Tyler Consolidated to compete in Mingo Bay Classic
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KIDWELL -- A handful of storylines have followed Tyler Consolidated baseball this spring and the Silver Knights are embarking on a new one this week while joining the field at the Mingo Bay Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Beginning Tuesday, Tyler Consolidated is guaranteed three games over the course of three days and will be slotted into a fourth pending its finish in pool play. If the Tyler Knights happen to win their pool and advance past Friday's semifinal contest, they secure the right to play for a championship on Saturday.
The tournament is the first of its kind for any Tyler Consolidated baseball player thanks in large part to the school's board of directors and athletic department. Raising funds began immediately once the green light was given last fall.
"After we lost to Williamstown last year in the postseason, we wanted to see better pitching throughout the season to better prepare ourselves," TCHS baseball coach Robby Jones said. "Fortunately, the board approved this trip. The families of the players have been great helping with the fundraising.
"We wanted to make this trip last year, but they canceled the tournament because of COVID. Once we found out we were going this season, we got the ball rolling back in the fall. The community stepped up with donations and supporting the team through fundraising. Melinda Walton (wife of TCHS athletic director Ryan Walton) works in the board office and headed up a lot of the fundraising along with her husband."
The tournament committee didn't do TCHS any special favors pairing the Silver Knights against South Carolina's small school state champion Williamsburg Academy.
First pitch is set for 10 a.m., which marks the same starting time for Wednesday's opponent, Liberty (S.C.). TCHS closes out pool play against Lake City (S.C.) at 3 p.m.
Jones and his coaching staff have ironed out its pitching staff for week, beginning with Ty Walton on the hill for the opener followed by Jayden Helmick and Hayden Brown. Carson Gorby starts Friday against an opponent yet to be determined.
Tyler Ferrell and Owen Westbrook give opposing teams a right-lefty look out of the bullpen. Alex Chaplin is tabbed as the Silver Knights' closer.
"This tournament is well respected along the eastern seaboard," Jones said. "If the kids play like they are capable, we should be able to compete -- we are striving to win some games."
TCHS just wrapped up an emotional weekend at the sixth edition of the Matt Boggs Memorial Wood Bat Tournament Saturday in Kidwell. The Silver Knights handed Frontier its first loss in nine games this season after winning 6-2 in title game.
Matt Boggs is a former athlete at TCHS who died of cancer nearly on March 29, 2016.
"Matt Boggs was one of the better athletes in school history," Jones said. "He played on the basketball team which went to state and was a catcher who had a very high throw-out rate. He was very well known in the area at the time.
"Whenever I was a kid growing up, I looked up to Matt. His mom and dad (Kimberly and Rodney Boggs) run the pizza place in Middlebourne he founded. His mom threw out the first pitch for the championship game and his dad caught the pitch. There was a little more emotion involved than a regular season brings for our athletes at Tyler."
Against Frontier, Hayden Brown threw a complete-game victory and went 2-for-2 at the plate. Helmick, Zade Bullings, Ty Walton, Westbrook and Chaplin each delivered a hit and was credited with an RBI.
Minus a doubleheader split with Wahama in their season-opener and managing only one hit in a loss at Williamstown, the Silver Knights sport a 14-2 record.
"The players have bought into the program," Jones said. "They are in full belief that if they work in practice and do as we ask of them, they can compete with anyone. Our junior class powers the team right now, but we have solid contributors from our seniors. The senior class has provided great leadership and the junior have taken from their lead."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com