Raiders to retire King’s No. ‘22’

Zach King, who helped Spring Hill to the 2016 Class AA state championship before helping Vanderbilt to the 2019 NCAA national title, will have his number retired during a ceremony Saturday during the 21st annual McDonald’s Shootout basketball doubleheader between Columbia Central and the host Raiders.

“No one has ever had their jersey officially retired for Raider baseball because of play,” Spring Hill coach Paul Lamm explained, pointing out that besides King’s No. 22, the only number unavailable is ‘1’. That number was retired in memory of Kris Hardison, a senior infielder and team captain who died in a car wreck in 2008.

“It’s not that we haven’t had some phenomenal players come through our program, but Zach being the first in the history of the program to be drafted, we thought that made it time to add one. We think Zach is a great one for us to make the first one to happen. We’re excited about it, and I know he is, too.”

King, a 13th-round selection of the Miami Marlins in last summer’s Major League Baseball Draft, was a two-time all-state selection, earning honors from both the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association as a junior and as a senior. He was also recognized as the District 12-AA Pitcher of the Year in both 2015 and ‘16.

Following King’s graduation, Cam Kennedy — currently a freshman at Columbia State — wore ‘22’ his final three seasons, making him the final Raider to do so.

“He has a large, long repertoire of awards and accolades,” Lamm said of King, who will be recognized between the girls game and the boys game Saturday. “You have to be careful when you start retiring jerseys and numbers, but we think this one’s a no-brainer.”