Top hitter Mays signs with Andrew College
Published 9:00 am Sunday, April 29, 2018
- Tift County seniors joined Keshaun Mays (front row, center) Thursday at Tift County High. Other seniors are Ethan Rucker, Blake Webb, Keenan Webb and Jack Lambert. Coaches Jean Guzman, Kyle Kirk and Xavier Holmes were on the back row.
TIFTON — Tift County head baseball coach Kyle Kirk got misty eyed Thursday as one of his players signed to play collegiately.
Keshaun Mays is leaving Tift County to play for Andrew College.
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“Hard work pays off,” said Kirk. “I’m super proud of him.”
Mays’ efforts saw him become one of the Blue Devils’ most reliable players as a fielder, pitcher and especially a hitter in 2018. He was first or second in almost every offensive category.
He led the team in hits (40) and runs batted in (13). Mays was second in runs scored (13) and average. In the latter category, Mays hit .396 for the year, trailing only Mason Avant’s .405. Mays hit over .400 for most of the season. He started the season with a six-game hitting streak and had an eight-game string later in the year.
On the mound, Mays won one game and struck out 16 hitters.
“It goes to show you the effort he’s put in,” said Kirk.
Kirk credited Mays’ other sport — football — for his preparation. “It toughened him up,” he said.
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As Tift County’s backup quarterback, Mays threw for 68 yards and rushed for 28 more.
That work, said Kirk, will pay off this summer during the early morning workouts at Andrew.
“His journey has just begun,” said Kirk.