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Goodpasture baseball enjoying success with talented, yet inexperienced team





Goodpasture sophomore Hutson Miles (1) flashes a smile during a recent game. The Cougars are off to a 25-3 start this spring.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture sophomore Hutson Miles (1) flashes a smile during a recent game. The Cougars are off to a 25-3 start this spring.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture baseball coach Jim Carter thought his team had a chance to be good this spring.

That was on paper, though.

Only two players – infielder Trace Anderson and outfielder Brendan Jones – had significant varsity experience since the 2020 season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Carter knew the talent was there. Four of the five Cougars committed to play college baseball are heading to Division I schools. It was just a matter of getting the young players up to speed.

Goodpasture (25-3) appears to have been successful on that front. The Cougars have won 18 of their last 19 games and are ranked No. 2 in Prep Baseball Report’s Tennessee Power 25 Rankings, which includes teams from all classifications.

“I’m pleased with our young guys and the way they’ve performed and competed,” Carter said. “Really it’s across our team. It’s not just this guy or that guy. It’s our entire roster.”

Of course, having an inexperienced roster isn’t a challenge unique to Goodpasture. High school baseball programs across the state and country have dealt with similar issues after their year-long hiatus.

Goodpasture senior Brendan Jones sprints to first base in a recent game.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture senior Brendan Jones sprints to first base in a recent game.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

The Cougars are just handling it better than most.

Entering this week, Goodpasture had a team ERA of 2.21, a batting average over .350 and wins in all 10 district games.

“I think we’re playing really consistent right now because we’re clicking on the field and we’re clicking off the field,” said senior first baseman and pitcher Abbott Lawrence, a Columbia State signee. “The environment in the dugout is the same as it is on the field. Everybody’s getting along.”

Besides Lawrence, Jones has signed with Kansas State, sophomores Luke Payne and Carson Rucker are committed to Tennessee, and freshman Bishop Quarles is committed to Ohio State.

According to Carter and the players, those credentials haven’t resulted in big egos.

“It’s great to have the talent,” Jones said. “Sometimes (talented) guys can be selfish, but everyone here has bought into the team mindset and doing what it takes to win. That’s the main thing you want to have.”

Goodpasture's Carson Scott (7) and his teammates celebrate scoring a run in a recent game.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture’s Carson Scott (7) and his teammates celebrate scoring a run in a recent game.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture players are reminded daily of the program’s postseason history. The Cougars’ eight state championships are listed on the brick façade of the team hitting facility, but they haven’t added a new placard since 2012.

Could that change this year? Carter isn’t letting the Cougars think that far ahead just yet.

“Everything is day-to-day when you’re talking about high school baseball,” Carter said. “Our focus has to be on dealing with the day in front of us. That’s the most important day of the year, and then we’ll move on to the next one.”

When the district tournament starts in less than two weeks, the Cougars can extend what’s been a banner year for Goodpasture athletics. Boys basketball and volleyball both won state championships, and the football team advanced to the state semifinals.

Luke PayneCasey Gower

Luke PayneCasey Gower

Baseball could be up next.

“It’s been a great year to be a Goodpasture Cougar,” Jones said. “We’re just trying to do our part to keep the success going.”

Trace AndersonCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Trace AndersonCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Tanner JonesCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Tanner JonesCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture's Carson Scott gets a hug from Brendan Jones.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture’s Carson Scott gets a hug from Brendan Jones.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture players stand for the National Anthem before a recent game.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture players stand for the National Anthem before a recent game.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Tanner Jones, Luke Payne and Jaron ElkinsCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Tanner Jones, Luke Payne and Jaron ElkinsCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Abbott LawrenceCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Abbott LawrenceCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Brendan Jones (5) and the Goodpasture bench support their teammates during a recent game.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Brendan Jones (5) and the Goodpasture bench support their teammates during a recent game.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Logan HarrellCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Logan HarrellCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture playersCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture playersCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture infielder Carson Rucker throws to first during a game in 2021.Casey Gower/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture infielder Carson Rucker throws to first during a game in 2021.Casey Gower/Main Street Nashville

Brendan JonesCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Brendan JonesCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture's Carson RuckerCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture’s Carson RuckerCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture infielder Trace Anderson makes contact with the ball during a game last season.Casey Gower/Main Street Nashville/File

Goodpasture infielder Trace Anderson makes contact with the ball during a game last season.Casey Gower/Main Street Nashville/File

Goodpasture's Abbott LawrenceCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture’s Abbott LawrenceCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Nick NeighboursCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Nick NeighboursCasey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture senior Brendan Jones gets a high-five from a teammate.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Goodpasture senior Brendan Jones gets a high-five from a teammate.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Brendan Jones slides safely into second base against Clarksville Academy.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

Brendan Jones slides safely into second base against Clarksville Academy.Casey Gower/Main Street Media

R6CG0107.jpgCasey Gower/Main Street Media

R6CG0107.jpgCasey Gower/Main Street Media

R5CG0127.jpgCasey Gower/Main Street Media

R5CG0127.jpgCasey Gower/Main Street Media

 

 

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