The Farragut Admiral baseball season for 2021 didn’t end the way we wanted it to. For us, any season that ends short of a State Championship is disappointing. At least it seems that way….. we begin every season with dreams of putting “Another Ball on the Wall.” And, I suppose, that’s the way it should be… Farragut Baseball has a strong tradition of excellence, and tradition never graduates.
But, let’s look back at this season and find some very good take-aways….
After losing essentially the entire 2020 season due the pandemic, the 2021 season began with lots of uncertainty. Would we be able to keep our players and coaches healthy enough for the long month of pre-season practice? Then what about visiting teams? How would it go for our weekend tournaments and District games?
This 2021 Admiral team upheld the tradition by capturing another regular season District 4AAA championship, winning 13 of 14 games. And then topped that off with the stirring double-header sweep of HVA in the District Tournament championship!! At that point, the Admirals’ record was 33 wins and 5 losses. That’s very good by anyone’s accounting.
The next week was the grueling Region 2 and Sectional games. The Admirals dispatched Knoxville Central in the Region 2AAA semifinal 11-1, and then came from behind *twice* to defeat Powell 8-6 for the R2AAA Championship. And then topped off the week by eliminating Seymour 9-2 to advance to the Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.
That win propelled the 2021 Admirals to the State Tournament for the 18th time in the last 21 seasons. There’s no other baseball program in Tennessee with that kind of success!!
The Admirals finished with 2 wins and 2 losses in the State Tournament, essentially finishing tied for third in Class AAA. The final record is 38-7 (.844). That’s really good in anyone’s book!
Best wishes to the 2021 Seniors as they move on their college and academic careers! You are Admirals for Life!!
Go Admirals!
Ralph Skinner