TEXARKANA, Texas - Tucker Anderson is at the heart of Pleasant Grove's baseball team as a hitter, pitcher and fielder.
Anderson said he worked hard in the off season in gearing up for the 2021 season. He is solid in all three aspects of the game and this marks his fourth year on the varsity team.
"There's no baseball like Pleasant Grove baseball," Anderson said. "We were super ready to get back on the field. Hawk baseball is the best form of the game that I have ever been a part of and nothing else compares to it. I was eager to get back into it and to start the routine. It's an important part of my life, and we focus our day around practice and being together."
Anderson finds a lot of his identity in Pleasant Grove baseball.
"The Pleasant Grove tradition is about carrying on the legacy that the guys before us left," Anderson said. "I talked to some of the former players, and we have the same pregame rituals that they had. It has never changed. I grew up watching Hawk baseball and wanting to be a part of it. I take pride in keeping it the way it was.
"The way Coach (Riley) Fincher manages us is incredible. Coach Fincher and the other coaches give so much. They get to the field before us and leave two hours after us. The credit goes to them for making Pleasant Grove baseball what it is."
Anderson and the team have one ultimate goal in mind - win the state championship. Anderson has already met one of his personal goals in playing baseball at the next level. He is committed to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark.
"I love how baseball singles people out," Anderson said. "It is about making the most of the chances that are given. I love the complexity of baseball. I enjoy how quick and mental baseball can be. I also like how much each game can vary."
The Pleasant Grove standout has learned how to be a leader from his predecessors. He made the varsity team during his freshman year.
"Starting out, I was a little scared, but the older guys took me under (their wings)," Anderson said. "No one can lead by themselves, and the seniors, along with some of the juniors, support me. We lead together, and it's not one guy leading. I think that is awesome. It's nine or ten guys sharing the weight."
Anderson is a solid hitter, fielder and pitcher. Ouachita Baptist will start him out by letting him go both ways to see what happens.
"I would love to be able to hit and pitch," he said. "I don't like being in the dugout on my off days. I love to pitch and enjoy hitting. I want to be out on the field."
Typically unusual, it is becoming more of a usual thing for a player to pitch and also hit in the lineup. Brendan McKay of the Tampa Bay Rays is one example as is Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels.
With hard work and dedication, dreams come true; just ask Anderson.