BASEBALL: UVa.‘s Tyler Cannon Credits Father For Success

BY TIM HAYES
Bristol Herald Courier
Tyler Cannon will live a dream today when he starts at shortstop for the University of Virginia in the College World Series.

Larry Cannon, the man who nurtured that dream and groomed his son into one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top players, will be looking on from the stands at Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium with a sense of pride.

It’s the latest baseball bond the two men have shared.

“As a father, it just makes you really proud,” Larry Cannon said.

The game has always been a common link for this father and son. When Tyler was a tyke, he would tag along with his dad to high school baseball practices, and soak in all the information and knowledge his dad passed along to his players. 

The younger Cannon later developed into a star player at Pigeon Forge (Tenn.) High School, with his dad serving as his head coach.

“He’s the main reason I am here today,” Tyler Cannon said earlier this week. “I give him all the credit in the world for the player I am and the person I am. Growing up, he taught me about everything I know. He taught me the fundamentals, how to respect the game and to be humble.”

Larry Cannon just completed his third season as the head coach at John Battle High School. While the season keeps him busy, he still keeps a close watch on his son and the Cavaliers.

He frequents Virginia’s Web Site often and tries to make it to as many games in Charlottesville as he can. Since Battle’s season ended with a loss to Lee High in the Clinch Mountain District tournament, Cannon has seen his son play in the ACC tournament and the Irvine, Calif., and Oxford, Miss., regionals.

“I’ve enjoyed watching these guys this year,” Larry Cannon said. “They just play as a team, they all get along and I’m happy for them to get this far. Of course, it would also be nice to go to the College World Series and get interviewed by [ESPN reporter] Erin Andrews.”

While the father has kept a close eye on the Cavs, the son keeps tabs on the Trojans.

“I ask him how his team is doing when we talk on the phone,” Tyler Cannon said. “I know they kind of struggled this year and they were young. But he’s a great coach and he knows the game. Everybody loved playing for him in high school and I loved playing for him.”

Cannon has loved his experience at UVa. and has been a key contributor to the Cavaliers’ postseason run. He’s compiled a .339 batting average with one home run and 37 RBIs. He’s also stolen 17 bases.

“It’s been a great experience here,” Cannon said. “I knew this was the place I wanted to come when I came here for a camp my junior year of high school. I just fell in love with the coaches, the campus and the academics are top-notch. There was no other place I really considered.”

Life got even better for Cannon on Thursday when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 41st round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. He intends to return to UVa., and his immediate focus is on the College World Series.

“It’s been a heck of a month,” Cannon said. “Hopefully, we can keep it going, starting Saturday with LSU. This has just been a heck of a run.”

It wasn’t too long ago that Larry Cannon and his son would sit in their home in the Smoky Mountains and intently watch the College World Series on televison. Now, the two get to
experience it first-hand.

“He’s pretty pumped,” Tyler Cannon said. “I remember we would watch the College World Series together when I was young and we just talked about how fun it would be to go to Omaha. Now, our dreams have come true. I can’t really explain it. It’s going to be great.”

.339, 1 HR, 37 RBIs, 17 stolen bases

—- His father, Larry, just completed his third season as the head baseball coach at John Battle.
—- His younger sister, Tara, was a star girls basketball and softball player at John Battle. She hit .461 with 24 RBIs in 2007 as Battle reached the state softball tournament.
—-His younger sister, Taylor, is a standout for the Patrick Henry volleyball team.