Ricky Brown the Quiet Leader of our Team
When the Tallwood Lions varsity baseball team hits the field this season, they will be out there to try their hardest, and more importantly, have fun. Coach Monty Hilliard recognizes that his team is young, having twelve juniors and only four seniors, but he also acknowledges that his team has skill and great potential. Hilliard remains optimistic and is ready for a competitive season in a tough Beach District.
Hilliard is aware of what his team’s strengths are and also of what the team has to work on in order to reach success this season. “One of our main strengths is that we play together as a team. Something we have to focus on, though, is limiting mistakes,” he says. Some of the biggest challengers for the Lions this season are Kellam, First Colonial, and Princess Anne. Hilliard looks forward to playing against First Colonial and Kempsville. Presently, the Lions are ninth in the district and Hilliard hopes to reach the eighth spot in order to have a chance to compete in the Beach District Tournament.
Despite his goals regarding competitive play with the sport, Hilliard has other goals for his team. He sees that the guys are easy going and that his team really does enjoy being around each other and just playing baseball. “I do want the guys to get better at the sport, but I also want them to grow as people and see them take away life lessons from playing this game.” Genuinely looking out for his team and guiding them through steps to improvement, Hilliard will be sure to have success with his team this season.
Another person that will be key to Tallwood’s success is Ricky Brown, a senior and catcher for the team. Hilliard recognizes Brown’s leadership skills and knows that his being on the team is crucial for the team’s success. “Ricky is the quiet leader of our team. He remains focused, and when he speaks, the other players listen. His overall work ethic, the way he plays regardless of what’s going on in the game, and how he never stops is something that warrants respect not only from me, but also from the other players.” Even though he is not the official captain of the team, the four seniors look up to him. Todd Shanley, a senior and right fielder, says, “He’s the most hardworking out of all of us and he wants to win very badly. He’s a good competitor. His attitude, his offensive and defensive skills, and pretty much everything he does are geared to helping the team win. Shanley also recognizes Brown’s effective leadership capabilities. “He’s like the coach on the field because he is the catcher.” Not only does Brown have respect from his fellow teammates, but he is also someone that they can joke with. Steve Cope, a senior and third baseman, jokes, “I do look to him as a leader, he’s a hard worker and a good ball player, but literally, I look down to the little kid.” Overall, Brown is key to the team’s success and his skills and leadership capabilities give the lions that chance for the Beach District Tournament.
Brown remains humble in the limelight of respect that he receives. He does not say that he is the sole reason that the team does well, but instead mentions that the cooperation between him and the other team members is what makes them do well. “Being able to work with my other teammates, helping them out or having them help me, is what helps us with being successful at baseball.” Brown modestly accepts the position that the fellow teammates have put him in as their unofficial captain. He understands that he shares that position with the three other seniors on the team and continues with “I’m only sort of a captain on the team, when the other guys are struggling they look to me to help them out.” Brown agrees with his coach when it comes to assessing the team’s chemistry. “When we’re all together, we can have fun, we do our best.” With Brown on Tallwood’s team, the Lions are sure to have fun and do well at the same time this season.
Brown attributes his success at the sport to several things. His hard work, extra time put into honing skills, and mainly his dad for pushing him to get better. “My dad played baseball when he was younger and he taught me early on.” Brown plans to play college level baseball and is looking at ODU, Virginia Tech, and UVA. He also plans to graduate college with a masters in mechanical engineering. Whichever college he goes to, whichever team he plays baseball for in the future, or wherever his life takes him, he will certainly be successful and an asset to that place.
