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Sinclair Cole

Softball Tigers have high hopes

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee softball team has some unfinished business. The Tigers excelled last year. They broke the record for wins in a season with 32. Yet, they were unable to get past the Troy Regional - but were so close.

"We lost 11 games by one run," head Coach Pat Love said of 2018's close calls. "We hit the ball very well last year. I think we had a batting average of .360 as a team. We hit a lot of homeruns and doubles, but our errors were up also. We made a lot of errors in crucial parts of the ballgame. We played great up until the sixth or seventh inning. Then we'd give up a cheap run or two and get beat by one. We've made a point of improving that aspect of it."

Tallassee lost a couple of heartbreakers like that in the regional.

"If we can keep it under two errors a game with the way we were hitting, the chance was like 95 percent that we were going to win last year with the way our pitching was," Love added. "This year is going to be very similar. We're going to play some good teams. If we make teams beat us with our pitching and defense, I feel like we'll be in good shape."

High school players working with youth at Sunday's camp

One of Tallassee's aces on the mound, Haylee Osborne, has moved on to college at Mobile.

"We've got Jordan Walters back. She and Haylee were co-aces," said Love. "We've also got Sinclair Cole. She's got some shoes to fill. She's a pretty good pitcher."

Lexi Love

Tallassee has just one senior on this year's squad in Madelyn Martin. The nucleus of the team is still of underclassmen.

Chloe Baynes and Bell Haynes are freshmen. Lexi Love, the coach's daughter, is a sophomore.

"We've got a good relationship," he said. "She likes it. I love it. We get along very well."

Tallassee's area will be vs. Beauregard, Valley and Brewbaker Tech as the Tigers make the move back to Class 5A. The season opener is scheduled for Feb. 19 vs. Auburn with junior varsity and varsity games at 4:30 from Southside Field.