Honored for leadership on, off field
Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 28, 2016
Opp senior baseball player Parker Bracke was awarded the Jason Armstrong Baseball Leadership Award at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet in Montgomery on Tuesday.
“The award goes along with Jason Armstrong Memorial Baseball Classic,” Opp head baseball coach Michael Cassady said. “Jason played at Trinity and not only was a great athlete, but he was a strong Christian. He walked the walk and talked the talk. This award is given out to one player from each team that participates in the tournament that best exemplifies the type of person that Jason was. This year for us, that was Parker.”
Bracke had a strong senior season with the Bobcats, and helped the Bobcats go 3-0 in the Jason Armstrong Memorial Baseball Classic.
“It means a lot that my coaches see me as leader, and I want to thank them for putting me up for the award,” Bracke said. “It really means a lot to know that your teammates are counting on you, and they look to you when things are going tough.”
With several big games during the season, Bracke said the one game that really sticks out was an extra-inning loss to T.R. Miller.
“That first area game of the season against Miller where we lost in 13 innings was a big game,” Bracke said. “Even though we lost, it showed us that we could play with anyone.”
Cassady said that Bracke has been the type of player that coaches enjoy having around.
“He played several positions for us during the year,” Cassady said. “Parker is a very unselfish player and does what exactly what you need him to do, whether it’s playing infield, catching or pitching. He is a super kid with great parents that have supported us the entire season. He is a Christ-like player that walks the walk. Just a special kid.”
Bracke helped led the Bobcats to the first round of the playoffs this season.
Next up, Bracke plans on attending LBWCC for a year before transferring to Auburn University where he will major in crop and soil science.