STARKVILLE — Ty and Hayden Hendrix aren”t the first family members to play baseball together at East Webster High School.
The cousins want to be the latest to lead the Wolverines to a state title.
Hayden has a Class 1A state title ring from his freshman season, when he played with Ty”s cousin, Bart Stewart, a pitcher.
Hayden, who was mainly a reserve in 2008, knows what it takes to get there, and been a rock at the plate and at first base ever since. He leads the team in RBIs and is coming off a 10-RBI performance against Strayhorn that helped the Wolverines advance in the 2A playoffs.
One of seven seniors this season, he admits the experience playing on the ”08 squad, and even looking up to the ”06 team that won a state title, has made the past two seasons hard to accept.
“It is very disappointing we haven”t reached as far as we have my freshman year, but you got to take the good with the bad,” Hayden said. “This is my last year, and I don”t want us to fall short of our goals.”
Ty (9-2) has been an impact player the past two seasons, leading the pitching staff with a reputation for throwing strikes and not giving up free bases. His playoff experience includes missing the postseason last year and being bounced from the ”09 playoffs in a sweep to Stringer.
When he was in junior high, the Wolverines” postseason success was far different from what he has experienced.
As a No. 3 seed, the Wolverines (19-6) are coming off 16-1 and 15-0 wins against Strayhorn and will face Mantachie this weekend.
Getting the team”s focus back to where it needs to be after division losses to Calhoun City and Bruce — by a combined three runs — cost the Wolverines a chance at winning a division title.
“I love it,” Ty said of his ability and of the ability of his cousins to contribute. “If one gets a good hit, you get to talk him up. We enjoy baseball together and have a great time in practice. It”s helped us out a lot.”
Hayden”s senior season has been the culmination of hard work on and off the field, which has seen him gain acceptance to pharmacy school at the University of Mississippi and become a reliable run-producer after mechanical issues in the box.
Hayden said he”d struggled repeatedly with dropping his back shoulder through the beginning of his swing. He credits his father and coach Wes Johnson for helping to correct his mechanics, but Johnson gives all the credit to Hayden.
“He is one of the hardest working kids I have coached in my 22 years,” Johnson said. “If all the kids were like Hayden, you”d coach for free. He”s a straight-A student and has a full-ride academically (to Ole Miss), which he is going to do instead of accepting a baseball scholarship to Millsaps.”
Hayden said his parents have reinforced his work ethic. But once he reached a certain age, he realized hard work wasn”t just a quality his parents wanted him to have but a necessary element to achieve his goals.
“You get to a point when you do it for yourself,” Hayden said. “Ty probably has more natural ability than I do, but I”ve worked really hard. I”ve had slumps in my career I”ve had to work out of to get to where I am now.”
Ty”s impact has been just as valuable, and he could play a larger role through the rest of the playoffs.
As the Wolverines” lead pitcher, there”s added value in getting quality innings, especially after the team faltered in other areas during the season, Johnson said.
“We have looked terrible in the field some games and we haven”t hit the ball consistently, but we have thrown strikes consistently,” Johnson said. “I think that”s why our record is what is it.
“Ty has been a consistent strike thrower since I got him his ninth-grade year. When he throws his breaking ball for a strike, he”s really hard to beat. He struck out 14 against Bruce. He”s had some high-strikeout games, but he hasn”t had a game where he”s struggled to throw strikes. That gives you a chance every time we put him out there.”
Despite the unfamiliarity of playoff opponents, Ty is confident he can continue to get ahead of hitters.
“If a big batter like Chase Reeves (of Hamilton) comes up, I don”t feed him down the middle, and I just keep it on the outside during that first pitch,” Ty said. “My main pitch on first pitch is my fastball. If I get into an 0-2 count, I”ll give him some junk, a breaking ball in the dirt, but the fastball is my go-to first pitch. That approach has worked for me all year, and I”m confident in making adjustments after I get through the lineup one time.”
Johnson said all seven seniors have contributed key hits and plays, but Hayden and Ty”s contributions have been invaluable.
“They”ve been right in the mix for us the last two or three years, and I”d like to see Hayden especially get to go out as a state champion,” Johnson said. “We”ve got six more to make that happen.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.