Always being ready

Riding the bench is never a fun thing to do in any sport.

In some ways, I think it’s even harder for baseball, especially when you’re playing for the Hartselle Tigers. Yes, the team plays nearly 60 games during a season.

In fact, the schedule isn’t nearly as rigorous for the playoffs as what they do in the regular season. During the playoffs, Hartselle plays three games maximum per week. During the regular season, you’re playing about three or four days during the week and between 6-8 games per week.

Even with that busy schedule, when you have a baseball program that fields about 60 players each spring, there’s just no way everyone gets to play as much as other players.

However, when you get that chance, you have to make the most of it. That’s exactly what Brady Wallace did. He hadn’t made an appearance in nearly 40 days before he was put in the state championship’s second game.

He’s gone to the bullpen to warm up numerous times this playoff season, but someone else was called on to get in the game.

But this past Saturday, the junior lefty got the chance and he was ready. He pitched a marvelous four innings and helped clinch the championship for Hartselle.

The reason why he was ready is because he did the work during the week just as if he was going to pitch every night. By doing that, the coaches knew what he could do. And when that right situation comes, he was ready to go.

So if you find yourself riding the bench, don’t give up or lose hope. Just keep working and you’ll get your chance.

Brent Maze is the managing editor of the Hartselle Enquirer.