A dozen Chattanooga-area baseball players, half of them members of teams that played in their respective state tournaments, were named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s 2015 all-state team.
“I believe you could make a pretty good team from the bunch. There is good baseball being played in the Chattanooga area,” said Boyd-Buchanan coach Josh Rider, the Times Free Press coach of the year. “I think you’ll continue to see baseball getting better in the Chattanooga area every year.”
Pitcher/infielder Brandon Willingham and outfielder Colby Morgan helped Boyd-Buchanan to a top-four finish in Class A, and outfielder Tre Carter was instrumental in Soddy-Daisy reaching the Class AAA final eight in Murfreesboro. All three return next season.
Keys for McCallie’s drive to the Division II-AA state tournament included infielder/pitcher Tyler Payne, catcher Quinn Smith and outfielder Corbin Brooksbank. Payne signed last fall with Lee University, Smith has committed to VMI and Brooksbank has pledged to Vanderbilt.
Also included is Meigs County three-sport athlete Bryson Baker, a shortstop who is headed to Tennessee Wesleyan to play basketball, and Notre Dame pitcher/shortstop Alex Darras, perhaps better known thus far for his skills as quarterback of the Irish’s 2014 state semifinal team.