2016 Walker County Baseball Player of the Year

Even before he stepped on campus or put on a Gordon Lee High School uniform, big things were expected from Tucker Bradley, a former Travel Ball National Player of the Year.

And big things were delivered.

After three seasons of solid numbers, Bradley not only shined as a senior, but shined on a historic level.

Turning in arguably one of the best individual baseball seasons in Gordon Lee and Walker County history, Bradley did it all this past spring to earn 2016 Walker County Player of the Year honors.

The centerfielder/ pitcher led the county in nine different offensive categories — batting average (.552), onbase percentage (.624), slugging percentage (1.092), runs scored (44), doubles (12), triples (4), home runs (9), runs batted in (36) and stolen bases (23) — all from the leadoff spot in the order.

He was equally as effective on the mound, going 7-0 with one save in 10 appearances. He threw 50 innings, struck out 86 batters and walked just 11, and had a 1.12 ERA, while opponents batted just .149 against him.

“It was a great year,” Bradley said with a smile. “I enjoyed it very much and I loved playing with the guys this year. We had a great year, especially winning region for the first time in nine years.”

The highlights were plentiful for the senior, including a 15-strikeout performance in a win at Model and a Senior Night against rival Darlington that will go down as one of the greatest and most memorable individual outings ever in the state of Georgia.

Bradley went 4 for 4 at the plate, scored two runs and drove in six. He hit for the cycle and did so by hitting his single, double, triple and home run in order and all in each of the first four innings in a 14-1, five-inning romp. Then, for good measure, he threw a five-inning complete game, allowing just one earned run on five hits with no walks with seven strikeouts.

The performance was later immortalized by world-famous sports magazine Sports Illustrated as Bradley was featured in their popular “Faces In The Crowd” section.

Following the 2016 season, Bradley was named to the All-State first team for Class 2A by Georgia Dugout Preview and was also picked to play in the Georgia Senior AllState Games, which showcases the top talent in the entire Peach State.

“All of his life, he’s played with and competed against the best players in the country," Trojans head coach Mike Dunfee said. "He’s played all over the United States and been exposed to a lot different styles. Players need to be exposed to that and coaches do as well in order to be pushed and challenged.”

But for all the work Bradley puts into his game, it was an off-season medical diagnosis that ended up playing a huge role in his performance as a senior.

Last fall, concerned by a rapid heart rate and his inability to gain weight, Bradley saw a doctor and was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, a condition that causes the thyroid to work overtime.

Finally equipped with the proper medication, Bradley felt good enough and strong enough to play basketball again as a senior, turning in an outstanding year on the hardwood.

But it’s on the diamond where Bradley said the biggest changes could be seen.

“It was insane to see the difference from last year to this year,” he said. “I went from 155 (pounds) to 180 and the coaches all said I gained speed. Everything in my game changed and to see it all develop on the field was great.”

While a state title eluded Bradley in his

four years in Chickamauga, he and his fellow seniors were part of one of the most successful classes in the program’s history.

They earned four state playoff berths, including two appearances in the Class 1A Public School championship series, and a Class 2A Elite Eight run in 2015 that included sweeping the then-defending state champions, Benedictine, on the road in Savannah.

“This (post-season) is still a little disappointing,” said Bradley, referring to a threegame, first-round loss to state semifinalist Holy Innocents’, “but not many players can even say they made one post-season run. I was a part of four of them and

the whole four years of my life here at Gordon Lee can only be called a success.”

Dunfee added that Bradley’s passion for the game is one of the things that set him apart.

“He just absorbs everything he can and he’s done that since he was seven or eight years old,” the coach said. “He knows the game so well and you simply can’t coach a kid to have the passion for baseball that he does. I can’t wait to see how he does (in college).”

Up next for Bradley is more baseball as the standout is on his way to play for the Auburn Tigers.

“I’m really excited just to have the opportunity to play at the SEC level,” he said. “But I’m really looking forward to playing at my dream school.”