Truman Thomas wasn't sure what to expect when he transferred from DeMatha to a Southern baseball program that did not have a great overall history. Three years later, things could not be better for him or the program.
Thomas led the No. 8 Bulldogs to their second consecutive Class 2A state championship. He batted .487 (37-for-88) with five home runs, 10 doubles, 25 RBIs and 12 stolen bases, and went 5-1 , 56 strikeouts and a 1.14 ERA.
"It goes to show you that you can come from a small town and accomplish big things," said Thomas, who has committed to Maryland. "It was important to me to change the way Southern baseball is perceived and, as a team, we have done that."
Thomas won both games at the state tournament, pitching five innings of relief to get the win in an 11-inning, 6-5 victory over South Carroll in the semifinals, then throwing 124 pitches in six innings of a 6-1 defeat of Eastern Tech in the championship game.
"He just kept putting zeros up when we needed him to," Southern coach Frank Hood said. "He is feisty and confident out there. Everything is an easy motion for him, but he worked his tail off for it, and he is an absolute bulldog."