With freezing temps and the constant threat of winter weather, it’s hard to think about the boys of summer. But the DeKalb County High School baseball season is right around the corner, and the DeKalb Tigers have a new head man in the dugout.
With the departure of long-time head coach Scott Odom, Tigers’ fans will see a new face in the head coaching position, Tracy Slone. Slone was the head baseball coach at Lincoln County High School for 11 years, the head coach at Lebanon High School for seven years, and for the past two years he was an assistant coach at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, where his son is a senior.
Coach Slone said he is new to coaching at the AA level, having been at AAA schools during his career, but he plans to up the ante for DeKalb, increasing the competition level.  "This year we’re playing 10 AAA school. I’ve upped the schedule a lot. I told the guys they could be a team that could possibly win a state championship. In AA you’ve got to beat a lot of AAA schools. That’s the level I want us to get to."
"The Tigers will be facing teams from Siegel, Lebanon, Wilson Central, and Hendersonville. A lot of the teams we’ll be playing are teams I’ve coached against and have a pretty good relationship with."
When asked how the Tigers look for this season, Coach Slone said they are still in the evaluation stage. "The only thing we’re doing now is open facilities, and pitchers are throwing," Slone said. "Until we get on the field, its still an evaluation. Pitching wise, we look pretty good. As far as watching these guys hitting, they look like they’re swinging the bat pretty good. I think we’ve got a chance to be pretty good this year."
Coach Slone said the Tigers should have at least three returning seniors, possibly five, and that his coaching style will be a little different from the previous Tigers’ seasons. "I’m big on discipline. To me discipline is the most important thing in sports. I want kids to act right on and off the field."
"Baseball wise, I like to play small ball. I love to bunt, hit and run, and steal bases. I think you win championships by having good pitching and defense. I want them to play baseball the right way and hustle, on and off the field. I demand a lot, but I’m not one that yells and screams all the time. I tell them this is the way it’s going to be, and their going to do it or they won’t play."
Action on the baseball diamond is fast approaching with the first scrimmage set for Feb. 15, against Siegel in Murfreesboro. The first regular season game is scheduled for Mar.10, at home against Grundy County.