Haney gets shot to play at Chipola
It takes a lot to make Cedartown’s head baseball coach choke up with a tear. He let down his stoic exterior a bit last week as one of his star players signed with a Florida College famous for producing big stars for the major leagues.
Senior Jack Haney will soon be heading off to Chipola College in Marianna, Florida, where he’ll wear the uniform of an Indians uniform and play in the state’s FCSAA against other smaller state schools later this year.
Haney, who batted .500 in play in 2017 with four homeruns and 25 RBIs, plus made the All-Region in 5-AAAA and All-State in Class 4-A, is continuing on a stellar career both at and behind the plate as a Bulldog this year. Those numbers improved upon his .400 batting average in 2016, where he again made the All-Region and All-State teams with 34 RBIs and four homeruns for the Bulldogs offense.
The son of Richie and Paige Haney, Jack Haney will have a chance to play where big stars from the past have made their mark, including Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Mat Gamel, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder José Bautista, and Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin. Additionally it was formerly home to former Texas Rangers manager Buck Showalter and World Baseball Classic standout Adam Loewen.
For Haney, it will feel like home because it is quiet.
“I like that there’s not a lot of stuff around it,” Haney said. “It is out in the open and not a lot of traffic.”
‘I like that there’s not a lot of stuff around it. It is out in the open and not a lot of traffic.’
Jack Haney
Cedartown baseball player
Haney will be studying welding at Chipola while also playing baseball during his coming years.
The one who will especially miss Haney and his talents on the baseball diamond is Kelley, who has found the star player a reliable asset on the Bulldogs when they hit the field.
“Every so often you get blessed to coach an outstanding individual,” Kel- ley said. “A few years ago I got to come back to coach the baseball team, it was a highlight to see that team to make that run to the final four, and all those boys doing what they did. But being able to watch Jack that year get on the run that he did not only from a pitching standpoint, but also a hitting standpoint, it was amazing.”
Kelley additionally said that “I’ve coached a lot of kids, a lot of good baseball players. I always look for that kid who wants to be in that big moment. Jack loves that moment, and he loves that stage.”