Knoxville Central's Andrew Hill among TBCA Mr. Baseball winners after beating future roommate

MURFREESBORO − When Knoxville Central's Andrew Hill was announced as the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A Mr. Baseball, finalist Eli Evans from Farragut leaned over to his friend and said, "I told you."

"I kind of had an idea," said Hill, on his expectations of winning the award. "I felt confident going in. We were talking back and forth (during the ceremony). He would say I was going to win it and I would say he was going to win. I guess he was right."

Winners in all six TSSAA baseball classifications were named by the TBCA in its annual ceremony. There was one repeat winner, Baylor's Tomas Valincius, while two players (Eagleville's Brayden Baker in Class 1A and CAK's Wes Alig in DII-A) were named Mr. Baseball after finishing as a finalist in 2023.

Hill hit .446 with 18 extra-base hits, including five home runs, while going 8-2 with a 1.00 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 66.1 innings. He and Evans, whose Farragut team is one of the favorites to win the Class 4A state title this season, will be roommates at East Tennessee State next season.

"We've grown up together since 10-u (travel baseball)," Hill said. "He committed to ETSU first, and that was one of my top schools. When I committed, we got everything organized to be roommates."

Valincius, whose Baylor squad is also a favorite in DII-AA, is a Virginia signee, but is an expected high Major League Baseball draft pick, he will weigh his options between now and then.

"College is always a great option," said Valincius, who batted .453 with five doubles, three triples, 10 homers and 40 RBIs while going 8-0 with a 1.14 ERA. "It depends on how I do coming up (the draft list). I'm looking forward to the process and what's next. It will either be Virginia or the draft."

LIVE UPDATES:Spring Fling 2024: TSSAA baseball, softball, soccer state tournament updates from Tuesday

Baker's Eagleville squad will try for a third consecutive Class 1A state title. The Murray State signee hit .482 with 15 doubles, a triple, two homers, 31 RBIs and 36 runs while going 5-2 on the mound.

"I've just had my mind on winning a state championship," Baker said. "That's what we've got to do. I'm grateful (for the award) and for the chance to be playing for another state title as a senior."

Mr. Baseball winners included:

Class 1A

Winner: Brayden Baker, Eagleville. Finalists: Ryan Collins, Lookout Valley, Luke Treece, Coalfield.

Class 2A

Winner: Trevan Myers, Pigeon Forge. Finalists: Carter Daniel, Loretto, Gray Eubanks, Huntingdon.

Class 3A

Winner: Carson Parrott, Livingston Academy. Finalists: Gabe Eddington, Montgomery Central, Jaxon Walker, Loudon.

MORE:TSSAA baseball state tournament championship predictions for 2024 playoffs

Class 4A

Winner: Andrew Hill, Knox Central. Finalists: Eli Evans, Farragut, Brady Scott, Sevier County.

Division II-A

Winner: Wes Alig, Christian Academy of Knoxville. Finalists: Cooper Jones, Boyd Buchanan, Gunner Skelton, Columbia Academy.

Division II-AA

Winner: Tomas Valincius, Baylor. Finalists: Brock Beddingfield, CPA, Dominic Monaco, Brentwood Academy.

Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.