How Eagleville baseball became a TSSAA state power in Class 1A. Just check their group chat

Eagleville baseball players have had a unique way of communicating with each other over the past three years.

"The last two years, before every season, we do a group chat," senior outfielder Brody McLemore said.

The chat was first named "2022 State Champs," renamed to "2023 State Champs," and now "2024 State Champs."

Call it optimism, but the chat name hasn't been wrong yet. The defending back-to-back Class 1A state champions are officially on three-peat alert now after reaching the state tournament for the third consecutive season.

Eagleville defeated Collinwood 17-0 Thursday in the second of the best-of-three series to clinch the state berth. The Eagles (30-5) outscored the Trojans 27-0 over the two games.

If they complete the three-peat it will tie Eagleville with Brentwood Academy (2008-10), Christian Academy of Knoxville (2017-19) and Riverside (2010-12) with the second-most consecutive titles in TSSAA history.

But how did a program that hadn't been to the state tournament since a runner-up finish in 2012 turn into a potential dynasty?

Eagleville baseball has balanced talented returnees with filling holes

Eagleville's success over the past three seasons begins with a senior class of players that have mostly played together since sixth grade.

"Playing baseball together for so long, we've become more of a family than friends," McLemore said.

Two-time Mr. Baseball finalist Brayden Baker, the team's starting shortstop and ace on the mound, was quick to respond on what has made this senior group so successful.

"This team's got grit," Baker said. "We just keep bonding together. Chemistry goes a long way for everybody."

The combination of returning players, including starters Josh Jeffcoat, Nathan Brown (who joined the team last season after transferring from Rockvale) and Donovan Drew, and filling holes left by each graduating class has been a key to sustaining success.

"We lost four starters and six seniors off both (championship teams)," coach Brandon Bassham said. "We've had that foundation, and we've been lucky enough to put the pieces in place and plug it. We've got it going right now. The question has been can we sustain it. I've been around sports long enough to know it's hard to continue to be great that long."

Eagleville baseball has had talent, pitching depth, coaching

Eagleville is 92-12 during this three-year run. There's plenty of talent, however the players recognize another piece of the success.

"Coaching really helps," said Jeffcoat, last year's state championship game pitcher. He is 8-0 with an 0.78 ERA this season after four shutout innings in Thursday's win. "We have a lot of good coaches here. They help us with everything we need and give us the ability to fill the holes we've needed."

Baker is 8-2 with an 0.89 ERA while hitting .495 with 21 doubles, a triple, three homers and 38 RBIs. Brown has been one of the area's top hitters at .557 with 15 doubles, four triples, five homers and 37 RBIs.

McLemore and Jeffcoat are both hitting over .380 while junior third baseman Brady Burns is hitting .371 with 15 doubles, three triples, a team-leading seven homers and 41 RBIs.

Eagleville trying to close out final chapter of three-peat

Eagleville has not lost to a 1A team this season, with their other four losses coming to Division-II teams Friendship Christian and CPA and two out-of-state teams.

The team has won 13 in a row, 22 of 23 and has outscored opponents 85-8 in the postseason.

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"What we talked about all year was getting back," Bassham said. "Now we have a chance. This is such a great group of guys. They've been really fun to be around. There's one chapter left in the book. Let's see how it ends next week."

Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: How Eagleville baseball became a TSSAA state power in Class 1A. Just check their group chat