The Tigerpen

Tag: news

  • The Hard Hitter :Pierre Seals

    Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

    Memphis Tigers’ outfielder Pierre Seals shines brightly amidst a season filled with both triumphs and challenges for the team.  Seals was recently named to the ACC honor roll after an outstanding performance in the Tigers weekend series against conference leader at the time University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA). 

    In the UTSA series Seals recorded two hits and two Rbi on Friday (highest on the team), three hits with an RBI on Saturday and Sunday he totaled two hits and his ninth home run of the season tying him with teammate Jacob Compton for the most on the team.

    For that week Seals lead the league in hitting with a.583(7-for-12) batting average.  He scored four runs totaling 13 bases over the week. “I give the credit all to our coaches with the approaches we have.” Said Seals “Just prepping us for the game and giving us a plan so I just try to execute within the plan they give us.”

    Seals started his college career at Dyersburg State Community College where he committed to in high school.  In high school he was ranked #27 in the state of Tennessee and top 500 in the nation for the class of 2021.  At Dyersburg he would play in a total of 97 games 44 in his freshman season and 53 in this sophomore with a total batting average of .268 for his time there.

    Seals credits his older teammate with easing his transition to Memphis by constantly offering him advice on the game and their system.  With the addition of a new head coach everyone had to adjust and that also grew their bonds.

    Now in his first year with the Tigers he leads the team in multiple categories including home runs with nine, batting average .328 and stolen bases with 13 on the season. 

    “Of course, I think I had the talent, but I think my coaches really helped put it all together, just staying with my approach knowing what I’m good at and my ability had helped me evolve as a player,” said Seals.

    Seals has been a consistent bright spot for the Tigers in a turbulent season but knows there are still some parts of his game that can improve. “  My pitch recognition and swing and miss ratio, being able to recognize pitch is a thing to make sure I’m getting all the right pitches to swing at and being aggressive when I need to be.” Said Seals

    Through the ups and downs of this seasons Seals stays focus by not letting the highs get too high and the lows get to and keeping a level head by remembering it’s just baseball.  “Our coaches always talk about trusting the process, so just staying with the team playing for the team.” Said Seals “Staying consistent with focus day by day and going about it as a professional.”

    With the season winding down and the Tigers’ still sitting 4 games below .500 Seals will for sure be a key piece in making a late season push.

    “The key is to continue to work and execute the plan that the coaches have for us and stay consistent.” Said Seals.

  • ‘I Live Off Adrenaline’: Brayden Sanders is Memphis’ Guy for the Big Moments

    ‘I Live Off Adrenaline’: Brayden Sanders is Memphis’ Guy for the Big Moments

    With more than half of the season played, the Tigers are still not sure where the team is standing. Bright flashes with big wins are promptly followed by devastating losses only a few days later. So far the Bullpen especially lacks any form of consistency. To one guy this does not apply – Brayden Sanders. He is coach Riser’s man when things get tight.

    It is the seventh inning of game one against Florida Atlantic. David Warren has just delivered the best outing of his career as starting pitcher. He tallied seven innings, over a hundred pitches thrown and only one run allowed. But now, his arm gets tired. The score is 2 – 1 for Memphis and the bases are loaded for FAU. What now? For head coach Matt Riser, it is clear what to do. It is time for Brayden Sanders: “When Brayden is in the game, you know it is over.”

    And so, it comes: Although FAU loads the bases twice in the last two innings, they are not able to score another run. After the final pitch the Tigers’ dugout erupts – a 2 – 1 victory for Memphis. After the game, Sanders talked about his performance: “As a closer, it is the best feeling ever. It is everybody’s dream. It is the best feeling in baseball.”

    Brayden Sanders after his game-winning pitch against FAU. Jacob Morgan/Tigerpen

    While Memphis’ season continues to be up-and-down, Brayden Sanders is one bright spot for the Tigers. So far, he has appeared in eleven games and has pitched for 16.1 innings. During these appearances, he only allowed three runs for the opponent. His ERA right now is at 1.65 and he has recorded a whopping 26 strikeouts.

    His personal success also translates onto the whole team: From the eleven games he has played in, the Tigers won eight. In six of the matches, he was credited with a save, supporting the argument of coach Riser: When Brayden Sanders is in the game, the game is over most of the time.

    Sanders was born in Olive Branch in Mississippi. He started his college career in Ole Miss in 2021. Before that, he attended Lewisburg High School, where he played baseball for the Patriots. During his time there, he started to show his potential: In March 2020, he pitched a complete game no-hitter, striking out 13 and driving in two runs himself. In his junior season, which was cut short due to the COVID-pandemic, he recorded a 1.71 ERA while striking out 27 hitters in only 16 innings. He improved these numbers even more in his senior campaign to a 1.50 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 37 innings.

    With those stats he was ranked as the number four RHP and the number 10 overall player in Mississippi coming out of high school. After he spent his first semester at Ole Miss, he transferred to Northwest Mississippi Community College. For the Rangers, he appeared 13 times on the mound. During that, he struck out 53 batters across 36.1 innings. His season high came against Wallace State, when he recorded eight strikeouts in the game. Prior to the 2023 season, he signed with the Memphis Tigers.

    Now, one season later, head coach Matt Riser values his skills as the closer highly. After the win against FAU, he had nothing but praise for Brayden Sanders: “If you want to win a championship or have an opportunity to win championships, you got to have a guy that can finish games. Brayden has proven that time and time again.”

    What Sanders also has shown time and time again this season, is that he can stay focused on the bench during long games and take over when he is needed. “I have a routine that I do every single game, whether I come in or not. This keeps me in the game and lose, in case they need me in the eighth or the ninth inning”, he said after the FAU game.

    Brayden Sanders right before a pitch. Jacob Morgan/Tigerpen

    When his name gets called, Sanders has to deliver. For that, he often tries to remind himself that he is good enough and feed off the trust that his coach and his team have in him. Shortly before the pitch, he then shuts his head off: “I really don’t try to think too much, when I am out there. I don’t want a lot going through my mind out there,” said Sanders.

    Then, he approaches each pitch individually. “I hit them with my best stuff. When they hit it, I trust my defense. When they swing and miss or I walk them, then I get the next batter,” said Sanders. A strategy that seems to be working.

    Brayden Sanders loves team sports. He needs to feel the trust by his team to deliver consistently. Likewise, he also tries to pick up his teammates. Like in the game against Florida Atlantic: In the ninth inning, Jake Curtis missed a critical catch to load the bases for FAU once more. But Sanders stayed calm: “I told him: “Don’t worry, I got you”. And then I got out there and had his back.”

    As the season progresses, the Tigers will definitely continue to turn to Brayden Sanders, when things get close. His ability to finish games might prove to be essential, if the team can become more consistent and stay in the game till the end. His team and most of all coach Riser rely on their best closer: “What he has overcome all year long and he continues to perform: I am just really proud of that young man.”