It was an unbelievable year for the Suwannee JV baseball team. The JV Dogs went 20-0 for coach Harvey Williams’ third undefeated season as a coach at Suwannee High. This is the first time his team has won 20 games.

“I did not see it coming,” Williams said. “But the team answered every challenge.”

The JV celebrated this great season at the recent Suwannee High baseball banquet held at the Live Oak Church of God.

Williams attributed much of his success to the support he gets from varsity head coach Ronnie Gray. He also said the Suwannee baseball boosters support the team and the Suwannee attitude is that the JV is just as important as the varsity.

“The JV is not looked at in other places like it is here,” Williams said. “It’s all about the kids.”

Williams also thanked his two assistant coaches Phillip Hurst and Jim Montgomery. This is Hurst’s first year as a coach at Suwannee High. He is a graduate of the Suwannee school of baseball, setting a Suwannee High record as a pitcher in 2001 for most strikeouts in a season at 103, and also tying for the record in 2000 with 93 strikeouts. Hurst also set the Suwannee High record in 2000 for most wins in a season with 10. Hurst had 20 wins over his career at Suwannee High, second only to Hunter Abercrombie. Hurst made All-State in 2000 and 2001.

Williams said Hurst took over the pre-season conditioning of his players and feels that helped a lot. Hurst will be coaching a JV version of Summer Dog baseball this year.

Hurst handed out the pitching awards for the JV.

“Every pitcher went undefeated this year,” Hurst said. “So it was a tough job picking the best.”

The Freshman Pitcher of the Year went to Derek Warren with a record of 5-0.

The top pitcher for the JV this year went to Sean Ryan. Ryan won the most games and took home Sophomore Pitcher of the Year.

The JV Defensive Player of the Year went to Dalton Wigelsworth, the second baseman committed no errors.

The Offensive Player of the Year award was split into two. “They could run, steal bases, had speed, could bunt, they were a total offensive package,” Williams said. The winners of this award were Ty Smith and Nathan Moses.

The JV Sportsmanship Award went to Corey White. Williams said White was the kind of guy you could always count on to do what was necessary. “He’s a competitor and always gives you 100 percent,” Williams said.

The winners of the JV Academic Award were Michael Staley with a 3.6 GPA and Derek Warren with a 3.3 GPA.

The JV 10th Man Award went to Clint Flowers.

The JV Most Improved Player for 2006 was Evan Maulden.

The last JV award presented at the banquet was the H.E.A.D. Award. H.E.A.D. stands for Hustle, Effort, Attitude and Desire. Lee Radford was presented with this award.

Suwannee JV baseball is looking forward to another great year in 2007.