Commercial Appeal baseball all-metro team 2018

By John Varlas
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Lewisburg's Bryce Brock is The Commercial Appeal Sports Awards baseball player of the year.

Baseball player of the year

Bryce Brock

Lewisburg, Sr.

Position: Pitcher

Why chosen: The Mississippi State signee had a spectacular senior season, batting .450 with eight homers and 39 RBIs. On the mound, the left-hander was even better, racking up a 10-0 mark with an 0.89 ERA and 101 strikeouts against just 10 walks. 

First team

Alex Langford

Tipton-Rosemark, So.

Position: Catcher

Why chosen: Langford was one of the keys on a TRA team that reached the Division II-A state championship game. He batted .461 with 22 doubles, five triples, one home run and 18 RBIs as the Rebels finished 31-17.

Austin Baskin

Covington, Jr.

Position: Infield

Why chosen: A University of Memphis commitment, Baskin led the Chargers to the state tournament, batting .400 with six homers and 40 RBI. He was a finalist for the TBCA's Mr. Baseball award in Class AA.

Blaze Jordan

DeSoto Central, Fr.

Position: Infield

Why chosen: Jordan — who was just 13 when he committed to Mississippi State — had a terrific season for the 6A state champs, batting .417 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs. He and Lewisburg's Bryce Brock were the only two local players on the Jackson Clarion-Ledger's all-state team.

Tate Kolwyck

Arlington, Sr.

Position: Infield

Why chosen: Kolwyck, who will play at Auburn, was a four-year starter at shortstop for the Tigers. This spring, he batted .455 with four homers and 27 RBIs while leading his team to a spot in the Class AAA state tournament.

Connor Shamblin

Briarcrest, Sr.

Position: Infield

Why chosen: The winner of the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Mr. Baseball award for Division II-AA, Shamblin wrapped up his high school career by batting ,452 and driving in 18 runs. He'll play at Alabama.

Eli Davis

Brighton, Sr.

Position: Outfield

Why chosen: Davis was named one of three TBCA Mr. Baseball finalists in Class AAA. He stole 45 bases for the Cardinals while batting .391 with five homers and 30 RBIs. For good measure, he was 7-0 with an 0.97 ERA.

Jarret Fowlkes

CBHS, Sr.

Position: Outfield

Why chosen: The Brothers' leadoff batter, Fowlkes was a first-team all-region selection and helped CBHS finish 23-18 and reach the state tournament for the 33rd time in school history.

Maurice Hampton

MUS, Jr.

Position: Outfield

Why chosen: Committed to LSU in baseball and football, Hampton batted .348 with two homers, 19 RBIs and 14 stolen bases as the Owls advanced to the state championship game in Division II-AA and finished 26-11.

John Bolton

MUS, Sr.

Position: Utility

Why chosen: Bolton excelled at shortstop and as a relief pitcher for the Owls. He committed just two errors while batting .360 with three homers and 27 RBIs. In nine appearances, he compiled a 4-2 record with three saves and an 0.99 ERA.

Tyler Sherman

Collierville, Sr.

Position: Pitcher

Why chosen: Sherman pitched the Dragons to a spot in the Class AAA state tournament, compiling a 7-1 record with a 1.29 ERA. The future Tennessee-Martin Skyhawk struck out 56 while walking only six batters in 54 innings.

Second team

Catcher: Hunter Goodman, Arlington, Sr.

Infield: Jack Grissom, FACS, Sr.

Infield: Kamren James, DeSoto Central, Jr.

Infield: Ethan Payne, Germantown, Jr.

Infield: Spencer Smith, St. George's, Jr.

Outfield: Brock Lomax, Covington, Jr.

Outfield: Dalton Reese, St. George's, Sr.

Outfield: Jaylen Wilbon, St. Benedict, Sr.

Utility: Corey Mitson, Tipton-Rosemark, Sr.

Pitcher: Brayden Arrendale, Bartlett, Jr.

Pitcher: Connor Hobbs, MUS, Sr.

Selections were made based on individual and team performances during the season and input from area coaches and officials.

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.