By Chris Parker
Thayer baseball has a new head coach in Jason Morris this season. Morris compiled a 241-153 career record across 13 seasons at East Carter, Licking and Neelyville.
“I am excited to be back coaching high school baseball and feel that Thayer is a young team that is ready to go,” Coach Morris said. “I feel we have enough experience at the varsity level that with a few quality freshmen we can make this a great year.”
He inherits a program coming off a 10-8 season marking the program’s first above-.500 finish since 2016.
Four starters from that team in Colton Mills (senior), Carter Nicholson (junior), Canyon Harper (sophomore) and Dominick Boyce (junior) along with fellow letterman Ty Young (sophomore) return.
Mills will be the top pitcher.
“Colton Mills a will be looked upon to anchor the staff,” Morris said. “He has pitched varsity for several years, and we will look to his experience to lead our young staff.”
Owen Morris is a 6-foot-3 junior newcomer who will throw key innings.
“Owen Morris, a transfer student from Mountain Home, Ark., could fill the No. 2 spot,” Coach Morris said. “Owen can locate three pitches and could be looked on to close out games as well.”
Nicholson, Harper and Young all will see time on the mound.
“Carter Nicholson pitched several innings last year and was a great strike thrower who has great command of the zone,” Coach Morris said. “Canyon Harper will also be looked upon to fill varsity innings this year. He has good size and has been working hard at improving. Ty Young will also be in the mix to get innings. He was able to get his feet wet last year and will be counted on to eat innings.”
Cannon Tharp, Owen Brown, Cole Hunter, Ashton Jenkins and John Ogles are all freshmen who are in the mix for innings on the mound as well.
The depth of the pitching staff will be a strength.
“We seem to have several players that are comfortable on the mound and with 8 -9 arms vying for innings that is a hopefully a team strength,” Coach Morris said. “Colton and Owen Morris seem to be clear 1-2 front runners but after them we have seven players that could push for innings.”
As to who will be catching this pitching staff, it is to be determined.
“Catching is up in the air,” Coach Morris said. “We have Dominic Boyce that could possibly move from outfield to behind the plate. He is a good athlete with good game sense and not afraid of getting hit. Carson Harper could also see time behind the dish. He would move from first base. Then we have a couple of freshmen that have some potential to see some time in Ashton Jenkins and John Ogles.”
Around the infield, Thayer will be strong with Mills and Nicholson returning at shortstop and second base, respectively. Both earned all-conference honors last season with Mills a second-team infielder and Nicholson an honorable mention All-SCA selection.
Mills is the team’s lone senior.
“We have one senior on the roster this spring and it will be important for him to step up and show the young guys what it takes to be a varsity player,” Coach Morris said. “We will need him to play hard and lead by example and to take charge.”
Harper spent most of last spring at first base. Jenkins and Ogles could see time at the corner infield spots as freshmen.
Thayer will have a completely new outfield if Boyce moves to catcher.
Jragen Collins (junior), Owen Morris, Hayden Howerton (sophomore), Brown and Tharp are all options for time in the outfield.
Coach Morris noted improved play throughout the roster.
“Canyon has improved on commanding the zone. Ty has really worked on being more consistent in the zone. Owen Morris has worked on his second pitch to make it a quality pitch that can be thrown anytime. The freshmen, Owen Brown, Cannon Tharp, Ashton Jenkins and John Ogle, have really bought in to what we are doing and have already made great strides,” Coach Morris said.
Thayer will look to lean on the fundamentals with a young squad on the field.
“We only have a handful of players with varsity playing time. We will have some growing pains in our first several games but think we have some pieces that could come together. With any young team, scoring runs can often be difficult,” Coach Morris said. “(We want to) pound the strike zone and catch the ball. We will look to rely on our pitching depth and defense to keep us in games till our young bats can gain some varsity experience.”
Thayer opens the season on Mar. 19 at Mansfield.
“We always have winning expectations here at Thayer and hope to turn the years of football, and basketball success into years of baseball success,” Coach Morris said. “We were defeated in the finals of districts by Licking (last year) and hope to back in the finals again.”
