Former Clarksville, Northeast pitcher Collin Hamilton dies in accident

Former Clarksville and Northeast baseball standout Collin Hamilton was killed in a utility vehicle accident Friday, Clarksville baseball coach Brian Hetland said.

Hetland said Hamilton was riding a John Deere Gator with former Clarksville teammate Kurt Thomack on Hamilton's family property when the utility vehicle flipped on top of Hamilton. Hetland said the pair were on separate vehicles.

"I don't know any details other than that," Hetland told The Leaf-Chronicle late Saturday afternoon. "It was just an unfortunate accident and obviously we're devastated."

Hetland received a phone call around 9:30 p.m. Friday from former Wildcats pitcher Gavin Hams, who graduated in May. Hetland then called former Northeast coach Dustin Smith.

"I knew something was up because I don't get a call from most people around 10:30 at night. That's when he told me," Smith said.

Smith, who has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Clarksville Academy and was named the Cougars head coach in June, said he contacted his 2017 Northeast senior class through a text group.

"Every one of those guys responded with disbelief," Smith said. "That shows what kind of teammate Collin was and how much his teammates cared about him."

Hamilton played at Northeast for three years until he transferred to Clarksville High for his senior season in 2018. He helped the Wildcats capture the District 10-AAA tournament championship against Rossview.

"He was a great kid and a great pitcher for us," Hetland said. "He'll go down as one of the best big-game pitchers we've had. We're all just praying right now for Collin's family. It's just really tough."

This is the second time in the past three years that Clarksville has dealt with the death of a former player. Wildcats legend and former Vanderbilt star Donny Everett died in a drowning accident in 2016.

"I told Coach Het this is the first time I've lost a former player of mine," Smith said. "I know Coach Hetland and his program has dealt with it, but I've just been thinking about Collin's family and sending my prayers out to them."

Reach George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.