With temperatures already hitting 100 a few days ago, people do not want to see T.R. Miller Tiger baseball pitcher Kevin Davis on the mound any time soon because it will only get hotter as Davis brings the heat with his fastball.
Davis, 16, just finished his sophomore year for the Tigers and his junior season may bring some extra attendance to some Tiger games as the right-handed fireballer is already receiving numerous letters from college baseball scouts across the southeast.
Davis was born in Virginia and moved to Brewton when he was two years old.
“I started playing when I was just 3,” Davis said. “Baseball is my favorite sport. I guess it would be my favorite because that’s what I’m the most successful at.”
Davis said the one person who has played a big part in his baseball career has been his dad.
“My dad would have to be the most influential in my career,” Davis said. “He has pushed me and kept me on the right track to get to where I want to be. He has got me to where I am today.”
While playing for T.R. Miller in high school, Davis has played for a lot of other teams as well.
“I have played Little League and Babe Ruth,” Davis said. “Then for travel teams I have played for the Pensacola Lightning, Marucci Elite from Baton Rouge in Louisiana, and Team Alabama from Alabaster. Team Alabama is who I currently play with.”
Davis, who also plays football at T.R. Miller, will be the starting quarterback for the Tigers this fall.
“I love football, especially playing at T.R Miller,” Davis said. “My goal is just the same as all the coaches and players, to win the state title this year.”
Along with winning a state title in football, Davis wants to win one in baseball as well.
“I would love to win a state championship at T.R. Miller,” Davis said. “Personally I would like to throw a no hitter and strike out 20 people in a game. I struck out 19 earlier this spring in a game. I want to go on and play collegiate ball or pro ball. Either could happen out of high school.
“Baseball is a great hobby and something that I love to play.”
This past sophomore season for the Tigers of Brewton, Davis went 5-1 with one save and pitched in 47 innings facing 180 batters. Davis allowed only 11 runs, 18 hits, struck out 113 while walking 14 and hitting nine batters. Of the 11 runs, six were earned for an ERA of .89, which earned him the spring award of top pitcher for the Tigers at this year’s spring awards banquet. Davis was most recently named the 2011, 3A pitcher of the year.
While racking up some incredible stats this past season, one stat Davis has accomplished was throwing a 94 MPH fastball.
“My goal to begin with was to throw 90,” Davis said. “I did that in February of my freshman year. Now my goal is to top out at 95 over the summer. I got up to 94 this spring. I have always been able to throw hard. Every year it seemed as if I would add 7-10 MPH a year when I was younger. Of course that can’t happen now but I just have to keep getting stronger and gaining velocity. It’s great to know that I have been so successful at such a young age.
“It has just taken a lot of hard work to get there, and it’s a great feeling to know it is paying off.”
The pitching stats and a fastball over 90 has brought a lot of attention to Davis from many college programs.
“It’s a great feeling to know that I am receiving offers this young,” Davis said. “Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, LSU, and South Carolina are the main ones that I talk to. I have received letters from the biggest Division-1 colleges in the country, but I have no clue where I would sign if I had to today.
“My options are still open.”