PREP BASEBALL: Sweet-swinging Wells has fun-filled summer

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on July 26, 2017 7:08 AM

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Most high school seniors prefer the lure of sand, salty sea water, warm breezes and waves lapping lazily at the beach shore during the summer.

Tanner Wells?

Not so much.

His relaxation -- and passion -- involves a leather glove, a red-seamed white ball, a paint-scarred bat, some grit, sweat and hearing a little bit of good 'ole trash-talking on the baseball field.

Boy, did he have fun.

Wells found the sweet spot with regularity in the batter's box and constantly licked the red off of opposing pitchers' candy with Wayne County Post 11. The utility player emerged as the team leader in 10 offensive statistical categories -- batting average (.494), total plate appearances (108), at-bats (87), runs scored (34), total hits (43), RBI (34), doubles (12), home runs (6), walks (19) and extra-base hits (21).

"All good players go through it once or twice where you're just in a zone and the ball looks like a beach ball coming in, and that's the feeling you want to have a baseball player," said Wells, who finished 8-for-8 in stolen-base attempts.

"I felt that way from the get-go. I felt comfortable in the box. I was seeing it well and it lasted all summer. I just ran with it...had fun playing the game I love."

The only drawback?

Wells, who signed a national letter-of-intent with High Point University, couldn't pitch due to throwing so many innings at Eastern Wayne. Post 11 head coach Jason Sherrer contacted his college coach and coaxed him into letting Wells appear in a closer role.

Good call.

On the bump, the quick-thinking and crafty southpaw logged a 1.64 earned run average and notched a team-high four saves. He yielded just two earned runs in 11 innings and registered 10 strikeouts.

"I have an itch to be on the mound when the game is on the line," Wells said. "I was grateful for the opportunity that I could do that for Legion (season) because I love to contribute any way I can.

"When I got the nod I could close, I was estactic about it."

Wells, undoubtedly, carries plenty of confidence to HPU.

He's ready to compete for a starting job.

The secret?

It's the same for every athlete in every sport -- get stronger, bigger and faster. An all-around athlete and somewhat wiser beyond his teenage years, Wells contends there's room for improvement.

Extra reps in the batting cage are a necessity.

Pitching mechanics always need fine tuning.

"There's not a perfect baseball player in the world," said Wells, who plans to major in exercise science and work in physical therapy.

"I can improve in every aspect of the game. I think I can become a better pitcher and hitter. There's not any part of my game that doesn't need tinkering with. I'm playing a level up...Division I baseball and it's going to be really tough to play.

"I'm just ready to get there, work hard and hopefully I can continue the success I've been having."

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?