Twelve FHS athletes sign college offers
On top the excellent coaching from Admirals skipper Matt Buckner and the other Farragut High School baseball coaches, senior catcher Jake Hagenow pointed out some Major League Baseball assistance he’s received.
“I’ve been working with Michael McKenry, who went to Farragut … since [Farragut] Middle School,” Hagenow, senior catcher and two-time All-District 4-AAA honoree, said about the former All-state Admirals catcher [Class of 2004] and Middle Tennessee State University All-American who was a starting catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies. “… It usually picks up more in the middle of the winter when he’s in Knoxville [from his home in Murfreesboro].”
Hagenow signed with Middle Tennessee State University, one of 12 FHS athletes in four sports to sign National Letter of Intent papers during a ceremony in FHS’s Vickie B. Wells Auditorium Wednesday morning, Nov. 9.
Hagenow said with a laugh about McKenry, “He’d always drop little hints like, ‘you better be a Raider.’”
However, Hagenow added about McKenry, “I think the biggest impact he makes on me is as a person.”
Among the other signees is senior softball player Lexee Lamoree, a two-time All-state and All-district catcher and third baseman. She signed with The University of Tennessee Chattanooga.
“Pretty much everything about UTC I absolutely love,” Lamoree, recruited as a catcher, said.
Other signees from baseball are outfielders Chandler Chambers and Carson Wright, to Lipscomb University [Nashville], and Collin Grove, pitcher, to Cleveland State Community College.
Other softball signees are pitcher Callie Moore, pitcher, to Roane State Community College, and Tori West, outfielder, to Tusculum College.
Signees from FHS volleyball team, who helped the Admirals finish No. 2 statewide in Class AAA three consecutive seasons, are Anne Abernathy, outside hitter, to Wingate University [Wingate, N.C.]; Madi Howell, libero, Clemson, and Alexis Parker, outside hitter, Indiana.
Lacrosse signees, sisters Emma Hill and Christa Hill, both signed with Lee College [Cleveland].
Matt Buckner, varsity baseball head coach, said during the ceremony that Hagenow “is a premium defender. … I think he’s got a big future.
“Chandler’s been a big part of what we’ve done the past two years,” Buckner added. “He’s about as good a defender in the outfield as I’ve ever coached.”
Grove “had a big year for us [during 2016 season],” Buckner also said.
Wright, an outfielder who transferred from Indiana, “is an excellent player,” Bucker said
David Moore, varsity softball head coach, praised Lamoree, Moore and West.
“They’ve been major contributors to our softball program the last three years. … I’m proud of all their accomplishments,” Moore said during the ceremony.
Susan Davidson, Farragut varsity volleyball head coach, said about her three signees during the ceremony, “these ladies have taken our program to a new level.
“And they have definitely set a lot of records for our program,” she added.
Ben Collins, FHS assistant athletics director, said Christa Hill “is bound to a bright future with both athletic and academic success.”
Collins said about Emma Hill, “her determination and commitment to play lacrosse beyond high school, as well as graduating a year early, has definitely paid off.”
