JC's Holt named Baseball Hitter of the Year

Coming off of a junior season where Carter Holt helped Jackson Christian to a top-four finish in the Class A state tournament and an individual honor as the All-West Tennessee Baseball Player of the Year, expectations were high for the 2017 season.

But when Holt had a strange muscle injury in his throwing arm, his senior season got flipped around.

Holt though put all of his energy into hitting as he batted .506 with 12 doubles, six home runs and 28 RBI to be named the 2017 All-West Tennessee Baseball Hitter of the Year.

"I was really hard, especially looking at the next three weeks as we were playing Trinity, Adamsville and Scotts Hill," Holt said. "Not knowing who was going to be the No. 2 or No. 3 to step up and pitch. I was the one everyone looked to pitch in those big district games."

Holt did sit out one week from hitting due to the muscle injury, but he came back with a new focus to be the best hitter possible for the Eagles.

"I knew that I wasn't going to be able to help this team out pitching, so I knew I had to help them out somehow," Holt said. "On the mound, I knew what I could do, but at the plate, I hit OK last year. I knew I had to step up if I wanted to help lead this team. I knew I had to hit better and be that player we could rely on like Miles [Humphreys] was last year."

Holt wasn't the only Jackson Christian player to deal with injuries, and the multiple injured players led the Eagles to perform under potential. But they did finish third in the District 15-A tournament.

"I didn't get the end result that I wanted with a ring my senior year, but I was part of a state championship team my freshman year," Holt said. "I am getting to go play on the next level, and I feel like I left an impact on the future players coming up."

Holt will be playing at Arkansas State in the fall, and he said the injury won't cause him any problems with the Red Wolves.

"I am good to throw right now, but they want me to wait until I get down there," Holt said. "I hope I can keep progressing as a pitcher. I won't be hitting there, so I will get to focus on pitching. I am hoping maybe I can lead the Red Wolves to the World Series too."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.