Ethan Huff Named Region MVP
The Region 4-AA Varsity Baseball Award Selections, as voted on by Region Coaches, have just been announced, and Jasper County High School Senior Ethan Huff received the highest award in the region–Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Mr. Huff was one of three seniors who led the Hurricanes to a 10-2 region record and a trip to the playoffs where they went 1-2 in a best of three series versus Dublin. Since then the Dublin team has advanced to the Final Two in the state tournament after defeating number four ranked Appling County, number two ranked Calhoun and number three ranked Cook.
Mr. Huff was also selected as First Team All Region as a short stop and pitcher. He finished the year with a .406 batting average, a .613 on-base percentage, 23 stolen bases, scored 32 runs and had a .996 fielding percentage. And also had a 4-2 pitching record with 2.83 earned run average (ERA).
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Senior Outfielder Clint LaVaughn was also First Team All Region. He had a .413 batting average, a .698 on base percentage, 34 stolen bases and scored 40 runs.
The second team All Region selections included Junior Pitcher Colby Byrd who had a perfect 10-0 record, a 1.75 ERA, and pitched 60 innings only giving up 24 hits and four base on balls. He was also the winning pitcher in the one win over Dublin in the playoffs.
Senior Outfielder D.J. Warren was also selected as All Region Second Team after finishing with a .367 batting average and having zero errors after a move to right field.
Junior Catcher Colt Spivey was also selected to the All Region Second Team with a .388 batting average and a 68 percent caught-stealing.
The ‘Canes also had two freshmen who were selected as Third Team All Region
Outfielder A. J. Thomas finished the season with a .399 batting average, one home run and a .998 fielding percentage. Third Baseman Dee Chapman finished with a .464 batting average and 30 runs batted in.
Head Baseball Coach Chris Jenkins had some comments about each of these players:
“Ethan batted over .400 all four years. Region MVP is usually reserved for a player from the Region Champion team, so it goes to show what the other coaches thought of him. Huge honor, and well deserved. Hard-nosed kid that, like the other two seniors, showed the other kids the right way to play the game. Carried himself like a true Monticello Hurricane on the field and in the classroom.
“This group of seniors will be sorely missed, but because of the way they conducted themselves, they are leaving the program in good hands.
“Clint led the state in on-base percentage which, in my opinion, is the most important offensive category. Really drove our offense, whether it was drawing a walk, hustling to take an extra base, or getting a big hit, the boys were always able to feed off of him. Uniform was always filthy, I probably went through 10 bottles of Spray-N-Wash trying to keep it clean.
“D.J. is the kind of kid that every coach wants on his team. A hard worker that will do whatever the team needs to win, whether it means backing up a throw, sacrificing a runner over, or taking an 85 mph fastball in the shoulder. Moved to RF halfway through the season and played errorless ball. His working to become a solid OF really stabilized us in the field, allowing us to become the best defensive team in the region.
“Colby should have been Region Pitcher of the Year, nobody else came close to the season he had. Beat Dublin, a team that is playing for the state championship, in the first round of the state playoffs, allowing only four hits. His pitching stats tend to overshadow the all-around ball player he is. Good hitter and probably (along with Ethan) the best defensive shortstop in the region.
“Colt has improved defensively each of his three years, especially his throwing accuracy. Pitching and defense were our strong suits this year, and he was one of the main reasons for that. Anytime a team has their running game taken away from them, they are going to have a hard time scoring runs. Unselfish kid and consummate team-player, it’s very rare that you will find a clean-up hitter that does not mind laying down a sacrifice or squeeze bunt, always the first one out of the dugout to congratulate one of his teammates.
“A.J. committed only one fielding error the entire season. Came up with some timely hits for us, which is always nice coming from a freshman. If he continues to work, he will be an outstanding player before he graduates.
Dee made two errors in the first game of the season, then only committed one the next 26 games. Led the team in batting average and RBIs. Loves the game and loves to compete, which are two things that you cannot teach.”