of the playoffs."

Tallassee (10-12) travels to Valley (13-8) on Friday to face a team that sports who many believe to be the best pitcher in the entire state. Jackson Sanders, a junior, is the top-rated Alabama player in the 2024 class and is already committed to Auburn.

"It's going to be tough," said Goodman, "but the great thing is it's the best of three and we have a week to prepare."

Sanders is 3-1 on the mound this season with 41 strikeouts and 11 waks in 29 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.86. His fastball has hit the mid-90s. In his last outing, he threw a two-hitter with nine strikeouts and a walk, allowing just one run in the complete game victory over area foe Beauregard 4-1.

Tallassee's ace has been senior Jackson Rhodes. He is 4-2 on the year with 27 strikeouts and 27 walks in 33 2/3 innings. His ERA is 2.49.

THS Seniors (left to right): Mason Stewart, Troupe Creswell, Brody Goodman, Jackson Rhodes

Tallassee has lost three of its last four after losing late-inning leads in each defeat last week. The Tigers led Elmore County 6-4 in Eclectic on Tuesday but allowed three runs in the bottom of the sixth falling 7-6. On Wednesday, the Panthers took the area title with a seven-run seventh erasing a 5-2 deficit with a 9-5 win.

On Senior Day Friday vs. Benjamin Russell , Tallassee squandered a 7-4 lead in the final inning giving up six in the Wildcats' last at-bat for a 10-7 loss.

Sandwiched between the three setbacks was a bright spot, a 4-2 win in game three vs. Elmore County. Brody Wisener picked up his first varsity win on the mound throwing five innings of shutout ball striking out three and walking one.

Mason Stewart is recognized on Senior Day

Among Tallassee's losses this season, five games have been decided by two runs or less, quite the difference from last year when the Tigers were run-ruled in 10 games.

Games on Friday will begin at 4:30 p.m. (Central Time) at Crestview Field in Valley. WTLS/Score 94.7/Hit 106.9 will broadcast live starting at 4. Video is not permitted. Start time for Saturday is 1 p.m. if necessary.

"We want to thank everyone for all the support we have gotten this year," Goodman concluded. "Go Tigers!"

*Elmore County Series Pictures
*Senior Day Pictures (Submitted by Kyle Thornton)

2023 Schedule/Results

All-Time Playoff Results
1979 (3A) - Thompson (1st) L 8-5
1980 (3A) - Thompson (1st) L 3-2
1985 (4A) - Lanett (1st) W 7-5; Hillcrest (Quarters) W 7-3; Pike County (Semis) W 7-1, L 12-1, W 7-6; Wilson (Finals) L 16-11, L 7-3
*1986 (4A) - Handley (1st) W 16-1; Hillcrest (Quarters) W 7-3; Pike County (Semis) L 13-12, W 11-5, W 20-9; Pleasant Grove (Finals) W 6-5, 7-2
*1987 (4A) - Dallas County (1st) W 8-5;  Haleyville (Quarters) W 8-0, Abbeville (Semis) W 10-8, W 11-1; Litchfield (Finals) L 9-6, W 11-10, W 14-6
1988 (4A) - Dallas County (1st) W 11-1; Haleyville (Quarters) L 2-1
*1989 (4A) - Jemison (1st) W 12-5; UMS-Wright (2nd) W 6-1, Abbeville (Quarters) W 9-2, Pike County (Semis) W 9-4, 2-0; East Lawrence (Finals) L 13-12, W 4-0, W 4-3
*1990 (4A) - Jemison (1st) W 10-0; UMS -Wright (2nd) W 3-1; Headland (Quarters) W 12-2; Pleasant Grove (Semis) W 2-0, W 2-1; New Hope (Finals) W 8-3, W 9-2
*1991 (4A) - Beauregard (1st) W 9-0, Thomasville (2nd) W 5-1; Daleville (Quarters) W 5-0; Daphne (Semis) W 4-1, W 3-2; Pleasant Grove (Finals) L 4-2, W 3-1, W 7-5
1992 (4A) - Beauregard (1st) W 10-0; Thomasville (2nd) W 8-6, Geneva (Quarters) W 11-0; Daphne (Semis) W 6-1, L 7-1, L 6-4
1993 (4A) - Central Coosa (1st) W 11-0, Grand Bay (2nd) W 5-4; Opp (Quarters) L 3-1
1994 (4A) - BB Comer (1st) W 10-0, Grand Bay (2nd) L 3-1
*1995 (4A) - Leeds (1st) W 11-1; Ashford (2nd) W 3-1; Grand Bay (Quarters) W 3-1; Thomasville (Semis) W 7-3, W 3-1; Jacksonville (Finals) W 5-1, W 4-1
1996 (4A) - Pike County (1st) W 12-2; Ashford (2nd) L 3-2
1997 (4A) - Pike County (1st) W 10-0; Grand Bay (2nd) L 5-4
*1998 (4A) - Ashford (1st) W 15-1; Grand Bay (2nd) W 8-5; Clarke County (Quarters) W 10-1; Thomasville (Semis) W 15-3, W 11-1; Pleasant Grove (Finals) W 2-0, W 11-1
1999 (4A) - Greensboro (1st) W 5-3; T.R. Miller (2nd) L 6-1
2000 (4A) - Dale County (1st) W 12-2; Greensboro (2nd) L 2-0
2003 (4A) - Demopolis (1st) W 4-2; Elmore County (2nd) L 5-4
2005 (4A) - Gulf Shores (1st) L 2-0
2006 (4A) - Demopolis (1st) W 8-4; UMS-Wright (2nd) W 8-0, W 4-2; Andalusia (Quarters) W 8-7, W 1-0; St. James (Semis) L 11-7, L 3-2
2007 (5A) - Eufaula (1st) W 3-0; Bibb County (2nd) L 2-1, L 10-0
2008 (5A) - Chelsea (1st) L 6-4, W 7-6, W 11-3; St. Paul’s (2nd) L 10-1, L 12-1
2009 (5A) - Demopolis (1st) W 3-2, W 7-0; Beauregard (2nd) W 10-9, L 15-3, L 18-15 (12)
2010 (5A) - Chilton County (1st) W 14-3, W 9-3; Beauregard (2nd) L 13-6, L 9-1
2011 (5A) - Rehobeth (1st) W 11-8, W 8-5; Russell County (2nd) L 5-1, L 8-3
2012 (5A) - Charles Henderson (1st) L 3-2, L 3-0
2015 (5A) - Rehobeth (1st) W 9-6, L 6-5, L 9-5
2016 (5A) - Charles Henderson (1st) L 5-4, L 4-3
2017 (4A) - Escambia County (1st) W 11-1, W 7-0; Trinity (2nd) W 5-3, W 7-3; UMS-Wright (Quarters) L 7-6, W 9-7, L 5-1
2018 (4A) - Munford (1st) L 4-0, L 9-4

31 State Playoff Appearances
*7 State Championships