When Tony Stevens took over as Fort Walton Beach High School’s head baseball coach last May, expectations were modest at best. Critics suggested the team might win only a handful of games all season.

• Stevens, a former Minnesota Twins minor leaguer and decorated Marine veteran, had different plans.

“Going into the season, I was told, ‘Coach, we are probably not going to win three or four games this year,'” Stevens said. “I’m a competitive guy, so I just took it with a grain of salt.”

The Vikings finished the regular season with a 12-12 record — an impressive achievement for a team that started four freshmen and three sophomores in most games.

Stevens instituted a complete culture overhaul, starting with the team’s motto: “Burn the ships.” The phrase refers to Viking warriors who would burn their ships upon landing, eliminating retreat as an option.

• “When the Vikings would attack, they’d burn their own ships saying, ‘We’re taking over, we’re staying here, we’re here for the long run,'” Stevens explained. “That’s what I wanted our guys’ mindset to be going forward into the season.”

The team’s transformation began before the season, with Stevens making difficult decisions including not fielding a JV team this year — though the program will have one next season. The focus was building a strong varsity foundation with players committed to changing the program’s trajectory.

“We renovated our locker room, did a lot of stuff around the facilities, and we had a lot of help,” Stevens said. “One of the things I heard were all the horror stories going back from a year ago, and that’s where ‘burn the ships’ came from — a focus forward.”

Youth Movement

What makes the Vikings’ 12-12 record more remarkable is the youth of the starting lineup. The team’s top three hitters were all freshmen, with sophomore Trevor Camden leading off and setting the table.

Freshman Lavin McDaniel, son of Athletic Director Holly McDaniel and Assistant Coach Brian McDaniel, emerged as a key contributor, batting second in the lineup and eventually becoming the team’s closer. 

• “I knew he was a run-through-a brick-wall kind of player. So he’s my kind of guy,” Stevens said of McDaniel, who hit around .350 for the season. “I didn’t know he’d be hitting .350, batting second, playing good defense, coming in being our closer. He ended up our closer at the end of the year and he’s going to be a good one for years to come.”

Fourteen-year-old freshman Jacob Salley was another revelation, batting .360 in the three-hole while playing third base. Stevens sees tremendous potential in the young infielder.

“He batted .360 this year batting in the three-hole, playing third base as a 14-year-old,” Stevens said. “He’s got a huge upside to his game.”

Sophomore Cannon Wilber patrolled center field and batted cleanup, while freshman Connor Job handled left field duties and took over pitching responsibilities after the team lost senior Owen Davis to a UCL tear. Freshman Will Wortman, who didn’t even play middle school baseball the previous year due to injury, stepped in as the team’s catcher.

Changing the Culture

Early in the season, the Vikings struggled against some opponents, but a turning point came when they defeated both Tate and Crestview in the same week. Stevens recalls a player telling him months earlier that “Fort Walton will never beat Tate.”

“I knew I had to change the losing mentality of this program and get it on the right track,” Stevens said. “That part’s not the easiest, but I’m a competitor and a winner.”

Stevens implemented professional-level practice methods he learned during his time with the Twins organization, emphasizing fundamentals and early work. The approach resonated with the younger players.

• “Most of my young guys always do early work, we never even had to ask,” Stevens said. “That’s the foundation that we are setting. Early work was big.”

For Stevens, teaching these fundamentals is about more than just winning games — it’s about instilling a love for baseball that some players had lost.

This was particularly evident with senior Owen Davis, who had focused primarily on football before this season. Davis was developing into the team’s ace before his injury, and Stevens had arranged for him to throw for Santa Fe Community College.

“He was establishing he’s the number one guy on our staff,” Stevens said. “Y could see the light in his eyes for baseball again, and that’s really what I was trying to bring to these guys this year.”

Community Support

The team’s rebuilding efforts extended beyond the field. Stevens revitalized community support by implementing first-pitch ceremonies before games, inviting local dignitaries and former players. He organized theme nights including military appreciation and law enforcement recognition events.

In one particularly meaningful moment, Stevens had his father throw out the first pitch against rival Choctaw — a nod to history, as his father pitched in the first-ever Fort Walton Beach-Choctaw baseball game.

• “We also brought out the pitcher from Choctaw who pitched in the first game,” Stevens added. “That just comes from a minor league background that I had. We do that every game.”

These special moments created a buzz around the program, increasing attendance and bringing the community together.

“I come from a small town where baseball was huge. So I wanted to bring that small town feel to Fort Walton Beach,” Stevens said. “I think that exceeded the expectations with the size of our crowds that were out there, bringing a lot of Fort Walton Beach grads back.”

Behind the Scenes Support

Stevens credits much of the program’s success to the unwavering support from his family and team managers. His wife played a crucial role in scheduling and organizing, particularly during Kentucky Week when the field hosted four games a day for six consecutive days.

The team also benefited from dedicated student managers, including Stevens’ daughter, who handled everything from equipment to gameday operations.

• “We have about three girls that help out with everything around the facilities. They’re at every game, and then they bring their friends,” Stevens said.

Athletic Director Holly McDaniel has provided consistent support as well. Stevens encouraged McDaniel to simply be “a mom” to her son Lavin this season, while in her professional capacity, she has ensured the baseball program has the resources it needs.

“The athletic department, they have been tremendous with the upgrades to the facilities. They don’t say no — we just find a way and get it done,” Stevens said.

Stevens has also fostered camaraderie with other sports teams, particularly the softball program, building school spirit that transcends individual teams.

Looking Ahead

With seven freshmen and three sophomores forming the core of this year’s team, Stevens sees a bright future for Viking baseball. His goal is to keep all players in the program despite the current high school sports climate that allows easy transfers.

• “My goal is to lose zero to transfer,” Stevens said. “That is a goal of mine in this day and age we live in. It waters down the rivalries, I think.”

As the team awaited word on a potential playoff berth Friday, Stevens organized a watch party regardless of the outcome, emphasizing the importance of each regular season game for future success.

The Vikings watched on as it was announced that they made the playoffs.

Stevens believes that with continued development and another year of experience, these young Vikings could become a powerhouse in the coming years.

• “I see the weightroom, big strong kids, line drives that are going to be hitting the scoreboard in two years,” Stevens said.

For a program that hadn’t received much attention in recent years, Stevens believes Fort Walton Beach baseball is heading in the right direction.

“A .500 record far exceeded anybody’s expectation,” Stevens said. “The future’s bright. It’s time to start getting it on the map.”