Tennessean's All-Midstate Baseball team
Middle Tennessee's top high school athletes were honored during The Tennessean Sports Awards on June 6 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
Players of the year and some special awards were presented, and Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was the featured guest speaker.
Here is The Tennessean's All-Midstate baseball team.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
PHILIP CLARKE, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr.
Position: Catcher
Why chosen: A 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-American, Clarke hit .458 with seven home runs, 32 RBIs and 34 runs, helping lead the Lions to a third consecutive Class AA state championship game appearance. The Vanderbilt signee and Class AA Mr. Baseball finalist is ranked No. 162 on Baseball America’s list of top 200 MLB draft prospects.
FIRST TEAM
BILLY CREGER, Centennial, Sr.
Position: Pitcher
Why chosen: The Samford signee and District 11-AAA MVP went 7-1 with a 0.96 ERA, 56 strikeouts and six walks in 51 innings for the Cougars. He was a finalist for The Tennessean’s Baseball Player of the Year.
RYAN WEATHERS, Loretto, Jr.
Position: Pitcher
Why chosen: The Vanderbilt commitment and Class A Mr. Baseball was 9-0 with a 0.11 ERA, 139 strikeouts and five walks. He allowed one earned run in 63 innings for the Class A champions. He was a finalist for The Tennessean’s Baseball Player of the Year.
DREW BENEFIELD, Siegel, Jr.
Position: Infield
Why chosen: The Louisville commitment and Class AAA Mr. Baseball hit .519 with 18 doubles, seven home runs, 33 RBIs and 34 runs for the Stars. He was a finalist for The Tennessean’s Baseball Player of the Year.
BEN BROOKS, Pope John Paul II, Sr.
Position: Infield
Why chosen: The Division II-AA Mr. Baseball and Memphis signee hit .419 with 10 doubles, a triple and 39 runs. He also stole 11 bases for the DII-AA East/Middle Region champion Knights.
BRYCE JARVIS, Brentwood Academy, Sr.
Position: Infield
Why chosen: The Duke signee hit .346 with six doubles, a triple, 21 RBIs and scored 16 runs for the Division II-AA state champion Eagles.
SKYLER LUNA, Clarksville, Jr.
Position: Infield
Why chosen: The Class AAA Mr. Baseball finalist and District 10-AAA MVP hit .442 with 14 doubles, five triples, two home runs and 55 RBIs for the Wildcats.
CODY HUTCHERSON, Cookeville, Sr.
Position: Outfield
Why chosen: The District 6-AAA Player of the Year hit .505 with 40 RBIs and four home runs for the 6-AAA tournament champion Cavaliers.
CHRISTIAN SCOTT, Northeast, Jr.
Position: Outfield
Why chosen: All-District 10-AAA selection hit .476 with 11 doubles, 24 RBIs, 37 runs and 24 steals for the Region 5-AAA champion Eagles.
CARSON SHACKLETT, Brentwood, Jr.
Position: Outfield
Why chosen: All-District 11-AAA selection hit .362 with 14 doubles, 29 RBIs, 37 runs and 29 steals for the Class AAA champion Bruins.
BRYCEN THOMAS, Spring Hill, Sr.
Position: Utility
Why chosen: In addition to posting a 5-1 record with two saves and a 0.35 ERA, the MTSU signee hit .495 with eight doubles, 11 home runs and 44 RBIs. He was a finalist for The Tennessean’s Baseball Player of the Year.
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher
MASON HICKMAN, Pope John Paul II, Sr.
STEVEN JENNINGS, DeKalb County, Sr.
Catcher
RYAN MORTENSEN, Beech, Sr.
Infield
ETHAN TRESSLER, Davidson Academy, Sr.
ANDY HALE, Spring Hill, Sr.
COOPER MAYS, Hickman County, Sr.
SETH PRICE, Watertown, Sr.
Outfield
SHAWN WALLWORK, Independence, Jr.
ISAAC HOWETH, East Robertson, Sr.
WYATT BLESSING, Goodpasture, Sr.
Utility
AUSTIN STEEL, Stewarts Creek, Sr.
COACH OF THE YEAR
BILL MOORE, Brentwood
Why chosen: Moore, in his fourth season, led the Bruins to their first state baseball title. After struggling through the start of the postseason, Brentwood rallied to win six of its final eight games, including a 5-3 Class AAA championship triumph over Stewarts Creek in the school’s first championship game appearance since 1978.
