Cheering fans. The aroma of buttery popcorn wafting through the stands. The clank of a baseball hitting a metal bat. Baseball is headed back to Eagle Mountain. 

Baseball tryouts are Jan. 18 – Jan. 20, but the players have been preparing as early as fall. Many participated in bullpens and small group training sessions, known as four-on-ones, to get them ready for the season. The players will find out the results on Jan. 20, and the season officially begins on Feb. 12.  

“Four-on-ones help us evaluate the players and get a good idea of their abilities. You never know how the weather’s going to be, so we have all the measurements that we gathered in case we can’t see them one of the official tryout days,” Greg Robinson, head baseball coach, said.  

Although the coaches have seen the athletes play for a month, tryouts offer the opportunity to see all the players at once. This helps coaches compare prospects and see how they stack up against each other.  

“I am excited for tryouts because I want to see how I compare to the other players. There are some really good people trying out, and I have not got to see them play before. It will be a good learning experience, so I can see where I need to improve,” Cooper Gilreath, freshman, said.  

Robinson has high expectations for the 2021 season. This year, he aims to win the Region Championship, as they did not get to finish the season last year due to COVID-19. He hopes the team will make it all the way through this year.  

“Everybody else [Etowah’s other sports teams] has gotten through it, so hopefully we can find a way to finish the season and have a successful one,” Robinson said.  

Get ready to cheer on Etowah’s baseball team this spring. With a little luck and a whole lot of practice, the team is sure to have a great season ahead.