Sitting at 2-5 on the season, Forrest County Agricultural was dealing with early-season injuries, but head coach Gatlin Steelman was confident that his team was about to turn the corner with his guys back. Unfortunately, after a short practice, they found out that there would be a postponement, then ultimately a cancellation of the season.
“We were 2-5 and were about to be healthy for the first time since the first game of the season when we beat West Jones. We had practiced during the early morning only to find out later in the day that we would have to take two weeks off. None of us had any idea that it would be the last practice,” explained Steelman.
Forrest County Ag had five seniors that included Evan Clark, Blake Polk, Luke Odom, Ethan Watts, and Daniel Kelly. Steelman and company assumed the season would never restart, but it still hit home.
“Before the official announcement of everything we all assumed the season would be canceled. Still, when it was official it stung. Everyone was a little depressed about it, especially our seniors,” said Steelman.
This was Steelman’s first season as the full-time head coach, but he had been with the seniors on the team for some time, including two of his seniors who had been on the team before they were in the ninth grade.
“I’ve been here a while with them. Two of our guys have been on the team since the eighth grade. We have one who has been here since he was a freshman and two more who transferred in and had been on the team after two seasons. This was a great group for me, and it is a shame we couldn’t see what they could do together in their final season as Aggies. It is kind of weird to not be able to see the kids get a chance to play after seeing the hard work they’ve been putting in. There will be tough cleats to fill next season with the five talented seniors leaving,” stated Steelman.
Polk, one of the seniors since the eighth grade was having a career season before the cancellation. Steelman hopes that a JUCO team will take a look at his talent and player he is like Odom who has signed with East Central.
“When the season was canceled, he was hitting .500 with four doubles and a homer. He was throwing around 87 miles per hour on the mound, so I hope someone gives him a look. Luke Odom was able to sign with East Central, and we are proud that he could sign on with a team.”
