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McKenzie Baseball Teams Feted at Banquet

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McKENZIE (May 2) — Players, coaches, parents and other supporters of McKenzie’s middle and high school baseball teams gathered in the high school cafeteria Sunday afternoon for a banquet to celebrate the great seasons of both teams.
MHS Principal Tim Watkins welcomed all and commended the teams on their accomplishments. Junior player Riley Joyner then delivered a blessing, and guests enjoyed a delicious meal catered by Big Daddy’s BBQ.
As everyone finished dessert, middle school Head Coach Joseph Baumgartel, “Coach B,” spoke about his team’s season. The Rebels had a regular season record of 12-4, losing to only two teams, once to Milan in a frigid early season game and all three meetings with conference powerhouse Inman. In the postseason, they earned a runner-up plaque in the Area 5 Conference Tournament, losing twice to Inman. The team’s overall record was 15-6.
Coach B thanked everyone who supported the team and credited them with making their successes possible. He then recognized each player by presenting him with a certificate.
Assistant Coach George Cassidy helped Coach B present individual awards: Most Improved JV — Colt Norden; Most Improved Varsity — Chaten Bivens; Silver Slugger Awards — Nolan Renfro (.304 batting average), Jackson Cassidy (.479) and Ty Anderson (.525); Coaches Award — Braden Birmingham; Defensive Player of the Year — Nolan Renfro (.973 fielding percentage); Offensive Player of the Year — Ty Anderson (.525 batting average, 32 RBIs); Drew Hayes Pitcher of the Year — Ty Anderson (1.71 ERA, 34 strikeouts/8 walks); Most Valuable Player — Jackson Cassidy.
Eighth graders Ty Anderson, Braden Birmingham, Chaten Bivens, Jackson Cassidy and Nolan Renfro then thanked the coaches and presented Coach B with a wooden bat engraved with the team roster.
High school Head Coach Chris Wall spoke next, beginning with thanks to supporters and presenting each player with a certificate.
Next, Assistant Coach Zach Tippitt helped Wall present individual awards: Silver Slugger Awards — Harold Smith (.326 batting average), Chase Daffron (.337), Tyler Spivey (.337), Chase Colotta (.384) and Jake McDaniel (.398); All-District players — Jake McDaniel, Luke Bennett, Harold Smith and Pitcher of the Year Chase Daffron; Gold Glove Awards — Chase Daffron (.955 fielding percentage), Harold Smith (.968), Tyler Spivey (.978) and Cameron Kee (.981); Comeback Player of the Year — Murphy Watkins; Pitcher of the Year — Luke Bennett; Rookie of the Year — Jake McDaniel; Most Improved (from last season) — Landon Johnson; Most Improved (from the beginning of the season) — Chase Colotta; Most Valuable Player — Chase Daffron.

Coach Tippitt echoed the thanks of Coach Wall, then presented the P.L. Martin Team First Award to Dashun Woodson and the Ricky Chism Inspired Play Award to Tyler Spivey.
Steven Berryman then presented the Ray Berryman Memorial Volunteer Award created in honor of his late father to Brian Bennett.
Next, Mike Foster presented the $500 Seth Foster Memorial Scholarship created in honor of his late son to Tyler Spivey.
Harold Smith presented gifts to each coach on behalf of the Homerun Club.
Seniors Luke Bennett, Chase Colotta, Chase Daffron, Landon Johnson, Harold Smith, Tyler Spivey, Murphy Watkins and Dashun Woodson then thanked the two coaches and presented each with a bat signed by the seniors. They also offered a special thanks to Mickey Stafford for his support over the years.
The seniors also received gifts from the Homerun Club as the banquet ended.
The McKenzie High School Rebels were: seniors Luke Bennett, Chase Colotta, Chase Daffron, Landon Johnson, Harold Smith, Tyler Spivey, Hunter Stafford, Murphy Watkins and Dashun Woodson; juniors West Cook, Evan Jarrett, Riley Joyner, Cameron Kee and Nick Simpson; sophomores Brandon Boaz, Phillip Smith, Eli Surber and Ethan Travis; and freshmen Carson Burke, Trey Cook, Jonathan Haney, Zayden McCaslin, Jake McDaniel, Collin McLearen and Sawyer Phipps.
The McKenzie Middle School Rebels were: eighth graders Ty Anderson, Braden Birmingham, Chaten Bivens, Jackson Cassidy and Nolan Renfro; seventh graders Lane Anderson, Dawson Brush, Jake Cassidy, Hayden Garrett, Lute McCaslin and Aiden Sisemore; and sixth graders Landon Brown, Kadarius Cunningham, Carter Kee, Colt Norden, Ayden Smith, Tate Surber and Craegen Travis.

McKenzie, Baseball, Banquet, Rebels, 2019