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Hammonds with THS athletic director Mike Battles and baseball assistant coaches LD Bell and Jacob Gibson.

Hammonds takes over baseball program

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee Board of Education approved the hiring of Kyle Hammonds as Tallassee High School baseball coach at its April 20 meeting. Hammonds will assume duties in Tallassee when his contract as a teacher and assistant coach at Brookwood is complete at the end of the current school year.

"It's right at the first of June," Hammonds said. "I'm going to try to get down to Tallassee as much as I can between now and then. As soon as that contract's over, I'm full-time Tallassee."

Hammonds was in Tallassee on Sunday for a "Meet the Coach" event for all middle school through high school baseball players and their parents. The meeting was held at the THS Auditorium.

"I'm excited to meet everybody. We're in the process of trying to create a tryout before school gets out. I'm trying to make out our schedule for next year. I'm also trying to find teams to play this summer. We get play dates during the summer. It'd be a great opportunity for the kids to get some work. It'd be a great opportunity for me to actually see them before next year."

As for the schedule, Hammonds wants to make it challenging.

"We're going to play some tough competition or as much as I can schedule. I'm a firm believer in you've got to play people who are bigger than you and are going to push you. You need to see great pitching. You need to see great hitting. It's all going to pay off when it comes area time. I've already got us signed up for spring break. We're going to go play in the Gulf Shores Tournament."

Hammonds

Hammonds spent 13 seasons as head coach at Oak Grove, where he became the program's winningest coach going 218-155. His first season there as head coach of the high school baseball team was Mike Battles' last as head coach of the football team. The next year Battles went to Bibb County, and his next stop was Tallassee.

"I was lucky enough to be around him when I was starting my career," Hammonds said. "We've stayed in contact over the years. It's nice to get back with him. I've always considered Tallassee one of the premier jobs in the state with the history, tradition (and) support from the community. It's always been one of those places where if it comes open you want to try to get to (it), so I couldn't be more excited."

Hammonds familiarity with Tallassee started at a young age.

"Growing up in Hueytown, I ran into Tallassee plenty of times in all-stars. I've known about Tallassee probably since I was about 10 or 11 years old. I played at Hueytown High School, then had a chance to move on and play at Shelton State. The old arm didn't hold up after that. I went ahead and got the degree and started coaching."

Hammonds speaking during Sunday's presentation at the THS Auditorium

Hammonds' Oak Grove team made the playoffs in all of his seasons there. The Tigers reached the quarterfinals twice and semifinals once - a first in Oak Grove program history. They won seven area championships under Hammonds.

"I'm going to stick with what I know; hard work, fundamentals and no excuses. It's served me well over the years. 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.

"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."

*April 25 Player/Parent Meeting

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