Tennessean 2019 All-Midstate baseball team

Tom Kreager
The Tennessean

First team

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Baseball player of the year Robert Hassell III with Golden Tate backstage at the Tennessean Sports Awards at Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 31, 2019.

Robert Hassell III

Independence, Jr.

Position: Utility

Why chosen: The Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year and Vanderbilt commitment hit .423 with 14 home runs, eight doubles, 22 stolen bases and 36 RBIs. He also was 5-2 with a 1.07 ERA with 113 strikeouts and 21 walks in 59 innings.

Nominees for player of the year

Zane Denton

Ravenwood, Sr.

Position: Outfielder

Why chosen: The Alabama signee hit .366 with six home runs in the regular season.

Camden Hayslip

Friendship Christian, So.

Position: Outfielder

Why chosen: The Alabama commitment  hit .413 with 11 home runs, 12 doubles, five triples and 33 RBIs.

Nick James

Clarksville, Sr.

Position: Pitcher

Why chosen: The TBCA Class AAA Mr. Baseball and North Carolina signee went 8-1 with a 0.73 ERA and had 114 strikeouts and 35 walks in 57⅓ innings.

Chris McElvain

Summit, Sr.

Position: Pitcher

Why chosen: The Vanderbilt signee was 7-1 with a 0.26 ERA in the regular season with 102 strikeouts and 12 walks in 53 innings. He also hit .333 with 20 RBIs, five home runs and 11 doubles.

Travis Odom

CPA, Sr.

Position: Infielder

Why chosen: The Auburn signee and Division II-AA Mr. Baseball finalist hit .441 with 11 home runs, 14 doubles and 45 RBIs.

Kavares Tears

Columbia Academy, So.

Position: Infielder

Why chosen: The Tennessee commitment and Class A Mr. Baseball finalist hit .492 with 20 doubles, nine home runs, scored 40 runs and had 56 RBIs.

Blade Tidwell

Loretto, Jr.

Position: Infielder

Why chosen: The Tennessee commitment and Class A Mr. Baseball hit .521 with 22 doubles, seven home runs, five triples, scored 42 runs and had 46 RBIs.

Rest of first team

Knox Preston

CPA, Jr.

Position: Catcher

Why chosen: The Lipscomb commitment hit .435 with eight doubles, eight home runs, three triples and 55 RBIs.

Blaine McIntosh

Sycamore, Sr.

Position: Outfielder

Why chosen: The Vanderbilt signee, who was picked in the 13th round of the MLB Draft, hit .431 with four doubles, six triples, 24 RBIs, 43 runs scored and 37 stolen bases.

Ryan Ginther

Station Camp, So.

Position: Infielder

Why chosen: The Vanderbilt commitment hit .439 with nine doubles, three triples and a home run. 

Second team

Pitcher: Blake Money, Summit, Jr.

Pitcher: Ben Peoples, Giles Co., Sr.

Infielder: Blake Birdsong, Loretto, Jr.

Infielder: Brett Dingess, Riverdale, Jr.

Infielder: Ben Durham, MTCS, Jr.

Infielder: Royal Hobson, East Nashville, Sr.

Catcher: David Milam, Blackman, Sr.

Outfielder: Haven Mangrum, Beech, Sr.

Outfielder: Garrett Schultz, Ensworth, Sr.

Outfielder: Luke Vinson, Oakland, Sr.

Utility: Gage Bradley, Rossview, Jr.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Bart Joyce 

Forrest

Why chosen: Forrest finished Class AA runner-up, falling to Covington 11-1. The Rockets were 19-16-1.