Winning with defense

Chris Tinsley is preaching pitching and defense to his Clay-Chalkville High School baseball team.

“In games where we win the pitching and defensive battle, we win ball games,” the third-year Clay-Chalkville High School baseball coach said. 

In Tinsley’s first season, the Cougars advanced to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. But last season, they were unable to get over the hump and missed out on the postseason. 

Over the past two years, the Cougars have graduated the likes of Thomas Johns, Blake Petty, Dayne Edwards, Kameron Gilham and Andrew Blount.

“Last year’s group was a special group,” Tinsley said. “The seniors that we graduated, they’re irreplaceable. But what I tell these guys is last year is over with and gone. This is your team, so how do you want to be remembered?”

The Cougars still have several solid offensive players, but there is quite a bit of firepower to replace.

“Offensively, we’ll get there, but pitching and defense has to be our bread and butter,” Tinsley said.

Tinsley was given reason to be hopeful about his pitching and defense in the Cougars’ 3-0 win over Southeastern on March 7. That evening, Luke Moore made his first career varsity start on the mound and spun a gem.

“Heck of a ball game for him,” Tinsley said after that game. “His first varsity start, he throws 73 pitches in seven innings against a really good [Class] 1A team that’s going to make a run in the playoffs. I couldn’t be more proud of how he competed today.”

Moore allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out five hitters. He also helped himself with a two-run double in the fifth inning. 

Moore is likely to be one of Clay-Chalkville’s top pitchers, with Michael Kilgore serving as the de facto staff ace. Connor Miles, Jonah Freind and Tristan Walton have also logged quality innings for the Cougars.

“It’s going to be a lot of pitching by committee as we get into area play,” Tinsley said.

The Cougars’ record through the season’s first month wasn’t going to blow anyone away, but Tinsley purposefully challenged his team in the early going. Clay-Chalkville played 7A playoff contenders Oak Mountain (twice) and Mountain Brook.

“We’re right where we need to be, I think,” he said. “All the tough competition we’ve played, all the strong arms we’ve seen, I think has helped us for the run at area play.”

Logan Pruett got off to a hot start, as the Cougars leadoff hitter began the season with an on-base percentage over .450 through the season’s first month. Kilgore and Miles are relied on in the middle of the order, and Tinsley said Jeremy Ervin has done a solid job replacing Kameron Gilham at thecatcher position. 

Matthew Blahous, Ashton Kincaid and Khalil Bell have stepped up on the infield, and Logan Catalano has played in the outfield. Andrelle Tillman and Noah Tatum have gotten chances to impress early on as well. 

The Cougars are hopeful to snag one of the top two spots in Class 6A, Area 12, and will likely be competing against Gardendale and Pinson Valley. The key for them lies in pitching and defense.

“If we can win the pitching battle and win the defensive battle and we score three runs, I like our odds.” Tinsley said.