Before National Signing Day on Feb. 1, Evan Baber and Tanner Belcher had already squared away their plans for life after high school. The two right-handed pitchers and position players for Central High School committed to play for two Alabama schools next fall. Baber will stay close to home and attend Chattahoochee Valley Community College just down the road from the Phenix City high school, while Belcher will venture a little further north to Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.
Making the decision back in the fall enabled the two athletes to focus on their last season as members of the Red Devils baseball team. Their enthusiasm for the sport is evident in just about everything they do. And, they do almost everything together.
Baber and Belcher met as youngsters while playing football around the age of 6. Belcher moved away from the area but moved back a few years ago. He joined Baber at Central High School for their junior year in 2015. It was their first experience playing together for the Red , although they have played on the same travel ball team for a while.
Both young men gave up the lure of other sports to concentrate on baseball. Baber was successful as a wrestler at Central, but baseball won out when he realized he had a chance to play at the next level.
“I’ve always enjoyed the game,” Baber, 17, said. “I’ve got a good arm, and I get on base a lot. I’m not the fastest runner, but I do get a lot bases.”
His skills earned him numerous honors and awards. Last year Baber, who bats left handed but pitches and throws with his right hand, was named to the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s All-Star Team as a shortstop and played in the AHSAA’s North-South game in July. Athletes were selected based on the nominations of high school coaches across the state.
With a .409 batting average and 45 RBIs on the 2016 season, Baber garnered the recognition to be selected to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer’s All B-City Baseball Team. In addition, he was named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association 2016 All-Star Baseball Team for the 7-A Division as an Honorable Mention for the shortstop position.
Belcher also received the honor of being named to the ASWA 2016 All-Star Baseball Team but as a Utility Player on the Second Team for the 7-A Division. More impressive, however, is the 18-year-old’s selection as the Columbus Ledger Enquirer’s All Bi-City Player of the Year for 2016.
The honor was in response to Belcher’s first year with the Red Devils as both an outfielder and pitcher in which he had a .379 batting average and 34 RBIs and went 8-1 on the mound with a 2.49 ERA and 62 strikeouts in the regular season.
“I am fast, pretty consistent at the plate, and have a quick read on balls,” Belcher said when asked about his strengths on the field.
The efforts of both Baber and Belcher helped bring the Central team to the quarter finals last season. Their leadership for the 2017 season is undeniable as well as their excitement about the schedule they face. Every team the Red Devils will face in their region is to be taken seriously, but two teams, Auburn and Smiths Station, have become somewhat of a rivalry.
To get past those strong opponents and others on their road to the playoffs, Central will have to bring their A-game. Both Baber and Belcher believe it will all come together during their senior season.
“I’ve been here since I was a freshman, and this year is the year,” Baber said. “We’re OK on offense, but we have to double the defense. We have the top three hitters returning, and we signed five pitchers. Of all the teams that could take it all the way, it’s this one.”
His teammate agrees.
“We have depth on the mound and 10 seniors on the team,” Belcher said. “We stay healthy, work hard, we can make it to the playoffs.”
Pausing for a moment, Belcher gathered his thoughts for another comment on the subject.
“This is our last go ‘round,” he said. “We are looking for us to be the state championship team.”
Shaking his head, Baber quickly added one word to Belcher’s statement that shows the level of belief in their team: “National.”
The two Central players spend a lot of time together on and off the field. They fall right behind each other in the batting lineup and are friends outside of the game. When asked if they might suffer some separation anxiety when they move off to their respective colleges, Belcher just laughed.
“We’ll be playing against each other,” he said. “Those teams play each other during the season.”
Last year was the first season Baber and Belcher played under the direction of legendary high school baseball coach Bobby Howard. With that now behind them, the two seniors are in their second and last season with Howard at the helm. So how is it to play for someone with such an impressive résumé and field presence?
“I love it,” Belcher said. “Sometimes, in your thinking, you’ll question something he says, but when you really think about it, it makes all the sense in the world. He is very smart. Very smart.”
Baber acknowledged that the adjustment to a new coach has been worth it.
“The first year was a learning experience,” Baber said. “Now you know what he expects. The real thing is that he doesn’t just show up and make stuff up. He could, but he works hard. Every day. He is always working to make us better.”
Columbus Valley/April-May 2017
Evan Baber and Tanner Belcher
Central High School
Phenix City, Alabama
Written by: Beth Welch
Photos by: Jerry Christenson
Red Devils Duo Pitching Their Way to the Next Level
