“We have a lot of talent coming up,” Lykins said, even though seven seniors on this year’s varsity will be gone. “If I’m given the opportunity to do it again, I think we will be competitive again next year. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
READ MORE: Hamilton native, Talawanda baseball coach Tim Reed has died
Following Coach Reed’s death, Lykins was named interim head coach and then got the job, but supplemental contracts are for one year and the same person must be put back in that position.
“It was a challenge to be sure everyone was ready emotionally and athletically. It could have been a lot more trying if we did not have such a good program,” Lykins said. “It was the afternoon of Monday when we heard of Tim’s death. The funeral was Friday. It was a delicate situation. Jimmy, Tim’s son (and assistant coach), said he was probably looking down from heaven wondering why we were not practicing. So, we had the family’s blessing. It was a good life lesson. We did not tell (players) to keep their minds off if it but to do what Tim gave 35 years of his life to making something.”
Then, the team went out and earned the most wins of any Talawanda varsity baseball team since 2013.
“I think pitching was definitely a strength this year. The guys were throwing strikes and the defense was fielding behind them. They felt they could do the job,” Lykins said. “(Senior) Ian Heiman had some major wins for us, against Saint X and Colerain. He matured and grew up this year.”
Heiman finished the season with a 3-2 record, appearing in nine games with a 1.78 ERA and he was tied for third in the SWOC with 34 strikeouts.
The coach also complimented the pitching of juniors Mason Hansford, Luke Saurber and senior Sam Stieby.
Hansford also finished with a 3-2 record, had one save and finished with a 2.28 ERA with 17 strikeouts. He contributed at the plate, as well, with a .333 batting average, one homerun and eight runs batted in, tying him for eighth in the league in that category.
Saurber pitched in ten games, had a 1-1 record and a 4.38 ERA.
Steiby finished the season with a 3-3 record in six games with a 2.33 ERA and 19 strikeouts. With a bat, he contributed 12 rbi this spring.
Junior Clayton Detherage was Talawanda’s leading hitter with a .406 batting average, fourth in the SWOC and had 16 stolen bases.
Junior Brecken Hornsby was a big contributor on offense with a .377 batting average, which was eighth best in the league, and 22 rbi, which was fourth in the SWOC.
Talawanda also got strong performances off the bench, with Lykins noting the contributions of junior Sam Morrish and seniors Jake Michael and Tyler Prater.
“We have a lot of good role players who stepped in,” the coach said. “It’s a good collection of kids. They are selfless and wanted to make sure the team won.
That defense included three key positions—senior Josh Hartman at shortstop, Hornsby at second base and senior Klayton Smith in centerfield.
“We were strong up the middle,” Lykins said.
Lykins praised his coaching staff and players for the success this season saying he had the benefit of good people as they all dealt with the death of coach Reed. Lykins was moved up from the junior varsity team, as a result and found an adjustment of his own as a coach.
“I felt I improved. It is quite a learning curve to go from jayvee to varsity. It’s quicker. There are a lot of advantages in jayvee, you can wait for the other team to make mistakes. With the varsity, you cannot wait for them to make mistakes,” he said. “All I know is I had the staff and players no matter how it came to pass. I had the advantage of great people.”
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