Ben Timblin's final season of high school baseball was one for the Signal Mountain record books.
The star center fielder and Wofford College signee is a right-handed hitter who has batted third in the lineup for the Eagles since his freshman year, and as a senior he led the state of Tennessee with 13 home runs to set Signal Mountain's single-season mark. He also produced an area-best 1.000 slugging percentage and .658 on-base percentage over 106 at-bats.
And on Tuesday, he was one of 15 players from the Chattanooga area who received all-state recognition for 2024 from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.
"I just try to stay consistent on my workouts and hitting off the machine," said Timblin, who batted .519 with 26 extra-base hits, 43 walks, 40 RBIs, 53 runs scored and 23 stolen bases to lead Signal Mountain to the Class 3A state tournament at the TSSAA Spring Fling in May.
"Consistency is how you make progress," Timblin continued. "You have to have a fresh mindset. I love baseball. I just try to go out there and work hard every day and see what happens."
Although he was the lone all-state honoree for Signal Mountain this year, area programs Baylor, Boyd Buchanan, Lookout Valley and McCallie had multiple selections.
Baylor led the way among area programs, with four Red Raiders on the Division II-AA team: senior pitcher/first baseman Tomas Valincius (.444 batting average, 10 homers, 43 RBIs, 8-1, 1.26 ERA, 84 strikeouts, 50 innings pitched), senior outfielder Amari Jefferson (.406, nine homers, 48 RBIs, 15 stolen bases), senior third baseman/reliever Nelson McKnight (.350, five homers, 39 RBIs, 1.90 ERA) and junior pitcher Jax Bishop (5-0, 2.47 ERA, 40 strikeouts).
Also in DII-AA, McCallie had a trio of selections: junior pitcher Christopher Moore (8-2, 2.13 ERA, 62 1/3 innings pitched, 83 strikeouts), senior shortstop Nolan Sergeant (.387, 42 runs, 32 RBIs, 18 stolen bases) and senior catcher Zach Porter (.400, seven homers, 49 RBIs).
Class 1A's Lookout Valley had three representatives: senior catcher/pitcher Rylan Collins (.451, 21 extra-base hits, five homers, 44 RBIs, 3.99 ERA, 47 1/3 innings pitched, 82 strikeouts), senior outfielder/pitcher Christian Chandler (.370, 40 runs, 14 extra-base hits, 20 stolen bases, 2.06 ERA, 47 2/3 innings pitched, 96 strikeouts) and junior outfielder/pitcher Eli Pell (.430, 34 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, 0.57 ERA, 61 strikeouts).
In DII-A, Boyd Buchanan senior shortstop Brodie Johnston (.523, 64 runs, 46 RBIs, 29 extra-base hits, eight homers, 30 stolen bases, 1.582 on-base plus slugging percentage) and senior outfielder/pitcher Cooper Jones (.468, 60 RBIs, 20 extra-base hits, 7-1, 2.20 ERA, 68 strikeouts) were selected after helping the Buccaneers to a 33-win season and a top-four finish in the classification.
The area's other all-state selections were Whitwell junior outfielder/pitcher Jacob McCurry (.511, 71 stolen bases, 56 innings pitched, 128 strikeouts, 10 outfield assists) in Class 1A and Polk County senior outfielder/pitcher Kolton Casson (.449, 14 extra-base hits, 21 stolen bases, 6-0, 1.19 ERA, 47 innings pitched, 81 strikeouts) in Class 2A.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Baylor's Tomas Valincius stretches to keep his foot on first base as McCallie's Zach Porter can't get to the bag in time during a regular-season game on April 22.2024 TSWA All-State Baseball Teams
CLASS 1A
C: Nathan Brown, Eagleville, Sr.; Luke Treece, Coalfield, Jr. INF: Brayden Baker, Eagleville, Sr.; Jackson Treece, Coalfield, Fr.; Blane Fisher, Bradford, Sr.; Brady Allison, Greenback, Sr.; Brady Burns, Eagleville, Jr. OF: Cooper Stevenson, University High-Johnson City, Jr.; Christian Chandler, Lookout Valley, Sr.; Levi Heidel, Coalfield, Jr.; Jacob McCurry, Whitwell, Jr. UTIL: Rylan Collins, Lookout Valley, Sr.; Eli Brummett, Oliver Springs, Jr. P: Colton Bennett, Gordonsville, So.; Josh Jeffcoat, Eagleville, Sr.; Joseph Summers, Oakdale, Sr.; Tate Surber, McKenzie, Jr.; Eli Pell, Lookout Valley, Jr.
