Profiles/Features

The Final Countdown

Senior year: a monumental time in everyone’s life. Making plans for the summer, prom, and trying to fight senioritis. But for the seniors on Tuscaloosa County varsity baseball team, senior year is much more than that. There are seven seniors on the team and their departures have a ripple affect on every part of the team. The other players, families, and especially the coaches.

Matthew Estes (2B), Grant Hickman (RHP), Harrison Stout (INF), Logan Bowers (OF), and David Sloan (OF) are all graduating in 2020. Hickman has already signed to Shelton State for the fall, while Stout has signed to Bevill State. There are still decisions to be made, for the other seniors as well as the coaches. Head coach Nick Robinson has faith in his juniors but understands the gravity of so many of his starters leaving.

“For now, we just want to worry about finishing this season on a high note for all the guys,” said Robinson.

He is proud of the seniors and everything they have accomplished but he knows that turnover is apart of sports. Everyone eventually leaves especially in high school sports. With four 2021 starters and younger players on the team, Coach Robinson is excited to see how the team will grow not only as the season continues but also for next season.

“The good thing with change is that others will get a chance to find their places on the team,” explained Robinson, finding the brighter side of the situation.

Trying to keep the dugout positive and optimistic for the future is all apart of coaching for him. For Coach Robinson, it is all about balance on and off the field especially when dealing with high school athletes.

“We have a lot more work to do. We want our seniors to enjoy their year but also know there’s still business to finish here,” said Robinson.

The Wildcats are seven and five and hope to continue their winning streak.

Making the Best Out of Every Situation

By: Haley Taylor

Atlanta, GA (April 13, 2020)- A chapter in your life coming to an end is bittersweet. There are new possibilities waiting for you while you leave old memories behind. Grant Hickman knows bittersweet; he feels it when he thinks about his senior year of high school which has been cut short due to pandemic COVID-19. The Tuscaloosa County High School (TCH) varsity baseball player has not only had his school year halted but his season as well. Hickman is not the only feeling the precautions of this sort of global shutdown in place, but he can’t help but feel like something has been taken from him.

“You have all this hype leading up to senior year, and everything that comes with it. It’s just a letdown,” said Hickman.

Finals, prom, parties, games, graduation, and lasting memories from senior year all up in the air as everyone tries to adjust to a world with social distancing and no sports. Hickman has gone back to school but it now online. He said that him and his friends always joked about not having to go to school but never actually thought it would happen, and not in this way.

It is hard to believe it is only the beginning of April. Just in February, schools were still doing face to face classes, the Chiefs became Superbowl champs, trade deadlines around the leagues happened, and the TCH Wildcats were on a winning streak. Life moves fast and in the blink of an eye, everything has changed. Despite this, Grant tries to stay optimistic during this time. There are several things he does to cope with the change so he can stay, as he says, “sane”.

I facetime my friends almost every day. We also stream movies and shows together. For me, keeping in touch is key; makes me feel a little less alone,” Hickman describes how him and his friends and loved ones stay in touch.

He also like taking walks to clear his head during this time. Even though this time in his life be somber, the people in his life are reminding him that he can make up those memories in different way. Grant’s varsity baseball coach Nick Robinson feels for his players, but also knows they have a lot of important memories to make down the road.

“They are young, so everything feels like the end, but in reality, they have time to make up those memories,” said Robinson.

The key is not thinking about the memories or times that have been lost, but the memories you are could make in the future. In times like this, it is important to keep spirits high; Grant is looking forward to college and the experiences that come with that; classes, and college baseball at Shelton State. It makes the bittersweet feeling a little sweeter.