 Georgia Dugout Club awards
By Tim Morse
Georgia Dugout Preview
ATLANTA - Brookstone baseball coach Vince Massey was presented the Ethics in Coaching award at the Georgia Dugout Club's annual Coaches Clinic at the Atlanta Marriott hotel Friday.
Massey was presented the highest award, while the Dugout Club inducted four new members to its Hall of Fame - David Joiner (McEachern), Archie White (West Georgia), Tom Cantrell (North Georgia) and Jeff Rowland (Pope).
Massey was humbled.
"The biggest thing is that everything I do comes from people I've been around and have influenced me," said Massey, a 25-year coaching veteran who is entering his ninth season at Brookstone.
"A lot of my thoughts are not original thoughts. When I went into the awards ceremony, there were so many guys in there that have impacted me over the years."
Massey was an assistant at Columbus State before taking his first varsity head coaching job at Northside-Columbus in 2003. He coached for three seasons before taking over at Brookstone.
"It's a tremendous honor," Massey said. "I can't tell you how appreciative I am going home with this award."
Massey's assistant, Nate McConnell, was pleased that his mentor was honored.
"The coach I am today is because of him," McConnell said. "When I first came to Brookstone, I thought I knew everything but I really didn't know anything. I sit back and take it in on the bench. He's made me who I am today."
The Dugout Club also honored its state players and coaches of the year, while presenting plaques to coaches for milestone wins.
2016 High School Awards
Class A Public Coach of Year - Chuck Cheek, Schley County
Class A Private Coach of the Year - Dallas McPherson, Kings Ridge Christian
Class A Public Player of the Year - Brett Usry, Schley County
Class A Private Player of the Year - Austin Higginbotham, Kings Ridge Christian
Class AA Coach of the Year - Brian Krehmeyer, Wesleyan and Kent Harrison, Darlington
Class AA Player of the Year - Carter Hall, Wesleyan and Jay Shadday, Darlington
Class AAA Coach of the Year - Andy Harlin, Blessed Trinity and Tommy Knight, Jefferson
Class AAA Player of Year - Cody Roberts, Blessed Trinity and Micah Carpenter, Jefferson
Class AAAA Player of Year - Joey Bart, Buford and Jake Lee, Whitewater
Class AAAA Coach of the Year - Tony Wolfe, Buford and Rusty Bennett, Whitewater
Class AAAAA Player of Year - Nick Sandlin, Greenbrier and Michael Curry, Gainesville
Class AAAAA Coach of Year - Jason Osborne, Greenbrier and Jeremy Kemp, Gainesville
Class AAAAAA Player of the Year - Ryne Inman, Parkview and Zac Kristofak, Walton
Class AAAAAA Coach of the Year - Chan Brown, Parkview and Shane Amos, Walton
2016 High School Assistant Coaches of the Year
Adam Miller, Gainesville
Casey Law, Buford
Brandon Davis, Harrison
Billy McAdams, Jenkins
Brian Vance, Jackson County
Jeremy Turner, South Effingham
Vinnie Nasca, Lovett
Jean Guzman, Tift County
Nate McConnell, Brookstone
Kevin Johnson, Walton
Michael Mann, Wesleyan
Greg Tillery, Colquitt County
William Rooks, Schley County
Tim Trammell, Whitewater
Brent McGuire, Westminster
2016 Field of the Year
Class AAAAAA - Central Gwinnett
Class AAAAA - Gainesville, Northside-Columbus
Class AAAA - Marist, Cook, Whitewater, Buford, Carrollton
Class AAA - Cartersville, Pierce County
Class A - Whitefield Academy
100 Coaching Wins
Bruce Evans, Eastside
David Coffey, Veterans
Ron Womack, South Effingham
Rusty Bennett, Whitewater
200 Coaching Wins
Jason Lanham, Trion
300 Coaching Wins
Seth Gaspin, Jenkins
Chan Brown, Parkview
Ron Best, Cairo
Paul Glass, Jeff Davis
Billy Nicholson, Johns Creek
400 Coaching Wins
Dennis Jordan, North Paulding
Tony Boyd, East Paulding
500 Coaching Wins
Charlie Griffeth, Madison County
Chip Henderson, Calhoun
College Awards
NAIA Player of the Year - Ty Abbott, Georgia Gwinnett
NAIA Coach of the Year - Brad Stromdahl, Georgia Gwinnett
NCAA Division III Player of the Year - Jackson Wegg, Emory
NCAA Division III Coach of the Year - Mike Twardoski, Emory
NCAA Division II Player of the Year - Brendan Collins, Columbus State
NCAA Division II Coach of the Year - Tom Cantrell, North Georgia
NCAA Division I Player of the Year - Kyle Lewis, Mercer
NCAA Division I Player of the Year - Craig Gibson, Mercer
JUCO Player of the Year - Brooks Calvo, South Georgia State
JUCO Coach of the Year - Scot Hemmings, Darton State College
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