GRAY DEYOSports Writer

Senior Wildcat pitcher Grayson Waller has committed to Freed-Hardeman to continue his baseball career. Waller was a key part of Tullahoma’s run to the state semifinals, and it’s cool to see his career on the mound is just getting started.

Waller’s stats from the 2024-2025 season scream next-level talent. He finished the year with 53.1 innings pitched, a 1.9 ERA, 52 strikeouts, and a 6-0 record. There was a trend established before Waller arrived on the Wildcats’ campus as a freshman, that Tullahoma High School is a pitching factory. Producing great pitcher after great pitcher. And there is all the proof to back it up.

Former Wildcat pitchers Justus and Jordan Sheffield, Dewon Brazelton, David Hess, and current Tullahoma head coach Bryan Morris highlight Tullahoma’s elite pitching history, all having pitched professionally.

It is great to see that the lineage of great Wildcat pitchers is continuing today.

Playoffs

Waller was a shutdown arm all year, but his play even elevated higher come playoff time. In an appearance in a sectional matchup against Soddy Daisy and his lone appearance in the state tournament against Whitehouse, Waller pitched two shutouts.

Against Soddy, he pitched five innings, had five strikeouts, and allowed just two hits. His elevated playoff play was highlighted in this game when he Houdinied out of a bases-loaded no-out jam, giving up zero runs in the frame. The Wildcats won this game 5-0, and it officially stamped their ticket to their second consecutive state tournament.

In the state tournament, Waller took the mound against White House in a win-or-go-home situation and came up clutch. He had a similar stat line to his previously mentioned performance. He pitched all seven innings, allowed two hits, and had five strikeouts. The opposing Blue Devils players were helpless figuring out Waller’s array of pitches, in a game that ended up a 3-0 win for the Wildcats.

Other notable performances

In a season that saw Waller hoist a 6-0 record, a ton of his performances can be listed as notable, but these are a couples of the ones that ultimately stood out in the regular season.

In a stretch of five games from March 14-22, Tullahoma pitched four no-hitters. Waller was a part of the first game that started it, as a relief pitcher. Against Franklin Road Academy, he pitched two innings and struck out five of the six batters he faced. He and Hunter Hogan combine for the no-no in an 11-0 win.

Another performance that stood out from Waller this year was his game against rival Coffee County on April 4. He pitched six innings, had six strikeouts, and allowed no runs. This ended up being a 14-0 win for Tullahoma.

Next Chapter

Waller will walk on the Freed-Hardeman campus this fall and join a team that finished this last year with a 31-20. They have hit the 30-win mark in the past four seasons. Waller will be missed in Tullahoma, but it will be exciting to see him begin his career as a Lion.