Red Bank program returning to relevance
On Matt Roberson’s first day on the job he couldn’t believe what he saw.
Arriving at Red Bank High School’s baseball field, Roberson witnessed his new baseball team dressed in complete disarray from what a competitive program should look like.
“When I showed up last year, I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into,” Roberson said. “But what I quickly figured out was this was a team that wanted structure and wanted to compete. They were tired of being bullied. They bought in.”
The Lions (18-14) have done a complete 180-degree turn this season, having won the most regular season games since 2011, which was part of a three-year stretch where Red Bank won 65 games and made its first state tournament appearance.
Now, a talented bunch has their sights set on eclipsing the 20-win mark. In order to do that they will have to defend their home turf well in this week’s District 6-3A semifinals where they will face Signal Mountain (21-8) in a best-of-three series starting Wednesday at 5.
Senior pitcher Logan Denton, who has 135 strikeouts over the past two seasons, has enjoyed seeing the program improve not only its look but its mindset as well.
“I have seen the potential there for the last three years and now we are putting it all together,” said Denton, who also leads the team with a .379 batting average to go with nine extra base hits and 25 RBIs. “We are doing stuff with our talent now and more people are invested. I love seeing people invested because that has been the problem here for a while. To see our mindsets change has been really great.”
Earlier this season Red Bank even ended a 15-game losing streak to Signal Mountain which dated all the way back to 2012. After getting knocked down the night before by the Eagles, the Lions punched back by scoring five runs in the first two innings of an 8-5 home victory two weeks ago.
Roberson’s team has been solid on their home field, which received major upgrades this offseason, including new fencing, 20-foot netting behind the backstop as well as the first base dugout to help prevent foul balls from going in a creek, plus a fresh coat of blue paint on the batter’s eye in center field. A brand new $7,000 field tarp was also donated to the program.
The team’s play at home has matched the new look, as they have won 11 games in their new home uniforms compared to just five losses heading into the district semifinals.
“Coach Roberson has put a lot of love and hard work in to this program. He has gone above and beyond to help us get back to relevance,” said junior slugger and right fielder Jack Barkeloo, who has hit four home runs and driven in 48 runs over the last two seasons. “To be a part of a resurgence like this for the program means a lot. We have had a lot of fun.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Red Bank was given a major boost just five days before the season when freshman Anyersox Sequera arrived at the school wanting to play the game he grew up loving in Venezuela.
Sequera’s spark has been seen all over the field as he starts at shortstop, catches and also pitches for the Lions. He also has a .333 batting average, including six doubles, two home runs, 21 RBIs and a team-high 20 stolen bases, and he has an .880 fielding percentage and 32 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings pitched.
His passion for the game has been infectious.
“My favorite player is Ronald Acuña Jr.,” said Sequera through a translator. “I can’t wait to go to Braves games for the first time this summer. I have loved my experience here at Red Bank in my first year in the states. Everyone has welcomed me. My dream is to make it to the big leagues one day and play for as long as I can.”
Despite only arriving just before the season started, Sequera has fit right in and flashed his outstanding ability on the field. Filling the shortstop role has been key for a team that was concerned about the position before his arrival.
“When Anyersox showed up we already had our goal set, but I could see the whole team just boosted by his presence,” Roberson said. “They just gelled off the bat. Obviously there is a little bit of language barrier, but we have a team translator and can communicate with him through social media too. Anyersox has stepped up and really become someone we can count on with a bunch of other guys.”
After going toe-to-toe with East Hamilton in the district tournament last season, before eventually falling in a game three tiebreaker, Red Bank has been eager to make the 2024 season one to remember.
Everything this postseason will be hard-earned in a tough district where Signal Mountain and Soddy-Daisy (26-5) are still the frontrunners. The Lions lost 3-2 and 7-4 to the Trojans in the regular season.
“This team has had a hunger since last May,” Roberson said. “We want to defend our turf and be able to host the region tournament here too. This season has been a lot about payback. We have been down for a very long time and been considered a football and basketball school. Our baseball program was tired of being taken advantage of.
“It’s time to pay people back and fight back to where this program belongs.”