Carter Hinsley and Aaron Hise had been solid players for Boyd Buchanan over their first three seasons, but both have unlocked a new level to their game as seniors in their final spring before moving on to college baseball as signees for Walters State in Morristown.
Even better for the Buccaneers, the standout duo’s personal gains have benefited the team in highly tangible ways — including the win column.
With a 90 mph fastball and a devastating splitter that knuckles at the last moment, Hinsley has been one of the best prep pitchers in Tennessee this season, when the 6-foot-4, 195-pound ace has produced a pristine 7-0 record with 67 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings while allowing just 17 hits.
His confidence has soared on the mound, where he threw a complete game in the Bucs’ most recent outing, Thursday’s 10-1 victory at Tullahoma. Hinsley, who struck out a combined 33 batters in starts against McMinn County, Silverdale Baptist Academy and Walker Valley, said “becoming comfortable with failure” has been vital to his progress as a pitcher.
“If you do fail, you get back on the horse and keep going,” he said. “My first three seasons, I would fail, and I wouldn’t be able to get back up. This year, I can keep going and find a way to reach success.”