Alabama Power linemen, coaching duo of Clanton bring teamwork from bucket truck to ballfield

Tyrone TJ Morris and Andy Gore work for Alabama Power at the same crew headquarters in Montgomery.

But this year that partnership went from the bucket truck to the baseball field when the two started assistant coaching the same youth league baseball team in Clanton.

Morris says this is the first year of many to come.

The coaching partnership was born out of a desire to “step in to help, and by understanding that being around the youth was bigger than our ego,” he said. “We do a great job of naturally splitting up the work, headed by Coach Trent Gray.”

Saturday is National Lineman Appreciation Day, and Gore and Morris are prime examples of why line workers everywhere are worthy of celebrating for much more than keeping the lights on. These two men share a built-in chemistry that carries over from the workplace to the sandlot.

“Proverbs 22:6 says, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it,’” Gore said. “That verse really reflects how I view volunteering in the community.”

Morris agreed.

“It’s mixing work life and humor with something you both care about outside of work,” he said. “There’s already a level of trust and communication. You know each other’s personalities and strengths, which helps with running practices and games smoother.”

That coordination was more than apparent on a recent Tuesday afternoon when their Hot Rods 6-and-under team took the field at Clanton City Park. Their warm-up routine started with stretches, then sprints, followed by prayer and a team countdown.

“One. Two. Three. Hot Rods!”

On offense, Gore coaches third base while Morris makes sure the batters know their place in the lineup. On defense, Gore assists with the fielders, while Morris works behind the plate with the catcher. Additional coaches help with other duties, all under the direction of the head coach.

“At the 6U level, the kids require a lot of instruction,” Gore said, “so it keeps us actively involved and working together to keep them focused and learning.”

Morris, who’s originally from Childersburg and now lives in Clanton, has been a lineman with Alabama Power for seven years.

“The best part is knowing you’re helping people, especially during storms or outages,” he said. “When you restore power, you’re bringing people back to normal life.”

Gore, who has been a lineman and currently works on the substation side, said he’s thankful for a job that allows him to take care of his family and still be home with them every night.

“I also take a lot of pride in the safety side of the work,” he said. “It’s important to me to be part of a team that looks out for each other and makes sure everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.”

The hardest part of being a lineman is the long hours and the occasions when they have to be away from family. Morris said he’s had to travel as far as Vidor, Texas, to assist with power restoration.

“It takes a lot of mental and physical toughness,” he said.

“One of the most challenging parts of the job is the physical demand, especially as you get older,” Gore said. “It requires you to take care of yourself and stay sharp. You also have to be able to adapt to new ways of doing things and adjust as the job continues to evolve.”

Alabama Power encourages all of its employees to volunteer and be involved in the community. Gore and Morris were on the same page about what makes volunteer coaching so rewarding.

“Watching the kids grow — not just as players, but as people. Seeing their confidence build and them having fun is the best part,” Morris said. “I like coaching the younger kids because you get to be the foundation of their sports experience. You get the opportunity to make them fall in love with the game.”

Gore graduated from Chilton County High School in Clanton in 2002 and spent some time playing college baseball as a pitcher. After that, he worked a few different jobs before going to work at Alabama Power in 2008.

He started coaching youth baseball in 2019 when his son started playing T ball. “Since then, I’ve coached league ball teams from T ball up through 10U, as well as travel teams up to 12U,” he said. “I’ve also spent time working with older kids as a pitching instructor.”

He started coaching youth football in 2021, “so staying involved with youth sports has become a big part of my life.” (Morris plans to join Gore on the gridiron starting this fall.)

Gore said he enjoys teaching the fundamentals and helping kids learn how to play the game the right way, especially proper mechanics.

“I also take a lot of pride in working with pitchers and helping them understand how to think through the game, not just throw,” he said. “More than anything, I try to instill values like discipline, respect and faith. While football is the sport I enjoy coaching the most, I carry that same approach into both sports.”

Gore and Morris say their faith is foundational to everything they do as men … in their homes, on the job and in the community.

“As a Christian, I feel a responsibility to pour back into the community and help instill what truly matters, not just in sports, but in life. That includes their character and spiritual foundation,” Gore said. “Coaching at the youth level isn’t easy, but the focus is always on helping these kids grow in every area of their lives, and that’s what keeps me committed to it.”

Gore and his wife, Hannah, have been married for 15 years. They have two sons, River, 11, and Evin, 6. They also have a 2-year-old silver labrador named Maizy.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to do what I do, both in my career and in the community,” he said. “Being able to support my family and pour into these kids is something I don’t take lightly. At the end of the day, it’s about showing up and making a positive impact where you can.”

Morris said he wants to be remembered as a good husband, father, and someone who showed up for others and did things the right way.

“I think the highest and most important achievement I’ve seen is improvement through effort while keeping God first. I’ll coach for as long as I can and as long as I’m making a positive impact,” he said. “I believe if you’re able to give back, you should. These kids are the future. It comes from how I was raised – people poured into me, so I feel it’s my responsibility to do the same for others.”

Morris and his wife, Delilah, have seven children: Aiyana, 14; Zaiden, 12; Ah’nylah, 10; Aziah, 10; Zakari, 8; Tyriq, 6; and Zoey, 4.

“I’m grateful — for my family, the opportunity to coach, and the chance to make an impact in my community,” he said. “And to the parents who trust in me to coach their children … thank you.”