Thomasville High’s baseball program held its annual banquet Thursday evening at the THS cafeteria. The 2019 Bulldogs won their third consecutive Region 1-AA championship before finishing the season in the second round of state playoffs.

Head coach Erik McDougald emceed the event following opening remarks from Dugout Club President Jennifer Smith, thanking sponsors, parents, and volunteers for their support of the program.

McDougald began the awards part of the program by presenting the first Levi Knop Memorial Scholarship and Award to senior Harrison Vance for exemplifying the life of senior Levi Knop. The Knop family also  was presented a plaque to commemorate the award.

The awards continued as the McIntyre Park Middle School team was recognized by the middle school coaches, including Kelly McDougald, Jason Jacobs, Gary McIntyre, and Ben Lirette, for bringing home the school’s first league championship.

McDougald was joined by varsity coaches Daniel Young, Brice Warner, and Kyle Fiveash to present the varsity player awards, beginning with state and region honors.

Hurston Waldrep was named to Team Georgia and will represent the state this summer in Oklahoma. Waldrep, junior second baseman Maylon Cochran, junior starting pitcher Jacob Bradshaw, along with senior catcher Seth Kipper and senior utility player Dalton Dollar, earned spots on the Region 1-AA first team. Senior outfielder Jimmy Cipriani, junior infielder Harrison Stewart, and freshmen outfielders Witt Wetherington and Gabe Duncan each were named to the second team. Junior Jay Thomas earned honorable mention

Sophomore shortstop Nathan Smith was recognized for being named the region Player of the Year.

Freshman Drew Parker received the Harry Carey Award for announcing and bat girls Kelly Lane McDougald, Jordan Williams, and Felicity Tipton were given plaques for their service.

Certificates of participation were given to senior Qua Hall, Miles Green, Eli Newsome, Max Nicholson, Josh Streets, Colby Aquino, Mason Beckham, Joe Lindquist, Drew Parker, Ben Rawlings, Jacob Smith, Will West, Ben Yentzer, and Isaac Richardson.

Players receiving their first year letter were Duncan, Wetherington, and Gabriel Slocumb. Those receiving their second year letter were Kipper, Thomas, Waldrep, Smith, Jess Eason and Ryan Jones. Third year lettermen included Cipriani, Dollar, Vance, Bradshaw, Cochran, and Stewart.

Cochran, Stewart, Smith, and Duncan received rewards for outstanding offense. Those players receiving outstanding defensive awards were Cipriani, Kipper, Cochran, Smith, and Duncan.

Kipper and Smith were recognized as co-captains for demonstrating leadership on and off the field.

Junior Ryan Jones garnered the Jimmy Stewart Memorial Coaches Award as well as a standing ovation from his teammates for his outstanding hustle, hard work, and support of the team.   

Wetherington, Smith, Bradshaw, and Kipper were presented the Scholar Athlete Award for having the highest GPA in each grade level while Cochran, Jones, Beckham, Lindquist, West, McDougald, Williams, and Tipton all received certificates for GPA of 3.5 or higher.

A challenge to returning players from Coach McDougald concluded the program.