Baseball fans had good food and met more of dynamic youth in the community Feb. 17 at the middle school cafeteria. About 45 Lamar County Trojan supporters, family members and community members joined the Diamond Trojans and Diamond Girls for a barbecue dinner provided by Greg Fennell and Papa Willie’s of Williamson. Sponsored by the Dugout Club, the official booster club for the Trojan baseball programs, the evening was for both presentation of the middle school, junior varsity and varsity teams as well as for addresses. The latter came by way of David Beasley, head coach at Berry College. With a current 2009 record of 4-2, the team and Beasley in general have a reputation for producing all-star players and Major League baseball regulars. Just this past year catcher Patrick Taylor of Berry College was named Southern States Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year and pitcher Collin McHugh was drafted by the New York Mets. Beasley, a native of Troy, Ala., played ball in junior college and at Huntingdon College before taking over as Berry’s head coach in spring 1998. Introduced by Trojan head coach Greg Williams, coach Beasley spoke about the value of dedication and willingness. As the Trojan boys listened, Beasley told them of his own high school experience where he found himself the bat boy for the team in his freshman year. He refused to give up and by his senior year he was an All-American player. Beasley reflected on his desire to do whatever it took to learn the game of baseball and study his coach and fellow players.
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