Profile: Skyline’s Sluymers-Tuccinardi slugs his way to All-League – and a bright future
In just his second year as baseball coach at Skyline, Jon Evans took a team that improved as the schedule moved along and ended in Regionals after winning the Dexter District title in dramatic fashion. One of the key players on that team was now senior Owen Sluymers-Tuccinardi. A steady glove at first base, Sluymers-Tuccinardi carried a big stick and slugged his way on to the All-SEC First Team as a junior.
“I got honorable mention last year as a sophomore so this (past) year I worked hard to make the first team,” he said.
Working hard was a mantra for the Eagles.
“Just keep playing the game and working hard,” said Sluymers-Tuccinardi when asked about the keys to Skyline’s success on the diamond. “And remember why we play this game and have fun. We did a lot of learning this season and as a result we just kept getting better. Things really started coming together for our guys at the perfect time.”
That “perfect time” came in the postseason. Skyline defeated Saline 8-5 in the opening round of Districts before knocking off Huron 6-5 in a wild 12-inning game. Skyline defeated a strong Dexter team 6-2 in the championship game.
“I loved that group of guys,” Sluymers-Tuccinardi said of the Eagles. “We were a very tight team. We all supported one another and tried to make one another better. I think Coach Evans did a great job at helping us connect as a team.”
Oh, speaking of connecting – sorry, but Owen put that on a tee. Sluymers-Tuccinardi “connected” for seven home runs in 2022 to set a single-season record for most home runs at Skyline. He also hit .341 with a .736 slugging percentage and knocked in 32 runs.
Still, he lists the team’s accomplishments first among the many highlights of this past season.
“I am so happy we got that (District) win for our seniors and for our coaches,” he said. “Pre-districts was another highlight. Both these wins were against really strong teams with a lot of great players. There is a lot of respect there for sure. Getting those wins was pretty awesome.
“Personally, I had a season I was proud of. I set some records and I got to do it while playing with and sometimes even against some of my best friends.”
Owen, 17, is the son of Monique and Sandro, and hit for a 3.8 GPA in the classroom. His interests outside of baseball include “college football, all sports, spending time with my friends, travelling to Canada (my parents are Canadian), Florida (where I was born) and going up to Sleeping Bear Dunes,” he said.
Sluymers-Tuccinardi, who hit four more home runs including a grand slam at the WWBA in Georgia this summer, has one more season left with the Eagles and then hopes to fly off to play college baseball.
“I am still exploring my options,” he said. “A few schools have reached out to my coaches so I know I am going to have to make some decisions soon. I want to play college ball for sure though. I have really grown through this sport and I still have a lot to learn and I am not ready to stop playing any time soon!”
Photos by Lon Horwedel
