PHEBA — Asked Monday morning to name his favorite sport, Channing Tapley shrugged his shoulders.
It was just after 9 a.m. and Tapley was missing Algebra II to talk about his exploits on the football field, on the basketball court, and on the diamond at Hebron Christian School.
It’s a scenario Tapley is getting used to.
Tapley, a 6-foot-2, 200-pounder, went through the ordeal back in September when he was named The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week after throwing four touchdown passes in a 30-6 win against Calvary Christian.
Six months later, Tapley is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week once again. This time, it’s for his exploits in a different sport.
Channing Tapley, son of Hebron Christian fast-softball coach Cass Tapley, received the award after pitching Hebron Christian to a 16-2 win against Central Academy. He also blasted a home run against Kemper Academy as part of a 6-for-8 week that included a double, four runs scored, and five RBIs.
It was all in a week’s work for the junior, who is batting .700 this season.
“He’s just one of the hardest working kids I’ve seen,” Hebron Christian baseball coach Todd Griffin. “He lives it. Every day on the field, doesn’t matter which sport, he’s going to give it his all. He competes in the weight room, on the practice field. You love to coach a guy like that.”
Tapley started every game at quarterback for the Eagles and was the leading rebounder on the Hebron Christian boys basketball team. Tapley has transitioned to baseball and is having just as much success on the diamond.
“I love playing them all,” said Tapley, who played for Josh Buford and Team Mississippi in the summer. “I guess baseball is my favorite. It kind of runs in the family. I hear my dad was pretty good.”
The younger Tapley has been better than pretty good. With three hits against Central Academy and a home run against Kemper Academy, he has been a force in the middle of the lineup.
“You don’t see a lot of small 1A private school catchers with as much power as he’s got,” Griffin said. “He can hit it a long way. That home run against Kemper was to dead center field. He drilled it.”
Doubling as one of Hebron Christian’s most reliable pitchers and its catcher, Tapley has filled a vital role.
“I guess my hitting is my strength,” Tapley said. “I try to make an impact with the bat.”
Tapley has done just that, but he also has been good on the mound, where Griffin said, “He’s one of our top two guys. He throws hard.”
Tapley said he can throw his fastball “about 86 or 87 (mph). It’s high 80’s.” But he admits catcher is where his heart is.
“It’s like being the quarterback of the baseball team,” Tapley said. “I like that part of it. It’s where the action is.”
This season, the wet weather has affected Hebron Christian and the rest of the area teams. The weather has prevented the Eagles from building momentum, but Tapley still has big plans for the Eagles.
“I would think we’d be able to win a district championship,” Tapley said. “That’s what we expect. That’s always the goal.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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