Season Recap: Baseball
Youthful energy propels to playoff run
After graduating the most successful group of seniors in program history last year, the Indians were counting on a returning program legend to lead several young guys this spring. Coach Justin Pollock knitted together an impressive season, relying on Ashton Roache's bat and leadership, along with veteran Drew Barron's ace stuff on the mound.
The final result of the season included a 14-17 record, putting Pollock at 99 for his career so far at TFS. The Indians won four of their first five games to open the season, which helped boost the confidence of a mostly unproven team. Tallulah would go on to reach the state playoffs for a fourth straight time.
1st Team All-Region honoree Roache, who is committed to play at the University of California, had an incredible season in which he hit .483 (5th-highest in program history) with four homeruns, 36 RBI (school record), and 47 runs (school record tied with teammate Jordan Miller). Roache was determined to collect as many school records as he could this year, and he leaves the program with the all-time marks in hits (113), homeruns (14), RBI (86), runs (135), doubles (33), triples (7), stolen bases (92), walks (69), and hit by pitches (45).
Miller had a breakout season as a junior, hitting .440 with 40 total hits, adding 18 RBI and scoring 47 runs to tie the school record for a single-season with Roache. Meanwhile, it was Barron's arm that helped guide the Indians. He registered seven wins with a 3.54 ERA and 55 strikeouts, while also batting .310 with two homeruns, nine doubles, and 16 RBI to go with 27 runs scored.
Senior first-year TFS player Alex Stefanovic improved greatly throughout the season, hitting two homeruns and adding 18 RBI. Fellow senior veteran Jackson Savage was a leader behind the plate, and also hit .360 with 20 RBI. Freshmen Leslie Sands (.284-22 RBI) and Sean Forbes (.286-14 RBI) emerged as pivotal players down the stretch.
The lineup put up 237 runs in total, which marks the 3rd-most in a single season for the program, and had 11 10-plus run outings.
With four seniors in Roache, Stefanovic, Savage, and Brantley Allen graduating, the future remains bright for TFS with the young talent that is set to return.