Charles Henderson baseball to honor seven on Senior Night
Published 11:01 pm Monday, April 15, 2013
Prior to the regular-season finale against the Brantley Bulldogs, the Charles Henderson Trojan baseball team will take a time out to honor seven members of its squad.
The senior ball players will be introduced to the crowd at the game and recognized for “their hard work on and off the field,” said CHHS head coach Derek Irons.
First baseman Joey Denison, third basemen Luke Hastings and Rhett Tucker, second baseman Morgan Shaver and pitchers Tripp Blackmon, Brantley LeCroy and Houston Mabray, will be honored in the pre-game ceremony.
“At the start of the year, we were carrying 14 players on varsity and seven of them are seniors,” Irons said.
“All these guys have been with us on varsity for about three years. They all play very important roles, and all play different roles on this team.”
The group leaves quite a record in their wake. The Trojans have won at least 20 games in each of the three seasons the group has been part of the team. Charles Henderson was also ranked No. 1 in several editions of the Alabama Sports Writers Association polls during the group’s tenure.
Irons believes that the best could still be to come for the close knit group.
“We have the opportunity to keep playing a little bit,” said Irons. “These guys have stepped up and played well all season. It is bittersweet for a lot of reasons, but we have the opportunity to do some special things in the playoffs if we continue to stay focused and improve.”
Shaver, a fixture at second base for the Trojans, said that he wants time to savor the moment before getting in to a playoff push.
“It is getting near the end for me, because I really don’t have plans to play anywhere in college,” said Shaver.
“It will be fun to kind of take a break for a few minutes and kind of soak it all up. We have played a lot of ball the last few years and can take a moment to look back on it.”
Irons said that the pre-game ceremony will also honor the parents of the players.
“You can’t have successful high school athletics without parent involvement,” said Irons.
“We have had parents that are always willing to lend a hand in fund raising, or whatever we need. Tuesday will be an opportunity to say , ‘Thank you,’ to them, as well, for all they work they have done over the years.”
Charles Henderson plays host to the No. 5 ranked 1A Brantley Bulldogs on Tuesday at Frazier Field. Senior day activities will begin at 4:45 p.m. with first pitch slated for 5 p.m.