Former MLB pitcher Bryan Morris guides alma mater Tullahoma to first TSSAA title in 34 years

MURFREESBORO - When Tullahoma baseball coach Bryan Morris was asked about bringing a TSSAA state championship back to his alma mater for the first time in 34 years, emotions that had been in check for several minutes started to escape.

"You just saying it gives me chill bumps," said Morris, a former Wildcat star and 2005 graduate who went on to pitch in more than 200 MLB games across six seasons. "This group has worked their butts off for four years. It's a humbling experience that we actually pulled this off. It's surreal."

Tullahoma (35-6) finished a clean sweep through the Class 3A state tournament with a 7-4 win over Station Camp in Friday's championship game at MTSU's Reese Smith Field.

It's the Wildcats' first state title since 1990 and their first appearance in a title game since 1997.

Morris remembers how tough it was attempting to win a state title. His 2005 squad went 1-2 in the tournament.

But getting good pitching early and staying in the winner's bracket made things easy for Tullahoma this season. The Wildcats allowed just three runs combined in the first three games.

"We got to save a lot of pitching," said Tullahoma senior Evan Tomlin, who tossed a complete game in the team's 9-0 win over Dyer County. "Being able to throw strikes and pound the zone really helped us win this tournament."

Tullahoma baseball rides strong pitching to TSSAA state title

Morris was the No. 26 pick overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006. From 2012-17 he finished with a 20-12 record and 3.13 ERA in 231 career appearances with the Pirates, Marlins and Giants.

Having a former MLB pitcher as head coach can go a long way in strengthening a high school pitching staff. Assistant coach Chevis Hoover has also pitched professionally.

"Having that tool to have coaches who have been in those big moments makes it so much easier and takes a lot of stress off of us," Tomlin said. "They've taught us so well. We can trust them. We know they've done it right at the highest level."

Tullahoma junior pitcher Mason Bratcher had the distinction of beginning and ending the state tournament for the Wildcats. After starting and throwing three innings in a first-round, 9-1 win over Gibbs, Bratcher was summoned to close Friday's championship game, striking out the only batter he faced for the save.

"I like closing more, so I liked the second outing better," Bratcher said. "I just wanted to attack him. The pressure was on him, not me. I just let the ball do the work."

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Station Camp (29-12) jumped out to a 2-0 lead early, but Tullahoma scored at least a run in every inning after the first.

Baylan Tuten, who started on the mound for the Wildcats, also went 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs while Colton Emory went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Hunter Hogan, who pitched three innings of middle relief, went 2-for-3 with two runs while Trevor Cole went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.

Caleb Devore went 3-for-4 with a run for Station Camp, which was making its first state tournament appearance in program history. Carter Casabella was 2-for-3 with a run.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: TSSAA baseball tournament: Tullahoma wins first title in 34 years