Tucker Bradley, Gordon Lee, Best of PrepsCHICKAMAUGA, Ga. - Tucker Bradley admits the past couple of weeks have been a bit stressful, but in the end the Gordon Lee senior baseball player was able to smile.
A change in coaches had put his scholarship to Auburn in jeopardy. However, after a last-minute meeting with new coach Butch Thompson and his staff, the outfielder was able to secure his dream of playing on the Plains.
"It was very stressful not knowing what we were going to be able to do," said Bradley, who was a regular at Auburn football games when his cousin attended the university. "I was really nervous until Coach Thompson was hired, but I had confidence it would work out, though my parents were all stressed out.
"I fell in love with it before I even thought about playing there. It reminds me of Chickamauga a bit. Everybody feels like family."
Bradley had been committed to Auburn since his sophomore year, so he and his family didn't have a plan B. The three-year prep starter, who has helped lead the Trojans to two state-runner-up finishes and last year's Class AA quarterfinals, hopes to challenge right away for playing time at the SEC school.
According to Gordon Lee coach Mike Dunfee, he won't stop until he gets it.
"The kid's passion for the game is through the roof," Dunfee said. "He wants to win so badly that he'll do whatever it takes to do that. He's going to have to work his tail off because there will be several others coming in. He will compete, I know that, to win one of those outfield spots."
Bradley, who will do more pitching in Gordon Lee's 2016 season and whose fastball has been timed in the upper 80s, said he likely will stick to one position at Auburn.
"I'm going to be just an outfielder," he said. "I plan to go as hard as I can to earn some playing time. It's going to be a fight because there are a bunch of new guys coming in and some solid guys."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.