CLASS 2A
C: Tristan Davis, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Jr.; Clint Seymore, Loretto, Sr. INF: Gray Eubanks, Huntingdon, Jr.; Blaine Watson, Sweetwater, Sr.; Trey Dooley, Camden, Sr.; Justin Smith, White House Heritage, Jr.; Braylon Rich, Huntingdon, Jr. OF: Bennett Gammon, Smith County, Jr.; Kolton Casson, Polk County, Sr.; Colin Milligan, Milan, Jr.; Mason McCamey, West Greene, Sr. UTIL: Christian Derry, Chuckey-Doak, Sr.; Casen Springer, Loretto, So. P: Carter Daniel, Loretto, Sr.; Stone Wallace, Riverside, Sr.; Grayson Burleson, Summertown, Sr.; Trevan Myers, Pigeon Forge, Sr.; Easton Byars, Huntingdon, Jr.
CLASS 3A
C: Carson Parrott, Livingston Academy, Sr.; Ty Edds, Union County, Jr. INF: Gabe Eddington, Montgomery Central, Sr.; Carson Quillen, Greeneville, Jr.; Colton Richards, Greeneville, Sr.; Tommy Baker, South Gibson, So.; Caden Shanks, Upperman, Sr. OF: Jaxon Walker, Loudon, Sr.; Ben Timblin, Signal Mountain, Sr.; Connor Haynes, Volunteer, Sr.; Elijah Miller, Seymour, So. UTIL: Will Sharp, Gibbs, Sr.; Kole Fenton, Dyer County, Sr. P: Will Price, Gibbs, So.; Nick Osmun, Stone Memorial, Sr.; Cade Allen, South Gibson, So.; Evan Tomlin, Tullahoma, Sr.; Carter Casabella, Station Camp, Sr.
CLASS 4A
C: Brooks Wright, Bearden, Sr.; Korbin Reynolds, Clarksville, Jr. INF: Eli Evans, Farragut, Sr.; Andrew Hill, Knox Central, Sr.; Jake Merrick, Farragut, Sr.; Caden Black, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Lukas Buckner, Farragut, Sr. OF: Coleman Neas, Stewarts Creek, Jr.; Graham Jones, Daniel Boone, Jr.; Josh Marmo, Science Hill, Sr.; Landis Davila, Farragut, Sr. UTIL: Kaden Powell, Beech, So.; Dawson Sweeney, Nolensville, Sr. P: Brady Scott, Sevier County, Sr.; Lake Morris, Hendersonville, Sr.; Jack Hibbard, Arlington, Sr.; Cole Draper, Farragut, Jr.; Chase Clatur, Nolensville, Sr.; Saxon Roberts, Independence, Sr.; Roman Petricca, Mt. Juliet, Sr.
DIVISION II-A
C: Rinaldo Matti, Providence Academy, Jr.; Peyton Vaughn, Davidson Academy, Jr. INF: Wes Alig, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Sr.; Brodie Johnston, Boyd Buchanan, Sr.; Quin Long, Friendship Christian, Sr.; Tyler Bennett, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Jr.; AJ Ward, Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville, Sr. OF: Cooper Jones, Boyd Buchanan, Sr.; Nathan Eisfelder, Providence Academy, Jr.; Brennen Gibson, Clarksville Academy, Jr.; Bishop Quarles, Goodpasture Christian, Sr. UTIL: Rylan Moses, Goodpasture Christian, Sr.; C.J. Durrough, Columbia Academy, Sr. P: Gunnar Skelton, Columbia Academy, So.; Jackson Lee, Columbia Academy, Jr.; Josh Owens, Providence Academy, Jr.; England Bryan, Middle Tennessee Christian, Sr.; Luke Vierkant, Goodpasture Christian, Jr.
DIVISION II-AA
C: Brock Beddingfield, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Jr.; Zach Porter, McCallie School, Sr. INF: Tomas Valincius, Baylor School, Sr.; Nolan Sergeant, McCallie School, Sr.; Hudson Lutterman, Knoxville Catholic, Sr.; Connor Cobb, Ensworth School, Sr.; Will Brick, Christian Brothers, Fr. OF: Amari Jefferson, Baylor School, Sr.; Dominic Monaco, Brentwood Academy, Sr.; Spencer Yu, Ensworth School, Sr.; Hank Stalnaker, Christian Brothers, Sr. UTIL: Nelson McKnight, Baylor School, Sr.; Reagan McCluskey, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Jr. P: Jack Gleason, Briarcrest Christian, Sr.; Phinn Waters, Briarcrest Christian, So.; Matthew Shorey, Father Ryan, Sr.; Christopher Moore, McCallie School, Jr.; Jax Bishop, Baylor School, Jr.