Eupora's Knight sharpens skill with bat, arm for All-Star status

A strong junior campaign gave Tanner Knight exactly what he wanted when scholarship offers came in from around the state.

East Central Community College felt like the right fit for him and he made the call before his senior season of baseball even began. He could have coasted from there, but Knight was determined to do whatever it took to help his team win in his final year.

The pitching prowess was already there for Knight. He finished his junior year with a 1.02 earned run average and struck out 92 batters in 62 innings as the Eupora Eagles made it to the third round of the playoffs. Though his future was going to be on the mound in Decatur, Knight wanted more at the plate with several big bats in the lineup gone to graduation.

Most importantly, Knight wanted to pave the way for a group of youngsters that will be the future of the program. He did just that.

“I just tried to lead by example for the younger guys,” Knight said. “They've got a good ninth grade class that will be good in a couple of years and I wanted to set the bar for them. I hit it well from spending a lot of time in the cage during the summer and that helped me a lot. Pitching wise, things went well also so it was a good year.” It was more than a good year. Knight was chosen the Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association for Better Baseball Class 2A Player of the Year. He was also the Region 2 Player of the Year after a strong senior campaign both on the mound and at the plate. He earned All-State honors and was a Mississippi Association of Coaches and NEMCABB All-Star.

His work at the plate was the biggest adjustment made, despite likely completing his final season as a hitter. Knight swung the bat for a .397 average this season with 31 hits, 19 RBI, eight doubles and two home runs.

On the mound, Knight battled through some shoulder issues to still throw 49.1 innings and post a 1.42 ERA He struck out 90 batters and walked 25 and finished his career with a 2.19 ERA and 233 strikeouts in 178.2 innings at Eupora.

It was all the result of hard work in the offseason.

“I needed to improve velocity the most,” Knight said of his work during the summer and fall. “I stayed in the weight room during the summer and long tossed it. But to help my team the most, I needed to improve hitting. I hit in the cages four times a week. I hit for power this year and that goes back to all the times I hit off the tee during the summer.”

Perhaps no one has admired the work that Knight has put in quite like East Webster coach and SDN Area Coach of the Year Wes Johnson.

With his son Walker the same age as Knight, Johnson has been able to both coach the talented

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