2023 Baseball Magazine Preview | Page 87

After back-to-back 2A State Championships , the Tuckerman Lady Bulldogs will make the jump to the 3A classification . With several key returning players , do not look for the Lady Dogs to fall off the map . Coach Matt Dillon believes his seniors will step up to another challenge . “ I would say the team strength this year will be the veteran leadership . This team has been through it all , and won two state championships , which will help set the tone for the year . These girls have played a lot of ball and our 10 seniors want to go out on a high note . We have proved we can play at a high level , and I look forward to seeing this team continue to work to achieve that ,” Dillon said . Leading the drive back to the finals is All-State and All-State Tournament pitcher Hannah Nicholson . Nicholson finished the season 10-1 in the circle last season with a 1.38 ERA . The senior throws in the mid to upper 50s with good movement . Defensively she plays short with good range and a strong arm , and at the plate , Nicholson is an RBI machine in the middle of the lineup . Fellow senior and All-State Tournament player MacKenzie Soden will hit at the top of the lineup , play shortstop , and pitch some as well . Soden is a contact hitter that had a high on base percentage . She was 2-2 in the circle last season with 4 saves in 4 attempts . She has closed out two finals and is calm under pressure . Ansley Dawson is a senior utility player who can play anywhere at a high level . At the plate , Dawson has a high on base percentage and great speed on the base paths which makes her dangerous at the top of the lineup . Elizabeth Walker is a solid hitter who can hit to all parts of the field . The senior third baseman has good hands and is willing to get in front of any ball hit her way . Audrey Altom is a senior outfielder who has caught some as well . Altom is a steady hitter with some pop in her bat that can hit for average . Junior Gracie Smith caught every game a year ago because of her great receiving skills . Smith is an RBI producer with power in the middle of the lineup . The Lady Bulldogs lost three high productive players and will look to some others to expand their roles to fill some gaps . Senior Anna Fortenberry will be looked upon to take over first base and provide some pop in the lineup , and fellow senior Julie Glasgow will use her speed to take over in center field and get on base . Seniors Laci Worthington and Sophia Lancaster will also be looked upon to step up in some spots . Worthington is a three-year starter in the field , but will have an opportunity to provide some production in the lineup . Lancaster had some pinch-hitting opportunities a year ago but could be called upon to help out more in the lineup . Junior Carley Boyd missed last year with an injury , but should help out the pitching staff this season . The right hander throws in the mid-50s and hits her spots well . Boyd will provide depth to the pitching staff for Tuckerman . Kymber Arnold is a sophomore that is new to the program . She has the potential to help in the middle of the infield and help behind the plate . Coach Dillon knows a three-peat won ’ t be easy , but he feels his team is up for the challenge , “ Some areas of concern will be finding the production lost after losing three starters . There is some offensive production that will be need to be made up , but I feel we have the players to do it . We have plenty of veterans that can step up and produce when called upon . We also know we have our work cut out for us moving up to 3A . There are some really good teams in our conference , region , and across the state . This is new territory for us as we haven ' t seen most of them , but our girls are excited and will be up to the challenge .”

The Tuckerman Bulldogs graduated eight seniors from a team that finished 15-16 last year and made the regional tournament in 2A . This season , the Bulldogs will move up to 3A with a host of new faces that will try to return to the postseason . Coach Kiley Roberts believes that losing so many seniors last year is just an opportunity for others to step up . “ Graduating eight seniors from last season ' s team makes room for a multitude of new faces around the field ,” Roberts said . “ The keys to our success this season will be our ability to take advantage of scoring situations and making routine plays behind our pitchers . My concern for the team this year is that the pitching staff isn ' t as deep and proven as it has been in the past .” Three players that are returning are Will Tubbs , Brantley Lane , and Timothy Ward . Tubbs will once again be the everyday catcher for the Dogs , while also seeing some time on the mound . “ Mayo ,” as they call him , is great behind the plate because he knows the staff so well , and he will provide leadership for the young squad . Lane will play on both corners of the infield and make a few starts on the mound . He will be a solid stick at the plate , and give Tuckerman a chance on the mound . Ward will be in the outfield and on the mound . He is a high energy guy that throws strikes and works fast on the mound . Both Lane and Ward have good breaking pitches that they can control to keep opposing hitters off-balanced . Seniors Anthony Holladay , in centerfield , and Jarod Smith , at third base , will be called upon to contribute on a daily basis this year . Sophomores Andrew Kings , Eli Tackett , and Finley Lancaster will have to step up to significant roles this season . Tackett and King will play up the middle defensively , while Lancaster will be in the outfield . All three of these players will also see time on the mound . Even with new faces in a new conference in a new classification , look for the Tuckerman Bulldogs to battle for a spot in the regional tournament .

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