Ryan Edwards took a chance.
Edwards decided to jump down, not up, and went from coaching well-skilled college baseball players at Austin Peay University to guiding still-in-the-making high school athletes at Science Hill this season.
Edwards made the move because he wanted to focus on family and escape the grind of the collegiate baseball season.
It was a move that may have changed Edwards’ life as a baseball coach.
The Edwards-led Hilltoppers rolled off a 35-7 record this season, went undefeated in the Big Nine Conference and reached the Class AAA state semifinals.
For his accomplishments, Edwards has been selected as the Bristol Herald Courier’s All-Northeast Tennessee coach of the year.
“To have a chance to go at a state title run was very exciting,” Edwards said. “I was actually looking at things at one point, saying ‘Hey, if we just put two more weeks of baseball together, we could be state champions.’ And I’ve never been in that position before.”
Edwards admitted that he was unsure what to expect in his first year Science Hill’s coach. The Hilltoppers were young and began the season with holes to fill. Edwards soon learned, though, that Science Hill’s raw talent and team chemistry could overcome any obstacle.
“I felt like I was surrounded by great individuals and we all came together as a team and it was a great run this year,” Edwards said. “It was really great to be part of a group that has that kind of talent, and my assistant coaches were just awesome.”
Edwards rolled off a long list of names that were essential to the Hilltoppers’ success this season, but specifically mentioned junior outfielder and relief pitcher Caleb Mancuso.
Mancuso hit .425 and stole 15 bases for Science Hill, while also recording three saves and posting a 1.15 earned-run average. According to Edwards, though, it was Mancuso’s team-first mentality and selflessness that were essential to the Hilltoppers’ nearly unstoppable run.
“[Mancuso] hit in the nine hole the entire year,” Edwards said. “He certainly could have been a guy that said, ‘Hey, why aren’t I in the three, four or five spot?’ But he understood his role. … He said, ‘If that’s what’s best for the team, that’s what I’ll do.’ ”
Mancuso wasn’t the only Hilltopper who rose to the occasion.
Junior pitcher Ben McKinney, senior outfielder Lucas Anderson, junior infielder Nathaniel Patterson, freshman pitcher Daniel Norris and team-leader Aaron Ferrell all played major roles in Science Hill’s sterling season.
Meanwhile, Edwards directed and guided an impressive collection of young talent that should have the Hilltoppers poised to make another strong run at the state title next season.
“I feel like if we continue to play well with the athletes we have, we’ll continue to win,” Edwards said. “I really believe that.”
btsmith@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2569
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