ALL-AREA TEAM: Huner wins All-Area Player of the Year
Published 3:00 am Friday, May 31, 2019
Brock Huner overcame a season-ending ankle injury in his junior season and had a career year as a senior for Charles Henderson in 2019, earning himself the 2019 All-Area Player of the Year.
Huner didn’t play in a single game during his junior season, but rebounded to lead the Trojans both on the mound and at the plate this season.
“It was a lot of fun coming back from last year,” Huner said. “I was injured and we weren’t very good last year. Coach (Matt) Whitton really put it to our seniors about leadership and it was just a good year and it was a lot of fun doing it.”
Huner worked through last summer rebuilding his strength and his agility with his father, all in hopes of getting things corrected for his senior season.
“It was a lot of hard work in the offseason,” Huner said. “There was a lot of rehab in the offseason. Me and my dad would work every day and not take a day off.”
Huner had plenty of success both on the mound at the plate. On the mound, Huner finished the season 9-1 with a miniscule 1.81 ERA with 50 strikeouts.
Not to be outdone at the plate, Huner hit a team high .497 with one home run and 29 RBI. He had nine doubles, one triple and scored 45 runs.
Despite success in both areas, if pushed came to shove and he had to choose between being a pitcher or a hitter, Huner without a doubt would choose to be a pitcher.
“I just feel so confident in myself,” Huner said. “I feel like every time I am on the mound, we have a chance to win.”
Being able to pitch as well as he did, took even more rehab coming off his ankle surgery.
“It took some time,” Huner said. “I tried to get back into my rhythm, but I ended up doing good well this year. It was a good comeback.”
At the plate, Huner zeroed in on one section on the field during his at-bats.
“I was going with the approach of everything up the middle,” Huner said. “Swing and be aggressive and try to find a way to get on.”
Just being able to get back on the field again and contribute to a special season for the Trojans was a special moment for Huner.
“I missed it a lot,” Huner said. “It really hurt me last year. It felt really good to get back on the field again this year. To be number one in the state was incredible. I was amazed about our team and how well we did. It blew my mind; it was incredible.”
Huner will continue his work this offseason before he plays his first season with Auburn University-Montgomery in the spring.
“I am just going to continue to work in the offseason and just continue to get better in each phase of the game,” Huner said.
Pike Liberal Arts head coach Allen Ponder led the Patriots to their second consecutive the season in 2019, helping to earn him his second straight Coach of the Year Award.
Despite lackluster play the middle portion of the season, the Patriots finished their season with a 26-11 record. They went into the postseason fresh off an area championship. They swept both Fort Dale and Tuscaloosa Academy to earn their spot in the state championship.
After falling 13-1 in just three innings, the Patriots rallied to win the next two games of the series to claim the championship.
All-Area winners
P: Brock Huner
P: Holt Steed
P: Walker Stallorth
Inf: Chandler Golden
INF: Lawson Scarbrough
INF: Trevor Barron
INF: McGwire Stanley
INF: Jade Sikes
DH: Cole McWhorter
OF: Bryan Galloway
OF: Chance Pollard
OF: Davis Allen