Lining up for hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks, Bradwell Institute baseball players celebrated a successful season with food and fun at the Stafford Pavilion and pool Thursday afternoon.
Tiger baseball coach Rhett Hellgren treated the players and their families to the banquet and honored the coaching staff, players, concession workers, parents and volunteers. He said their hard work and dedication to the team is what kept the momentum going this season.
Assistant coach Joey Brown offered a prayer before the festivities and asked the Lord to watch over the kids this summer, as some prepare for college and others prepare to play on traveling teams to stay ready for next season.
This season, the Tigers went 16-11 overall and 14-4 in Region 3-AAAAA. Hellgren was chosen as the region’s top coach. He said the highlight for him was beating region leader Jenkins High twice to hold on to the second spot in the region for much of the season.
The Tigers routed Jenkins 12-2 on March 22 in Hinesville, then came from behind for a 9-4 win over the Warriors on April 19 in Savannah.
Senior Leonard Felton received his four-year letter while seniors Josh Driggers, Alton Malpas, Garrett McCorkle and Eric Wells received their three-year letters. Senior Nick Snider earned his second-year letter and senior Kalle Pray got his first-year letter.
Junior Tiger pitcher Jacob Dill received his third-year letter while Adam Corwin, Mitch Rogers and Xavier John earned their second-year letters.  Newcomer Matt Brown earned his first-year letter.
Freshmen Cody Hill and Chris Nunn earned their first year-letters.
The Tigers, who lose seven seniors off this year’s team, will have several holes to fill next year. Hellgren said senior leadership was responsible for the team making it to the first round of the state playoffs for the third straight season.