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The T. R. Miller Tigers clinched the Class 3A Area 2 Championship with a sweep over the Thomasville Tigers. “I am extremely proud of the way we played today and clinched the area championship. There were times when we played flat in game three, but we overcame it. I tell my guys all the time that each game builds up, and we want momentum going into our next game. The most important pitch is the next pitch, so now we have to go prepare for the next pitch” stated Madden.

 Game 1

Both teams were strong on the mound Thursday, but the T.R. Miller Tigers defeated Thomasville 3-1. TRM pitchers allowed just six hits to Thomasville. Blake Jernigan took the win for Miller. He lasted six innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out 11 and walking zero. Landon Sims threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Sims recorded the last three outs to earn the save for TRM. The Tigers tallied ten hits in the game. Tyler Merritt, Jernigan, and Wyn Brittain each collected multiple hits for T.R. Miller. Brittain, Jernigan, and Merritt each managed two hits to lead.

This would also be Senior Night for the Tigers as well. “I’ve been playing baseball since I was three and I just liked the sport ever since. I had two older brothers to play baseball at TRM, and I just really loved watching them giving their all, so that also inspired to me to play” stated Matt Smith. “When I was a freshman I looked up to the senior baseball players then, and that was Tripp Floyd and Jake Najor. They were just fun to be around. Now since I am a senior, I have to set an example for my teammates as well” said Smith. “This coaching staff really shows how they care about you. They show you what you have to do, and that you have to  put in hardwork and dedication” explained Smith. “After I graduate from TRM, I see myself becoming a baseball player in college and if not, I can go to CACC to get my basics. After that go to a university and I’ve always wanted to be a coach and a youth pastor” said Smith.

 

 Game 2

T.R. Miller  scores more runs than Thomasville, takes victory on Friday with a final of 7-4. The Tigers got things moving in the first inning, when Tyler Merritt doubled on a one ball-one strike  count, scoring two runs. TRM gathered three runs in the sixth inning. The Tiger batters contributing to the big inning included Miller Hart and Hunter Johnson, who each had RBIs in the inning. Matt Smith pitched a complete game to lead the Tigers to victory. He allowed eight hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out four. TRM scattered 13 hits in the game. Blake Jernigan, Hart, Merritt, and Wyn Brittain each managed multiple hits for the Tigers. Hart and Jernigan each collected three hits to lead T.R. Miller at the plate. “It feels really good to be able to come out and get this win. This will give us a lot of energy going into the first round of the playoffs. We are just going to focus on one game at a time” stated Hart. “My approach at the plate was to see first pitch fastball to put the ball in play, and move the runners around” explained Hart. “To be playing at this level as a freshman, it feels great and also it’s still baseball, we have just have to play how we play” said Hart. Miller Hart is the son of TRM Football legend John Hart and grandson of TRM coaching legend Coach Jim Hart and Miller has found inspiration in them to continue the Hart legacy at TRM. “They taught me everything. So all that I know now, is because of them. I am honored to continue the Hart legacy at TRM” said Hart.

 

Game 3

T.R. Miller took the lead late and defeated Thomasville 5-4 on Friday. The game was tied at four with the Tigers batting in the top of the seventh when Matt Smith’s sac fly scored one run for TRM. Thomasville scored four runs in the first inning, but the Tigers of TRM still managed to pull out the victory. Thomasville big bats were led by Cooper Hankins and Avery Malone, all driving in runs in the inning. Thomasville got things moving in the first inning. The Tigers evened things up at four in the top of the sixth inning. Kyle Blevins singled on a one ball- zero strike count, scoring one run. T.R. Miller tallied three runs in the fourth inning. The Tigers scored its runs on an RBI single by Blevins. Logan Bush earned the win for T.R. Miller. He surrendered zero runs on three hits over six and a third innings, striking out eight and walking zero. Logan Rowell started the game for Miller. He surrendered four runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. Blevins went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Tigers in hits.

Now for Coach Kevin Madden and the T. R. Miller Tiger Baseball Team is the first round of the AHSAA Class 3A Playoffs. The Tigers will meet common foe, the Flomaton Hurricanes, on Friday April 19 at “The Kruse” at 3:00pm. “It’s a new season. You can throw all the stats, records, etc. out the window. We have to use everything we learned from the regular season and put it to use during the postseason and just play our baseball,” stated Madden. The Tigers and Hurricanes have met three times already and this time, it is setting up to be a “Dirty 30 Showdown.”