Local athletes honored on, off the field
Published 11:00 pm Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Two Troy area athletes were recognized on Wednesday for achievements made on and off the field of play.
Lance Johnson, a senior basketball player at Pike County High School, was named a finalist in the Bryant-Jordan Student Athlete Program and will receive a scholarship to help him pursue his academic goals in the future.
Johnson’s coach at Pike County, Doug Branson, said the award speaks volumes about Johnson and the education system at Pike County high.
“Lance is an awesome young man,and he has great parents that have steered him in the right direction,” Branson said. “He deserves this recognition for his hard work. It also speaks highly of the quality of an education that you can receive at PCHS.”
The Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Program was created in 1986 by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Alabama High School Athletic Association. It is supervised by the Board of Directors of the Bryant-Jordan Foundation.
Ninety-six scholarships are awarded annually to deserving high school seniors from schools that are members of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The program has grown from an $8,000 award program to the present over $800,000.
Baggett selected for All-Star Game:
Charles Henderson junior shortstop Hunter Baggett was chosen to take part in the 2013 Alabama High School Athletic Association North/South All-Star Game on Wednesday.
Baggett has started every game at shortstop for the Trojans in 2013, and has a batting average near .400.
Trojan head coach Derek Iron feels that the award is a good reward for Baggett’s work this season.
“He has been very consistent for us in the middle this season,” Irons said. “He has done a great job in the field and at the plate setting the table to Chase, Joey and Austin to drive in all those runs.”
The 17th annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week competition is scheduled for July 15-20 and includes in-state all-star games in soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball and football, will also feature the Summer Conference with clinics and professional development sessions for coaches, principals, athletic directors, cheerleader coaches and officials.