HAMILTON — Clay Atkins never imagined he would follow in the footsteps of pitchers like Dylan Earnest and Chase Reeves.
But after losing four pitchers who combined to throw nearly all of the Hamilton High School baseball team’s innings in 2011, Atkins figured he would get a shot to show what he could do.
“I didn’t know I was going to be one of the top pitchers,” Atkins said. “It kind of hit me, and I took it and ran with it.”
Atkins wasn’t alone in thinking he would have an opportunity this season to play a key role. Even though Hamilton has seven other seniors, many of them have had to wait their turn to shine in a varsity uniform. Many of those players have made the most of their chances, which is why Hamilton is still alive in the Class 2A North State playoffs.
At 6:30 p.m. Friday, Hamilton (17-9-1) will play host to Bruce in game one of a best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A North State playoff series.
Atkins or senior left-hander Ethan Earnest likely will start on the mound in game one. The other will be in the mix to start game two at 7 p.m. Saturday at Bruce.
Atkins felt he “caught a spark” following his first start in a Class 2A, Region 1, District 1 game. He has built on the confidence gained from that appearance and raised his level of play and leadership as the season as progressed. Atkins is tied for the team lead in wins (five) and is No. 1 on the team with an ERA around 0.5. His emergence has helped the Lions overcome the loss of Reeves, who is redshirting ths season at the University of Mississippi, Austin Earnest, Brandon Fikes, and Lee Sanders.
Hamilton coach Lewis Earnest attributes Atkins’ success to his work ethic. He said Atkins, who threw only one varsity inning in 2011, typically is the first to help the team do something, whether it is hauling trash or in a drill at practice.
“He has pitched well for us,” Earnest said. “He is one of our biggest leaders. He doesn’t mind speaking up or jumping out there and doing it himself. … He doesn’t mind working, and that means a lot.”
Seniors Hayden Gill, who has four wins, Cojuante McMillian, Austin Welch, who has signed a scholarship to play baseball at Itawamba Community College, Kyle Dahlem, Tyler Jones, and Richard Clay also have played key roles as one of the program’s least experienced senior classes in recent memory.
Atkins and classmate Cojuante McMillian said a conversation with assistant coaches Trey Spencer and Cody Freeman sparked the seniors to play a more vocal role. Hamilton has played some of its best baseball of the season since that talk. It handed Hatley its first two losses of the season en route to taking first place in the district. It swept Potts Camp last week in the first round of the playoffs and is eager to take the next step against Bruce.
“This is my first year really starting, and I just feel like whatever I have to do to make the team better, I have to do it,” McMillian said.
Atkins said the conversation encouraged him to step up and to lead by example even more because he realized it would set the bar higher for the younger classes. He felt he was playing and leading at a good level, but it didn’t match what he has been doing since the talk.
“It made me realize this is it and either I do something now or it is never going to get done,” Atkins said. “I talked to the other seniors and to the team about stepping up and being better, and that is what we have all done. We have stayed a team and we all have worked hard.”
Said coach Earnest, “They have taken it and put it into action. They have stepped up and done what seniors are supposed to do: lead by example and, if necessary, lead vocally.
“We really don’t have any superstars. We just have a bunch of ordinary guys who want each other to do well.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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