Title Series?: It was one for the ages. Last weekend's Tallassee vs. UMS-Wright baseball series had a championship feel.

It's very possible that the best two teams in Class 4A met in the quarterfinals. The two programs are steeped in championship tradition. There are 16 state titles between the two.

The series had all the drama; lead changes, comebacks, close calls, controversial calls and a coach getting tossed.

THS head coach Adam Clayton was ejected after arguing with the umpires in game two on Friday. Sometimes a coach needs to take a stand. And sometimes it works in rallying the team.

I would say it not only fired up the team, it fired up the fans.

Clayton, in his walk off the field, riled up the troops by raising his arms in the air like a conductor while directing his raucous fan base.

Craig Vaught, Trey Taylor and I broadcast the game on WTLS (click here to listen to the audio cut). We were lucky enough to be sitting with the Tiger fans that made the three-hour drive to Mobile.

The fans were doing what fans do - giving the umpires the business. It was great.

At the team hotel on Saturday morning, I told coach Clayton that it was one of the great THS sports moments.

Tallassee has something special that a lot of other schools don't have with their athletic programs. The backing for the high school teams is unparalleled. Small communities get behind their teams, and nobody does it like Tallassee.

Again, the trip was three hours down I-65. Still, the fans in purple and gold outnumbered the homestanding ones in red and gray.

UMS-Wright has an impressive program with the fine athletic facilities. Yet, I expect that they were a bit envious of the following for the visitors this weekend.

It's difficult to lose in a tight-knit matchup like the one with the Bulldogs and Tigers. I'm still proud of this squad and the Tiger fans that supported them. Yes, it's great to be a Tallassee Tiger.

Send Comments