The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE there have been a number of local players signing professional baseball contracts over the past few months, a number of international players are looking forward to their high school season opener this weekend at the same school.

The Tallulah Falls School Indians, with eight players combined from New Providence and Grand Bahama on their roster, will begin play on the road against Clarke Central on Friday, February 11 before their home opener on Tuesday, February 14 against Rabun County at the Higgins Baseball Complex.

Tallulah Falls School, based in Tallulah Falls, Georgia, is an independent, co-educational boarding and day care school serving more than 500 students from grades 5-12.

The Indians’ baseball team, coached by Justin Pollock, who took over at the helm in 2021 and assisted by Dustin Rogers, is hoping to build on their fourth-place finish in the standings that earned them a berth into the playoffs.

“Our goal is to build on the foundation we laid last season and continue to take our programme to new heights,” says Pollock of his debut with the team. “Making the playoffs in 2021 was exciting, but this year our expectation is to host and win series in the playoffs.”

The team has the recipe to be successful, as they return a plethora of experienced hitters and will be deeper in the pitching department than they’ve been in quite some time.

Among the list of players suiting up for the Indians this year are seniors Norman Bastian and Joel Miller from New Providence and Malique Charlton and Kristian Williams from Grand Bahama.

The other Bahamians on the team are junior Frankey Moree from New Providence, sophomores Zaiden Cox from Grand Bahama and Caden Walker from New Providence, and freshman Danny Grant from Grand Bahama.

Miller is expected to be a big piece back for the lineup, as he hit .250 with 13 RBI and had 5 doubles along with 21 runs scored. He will be joined by Moree (.239) who had 15 RBI and scored 10 runs and Bastian, a transfer student, to help lead the charge for the Indians.

“We have 11 seniors who all have varsity experience that we are going to lean on this season,” says Pollock about his expectations for the team.

“Pitching depth is also a strength, last year we had four pitchers who threw 90 percent of our innings. This year we feel like we have nine or 10 guys who can contribute for us on the mound.”