A NEW OPPORTUNITY

 Since Little League Eric Salmons, Josh Smith, Corey Sewell, Brent Spray and Logan Matlock have been the players Corbin fans looked to when they talked about big things such as a regional championship and  an appearance in the state tournament.

During Monday’s 13^th Region Tournament game against Clay County it was in the back of their minds as they pulled off the upset. Soon they will be going their different ways, as they are now graduates of Corbin High School.

It hasn’t been the easiest of roads for one young man, Eric Salmons.

Given his love for the game and desire to reach new levels, isn’t it a wonder that he signed with the Georgetown College Tigers last week.

Salmons battled injuries all four years in high school, yet continued to fight back and never once gave up.

“Eric has been plagued with injuries all through his career here at Corbin from when he was a freshman. It seems like something always comes up with him,” Garmon said. “I think Eric has a lot of upside, he is going to Georgetown and I think once he starts taking care of his body and starts playing baseball all year around I think he has a bright future.”

“Eric has done a really good job for us,” said Corbin Baseball Coach Jeff Garmon. He’s played our middle infield, shortstop and second and his hitting has always been pretty good.”

“I think he has worked on his fielding, it has gotten a lot better,” said Garmon.

“My freshman year I came up as one of the freshman that was going to play. Me, Josh Smith and Corey Sewell and I struggled a lot that year,” Salmons said. “I didn’t get as much playing time as they did. I would come in and pinch hit, play the field or DH.”

“The beginning of that year I pulled a muscle in my shoulder and I was out for like three weeks and it set me back,” he said.

“Going into my sophomore year I was going to start second base and I pulled that same muscle and I was out longer,” Salmons said. “I was out longer because I couldn’t throw the entire season. I could only DH that year.”

“Going into my junior year I was playing summer ball. I was diving for a ball in the state championship game against Mercer County in warm-ups and broke my wrist. I couldn’t train or weight lift or condition going into that season,” said Salmons.

“I was injury free my junior season and started every game at shortstop,” he said. “We made it to the quarterfinals of the region.”

“It has pretty much all come together this year,” he said. “I didn’t get hurt before the season so I got to condition and get ready for the season. It is all sort of coming together.”

However, he suffered another injury and had to miss the last several weeks of the season. “Towards the last quarter of the season I broke my thumb on a slow-roller, it was a freak accident and I was out three weeks for that,” said Salmons. “I tried to hit but it was too painful.”

Salmons returned just in time to play Whitley County in the first-round of the district tournament.

The highlight of his senior year has been the two home runs he hit against Rockcastle County. He hit back-to-back home runs in the win and nearly hit a third. “Sometimes I get into that grove where I feel it, I just know I am going to hit a home run. I had the swing going that day and hit back-to-back. My third one almost went out, it was about three feet short of the fence,” said Salmons.

Salmons moved over to second early in the season because of tendonitis in his shoulder. “I couldn’t throw and I couldn’t pitch this year, so I don’t guess I was really injury-free this season,” said Salmons. “Something has happened my entire career.”

“I don’t have to rush as much at shortstop as I do at second,” he said. “I am fielding the ball a lot better and it’s a lot more comfortable for me.”

“When I was out for my thumb, my tendonitis wore off some,” he added. “So, now I feel comfortable at shortstop.” Salmons had to make the move back to short after Travis Smith went down with a knee injury.

Salmons said he would miss being with his senior teammates. “We have been like brothers since Little League,” he said. “We have been competing with each other since Little League All-Stars and we have always known we’re like the leaders of our group. We are all going off to play college somewhere now.”

“We want to set the tone and be like that ’05 group that made it all the way to state,” said Salmons. “That group had five or six leaders that were seniors, we feel a lot like that team. We want to make a run for it as well.”

With Georgetown College losing their shortstop and second baseman (Jake Mahan of Corbin), Salmons and Josh Smith will battle for those two spots. “Coach Hagan feels we can compete for those positions along with a couple of spots in the outfield. He said he thought I had the speed to come in and play in the outfield,” said Salmons.

Salmons is looking forward to renewing some friendships with some former Redhounds. “Josh Hamlin is up there and he is like a brother. We train together in the summer time. Mahan has taught me some stuff and he will be a graduate assistant coach. He knows a heck of a lot about baseball,” Salmons said.

“I have a lot of friends going up there next year, like Mike and Nick Huff, Lee Crawford, we’re all going to have a good time up there. It’s like Corbin of the north,” he said. Several recent graduates have landed in Georgetown as well including Devin and Mikkah Rodgers.

Salmons was excited about the win over Clay County. “I wanted to play Clay County because I knew they were the best team in the region. I feel like you have to take out the top tier to become the sheriff.”

“Bell County is probably the second best team in the region,” Salmons said. “I know they are probably going to throw Spencer Greer, that’s the best of the best. I feel like we can beat anybody and would like to play South Laurel in the finals. It’s always tough against South Laurel.”

Salmons said “Senior Night” will be among his most memorable moments. “Josh Smith hit a walk off home run against McCreary County, Josh Hamlin did it his senior year and always gave him a hard time about it.”

“Hamlin’s was a solo shot and Smitty’s was a three-run shot, it was really memorable for all of us. It was a good way to go out for all of us,” said Salmons.