ADDISON, Ala. — Addison Head Coach John Everett hopes his second year at the helm of his alma mater will be better than his first. After all, they only got to play a handful of games before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out what was starting to be a very promising season for the Bulldogs.
Coach Everett believes that this team has a chance to be just as good as last year’s team, maybe even better.
“We have had a great turnout for early season practice. We have several more players out than last year and some of our younger guys make you believe that the future is bright here,” Everett said. “Our youth baseball here in Addison is really strong and the kids get quality coaching.”
As far as expectations for 2021, Coach Everett believes it starts with winning the Winston County Championship. The Bulldogs are also expected to compete in a wide-open Area 13 for the area title as well.
“Our area is Winston County, Falkville and Cold Springs. I know Coach (James) Moore from Winston County and Coach (Adam) Ward from Falkville and they always do a great job with their programs. I don’t know Cold Springs Coach (Wesley) McSwain as well, but they always put a quality product out on the field. I really don’t want our guys to think about anything but the next game in front of them. We don’t need to get too caught up in what our record is or the standings. If we take care of business each and every day out on the diamond, we will be fine.”
Addison will be without their ace starting pitcher Luke Waldrep, who graduated after three dominate starts last spring.
“That is the biggest difference between this year’s team and last year’s team. We don’t have that truly dominating ace like Luke (Waldrep) was,” Everett said. “They don’t come around very often. What we do have is a ton of pitching depth. We have about eight guys that are legitimate pitchers. We may not have a true number one, but we have several that can take the ball and help the team. Ty Tuggle, Nelson Martin, Briley Holt and Mac Cagle are just a few of our guys that will take the mound this year.”
Everett has high hopes for his team’s offensive potential for the upcoming season as well.
“As far as our offense goes, we are going to be aggressive. We are going to run, hit and run, take the extra base and then run some more. I want my guys to be thinking aggressively on the basepaths. I told them we aren’t a power hitting team, but we have speed, and we are going to use it.”
Coach Everett will be depending on a couple of seniors in catcher/pitcher (Ty)Tuggle and infielder/pitcher (Nelson) Martin.
“Those two guys (Martin/Tuggle) are my vocal leaders, guys that try and get everyone involved. First baseman Brody Dollar is a junior and he is my quiet leader. He is the first to practice and leads by example,” Everett said. “I know as a team you need both kinds, and we are blessed to have them on this team. I am really blessed that I have a great bunch of young men on this team.”
As far as the defensive side of the game goes, Coach Everett believes that this team has the ability to be a solid, fundamentally sound ball club.
“Told the boys to just make the routine plays and all in all if you do that, we should win most games. Errors and walks kill a team” Everett said. “If we can hold those down to a minimum our season has the possibility to be special.”
Coach Everett pointed out several upgrades to the Addison baseball facilities that have come together in the past year.
“We were able to add a warning track to the outfield this year. We also were able to install foam pads on the backstop to cover the concrete wall. We have a new windscreen as well as yellow fence toppers that surrounds the field. Our stadium looks better than it ever has, and I would like to thank some of the people that made that happen,” Everett said. “The guys had several fundraisers in which their parents were amazing in helping out. Mr. Rex Seymour of Premier Bank of Addison, and Bank First of Addison as well as Mr. Wade Bentley of Eckenrod Ford all contributed to our upgrades and I would like just like to acknowledge the great help that they have been. Not one of them asked for recognition but I feel that people need to know that these businesses give back to the community in many ways that the public doesn’t hear about.”
Everett is also happy to have a veteran staff to assist him in his coaching duties. Longtime coach Jeff Sudduth, who incidentally coached Everett in high school, as well as assistant coach Greg Dollar bring a wealth of baseball knowledge to the dugout and field. Addison will also have the recently graduated Waldrep helping out with the pitching staff when he can.
Addison opens the season at home on Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. with Oakman and Priceville. The three teams will play each other in a round robin that day. All in all, it should be a good year for Addison baseball. Let’s face it, after the way last season was cut short, any baseball we get is going to be great!
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