By Lee Davis
When Derek Irons came to Oak Mountain as head baseball coach after a highly successful stint at Class 4A’s Charles Henderson of Troy, he realized he was moving from the frying pan to the proverbial fire.
“There’s no question that the best high school baseball in Alabama is played in metro Birmingham,” said Irons – who won 221 games and two state championships in seven years at Henderson. “From Classes 7A on down, there is great competition at all levels and that’s a challenge we were looking forward to facing.”
Fortunately for Irons, he took over a team that seems to be talented enough to be one of this area’s best. Going into the Buccaneers Classic spring break tournament last week, the Eagles had posted a 17-4 record and a Top Ten ranking with Class 7A Area 5 play just around the corner.
So far, Irons has liked what he’s seen.
“It was a very easy transition,” Irons said. “We did things a lot like we did after coming to Charles Henderson, as far as changing the culture of baseball here. The players have bought in from day one and are very receptive to what we’ve been teaching and coaching.”
In the new regime, Oak Mountain has emphasized the most basic fundamentals of baseball – with pitching, defense and manufactured runs being the keys to success.
“We haven’t hit a home run all season,” Irons said. “So you couldn’t call us a power team. We’ve got guys who can hit singles and doubles and put the ball in the right places. We’re also very aggressive around the bases and fight for runs wherever we can get them.”
The Eagles’ offense is led by a legion of impressive hitters, including junior outfielder Ethan Holsombeck, junior third baseman J.J. McDonald and junior catcher Mason Williamson.
“Ethan is very good at setting the table for us by getting on base,” Irons said. “That allows us to find ways to score runs.”
Holsombeck is hitting a torrid .447 with 12 RBIs and has eight stolen bases. Oak Mountain’s tilt toward speed as opposed to power is reflected by the fact that the Eagles had already stolen 30 bases going into last week.
McDonald is hitting .377 with 16 RBIs for the season; Williamson is batting .339 with 15 RBIs.
One of Oak Mountain’s greatest strengths in the early months of the season is the consistency of its pitching staff, as four hurlers – two seniors, a junior and a sophomore – have led the way.
Sophomore right-hander Gene Hurst is 3-0 with 27 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.15. Another righty, senior Michael Flack is also 3-0 and has fanned 25 opposing batters. His ERA is 2.21.
Junior right-hander Joseph Hartsfield is 3-1. He has 36 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.84. The southpaw in the foursome is senior Will Driscoll, who has struck out 10 batters and compiled an ERA of 3.20. “Will helps us a lot when we need a lefty for a chance of pace,” Irons said.
“All four guys give us a chance,” he continued. “Each has done all you can ask a pitcher to do. When we’ve dominated this year, our pitching has been a big part of it.”
Irons said senior leadership has been an important element in the staff’s chemistry. “Our two seniors (Flack and Driscoll) have set a great example for the younger pitchers,” he added. Seniors are a rare commodity on a roster loaded with juniors and sophomores.
While the Eagles look formidable, the meat of the schedule is straight ahead. They play in one of their classification’s toughest areas, which includes perennial powers Thompson and Hoover and always-dangerous Tuscaloosa County.
The entire season will hang in the balance during a two-week period in April, when Oak Mountain faces each area opponent three times. A strong showing would likely send the Eagles to the coveted post-season playoffs.
“Our goal is to reach the post-season,” Irons said. “You can’t win the state championship if you don’t make the post-season. The road will be tough for us from here on out – but it’s just as tough for everybody else.”
Irons – who has family members in Birmingham – is enjoying his first year at Oak Mountain.
“It’s been great to be here,” said Irons. “And the best thing has been to be a part of this school and be around these kids.”
There’s a long way to go, but as March gave way to April, the Eagles were flying high.