A new Tellico gears up for growth in 2024

Tellico Plains baseball is looking to show growth in 2024.

The Bears expect to be solid on the mound, but a younger team will be spread around the diamond. For sixth-year head coach Heath Ware, this season is about getting better.

“As far as pitching, I think we are going to be alright in the No. 1 and No. 2 spot. We are going to compete there, but I think we are going to be young off the bench,” Ware said.

Peyton Dodson, Kyle Duckworth and Cole Kirkland will cover most of the innings. The trio’s leadership will be key in Tellico’s, which won 12 games last season, development.

“I feel they will give us some good innings and pitching will be a good strength for us,” Ware added.

Defensively will be the spot to watch for growth. While the lineup has players with plenty of at-bats, the defense brings back one returning outfielder and has holes to plug in the infield.

“We are new and we are playing a lot of people. Our outfield … Peyton is the only one who played there,” Ware said. “Our lineup is full of experience, so we are trying to figure out where our strengths are really.”

The aforementioned trio’s importance returns.

“They have worked hard. Cole has put in so much work, Peyton and Kyle as well,” Ware added. “They are leaders, they have done a great job leading this year. We have implemented our workout program and they have been good leaders there.

“As far as on the field, they bring that experience that we do not have anywhere else.”

Circle Up

Dodson led the Bears in innings pitched last season with 35.1 where he struck out 41 batters.

“Peyton is just a bulldog. He does not get shaken, he works a good rhythm and he works quickly. He is the kind of pitcher that I like to see,” Ware said. “He has knowledge of the game and likes to make things happen. He throws strikes, keeps the ball down and throws it well.”

Dodson offers a good off-speed mix while Kirkland returns with 33 innings pitched from 2023 — his first time pitching.

“He completely blew me away. And with his work this summer he has gotten where his curveball has gotten better and the changeup is good,” Ware said. “He mixes the ball well and does a good job hitting spots. He is great at holding runners on. That is what I feel our biggest strengths are.”

Duckworth pitched 10.2 innings last season, striking out nine batters and allowing 15 hits.

Defending the diamond

Behind the plate could be a pair of Bears — Duckworth or Dawson Edwards. Both caught last season. Duckworth did so for 101 innings to Edwards’ 18.

“Kyle and Dawson are competing for that position and both have been doing great. I think I could put either one of them back there and they would do the job,” Ware said. “Dawson has a little more room to grow. Kyle, I hope he steps up and does what he can do. I don’t know which one is going to do which, but they both will play there and give us a big role.”

The sophomore Edwards has grown stronger since last May.

The first position to fill comes at first base. Darren McJunkin is the leading candidate to replace Cam Coleman.

“Darren is going to do a good job. He does a good job with leadership and is vocal on the field. It will be hard to replace Cam’s glove at first, but I think Darren is right there with him as far as glovework,” Ware said.

Shortstop remains open for the Bears as well. The middle infield graduated Jack Saveall, but Clint Moser brings some experience from second base.

Tellico’s roster lists Duckworth, Enrique Medina and Hunter Russell as second basemen. Roper Gudger and Will Sanders are listed as third basemen with utility fielders in Keegan Collins, Moser and Rylan Saffles.

“Infield-wise, we are going to be young there and we are going to be inexperienced there. Clint played there a little bit,” Ware added. “As far as that, we have four or five guys that might be rotation in or out, just depending on what our outfield looks like.”

The trend continues in the outfield with Dodson the only returner. He is joined by Edwards, Dylan Hamby, Kirkland, Caden McConkey, Russell and Jonah Wilson.

Swing away

Tellico batted .244 last season with a collective 140 hits, 106 RBIs and 131 runs scored. The Bears return their leader in batting average, Dodson, but have graduated the next five.

“We strive off the small ball. We have been more of a power-hitter team — not that we hit with power, but we were not so good at bunting,” Ware said. “This year, these guys really buy into it. They kind of remind me of the team in 2019 - a good little gritty team that gets after it and will do whatever you ask them to do.”

Dodson reached a .387 average, a .500 on-base percentage, 24 hits, nine doubles and 24 runs scored.

Moser marked a .357 on-base number last year. McJunkin averaged .246 at the plate and posted a .350 on-base percentage.

“In the lineup, (McJunkin) is solid for us. He hit the ball well last year and put it in play many times. He set the tone for innings and stuff like that,” Ware said.

Sanders — who starts the season with an injury — can be a key contributor when healthy. He got on base 25% of the time last year and notched a triple.

“If he gets healthy and steps up in time I think he will be a big bat for us. Darren is going to be a big bat for us and Peyton will be good,” Ware added. “We have a couple of freshmen that I think will help us out. In practice, Keagan Collins has been stepping up.”

Dodson, McJunkin and Sanders are the only Bears who return with more than 30 at-bats last season.

Freshmen Collins and Gudger have shown well in live scrimmages, per Ware.

Getting after it

The young group has not shied away from the challenge. Eager to climb the mountain of District 3-2A, Tellico has been focused on progression since August.

“This group, since we have started our offseason workouts, we have had a blast; they have been fun to be around,” Ware said. “We have had a blast. They have been fun to be around and they bring a lot of enthusiasm to the table.”

Ware is fully aware of how hard the schedule can be — series with Sweetwater and McMinn Central highlight the year.

“I told them, we may not win a lot of games — we may surprise some people — but I am not looking at it for a win. If we do, that is great,” Ware added. “But I just want to see them compete and get out there and grow each week. I just want to see them compete and get better for next year if that is their focus or better for the next level if that is what they want.”

For a team that has its eyes on 2024 and beyond, the response has been what the coach wants.

“They love it. They are out there having fun and working hard. When you put those two together with good leadership and the love for the game they have, big things can happen,” Ware said. “I am not saying we will be a great team or we will win or lose a lot. Regardless, they are playing hard and so much fun to be with.”