VALDOSTA — Dayton Hall only played one season of varsity baseball with his hometown Valdosta Wildcats, but what a season it was.

Although the Wildcats ultimately came up short of their, and Hall’s, goal of bringing a baseball state championship back to Valdosta, none of them should be disappointed with a 21-11 season that resulted in six players’ inclusion on the Region 1-6A All-Region Team, including Hall’s Player of the Year selection.

“It’s a great honor to have five on the position all-region team, and then Thomas Eager being the highest academic average,” said Valdosta baseball head coach Bart Shuman.

Valdosta’s First-Team selections included sophomore third baseman Avery Stephens — who slashed .355/.451/.474 with nine doubles, 15 RBI and 10 runs — senior outfielder J.J. Jaramillo, who provided strong defense in centerfield in addition to swiping 21 bases and scoring 26 runs with a .291 batting average and .441 on-base percentage, and senior pitcher Luke Ard, a left-hander that complied an ERA of 2.20 over 47 2-3 innings with 51 strikeouts.

Stephens also earned honorable mention as a pitcher with a 2.48 ERA and 51 strikeouts over 59 1-3 innings, and sophomore shortstop Corey McCann represented the Wildcats’ lone second-team representative after slashing .303/.382/.404 with 15 stolen bases and 21 runs.

Wildcat senior outfielder Thomas Eager beat out a tough field to be selected the region’s Academic Player of the Year.

“His average is over 100 for his high school career, believe it or not,” Shuman said. “It’s 101 or 102, something like that, something crazy.

“He’s just a great young man and it’s well-deserved. You’re competing against four other schools that have 20 plus players, that’s a great honor for Thomas. We’re proud of him.”

Hall transferred back to Valdosta before the season after winning a state championship with Houston County the year prior, and he capped off his prep career by being voted the 2017 Region 1-6A Player of the Year.

Entering into his senior season with all the hype that surrounds one of the best prep prospects in the nation, Hall drowned out the noise and proceeded immediately became the most dangerous hitter in the Wildcats’ lineup, slashing .349/.439/.674 with 11 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 33 RBIs.

But it’s what Hall can do on the mound that earned him invitations to all-star games, a scholarship to Florida State and a chance to hear his name called in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft on June 12, and he more than met the enormous expectations.

Hall compiled a 1.36 ERA over 51 1-3 innings for the Wildcats, striking out 105 batters to just 25 walks in the process. Hall gave up just 24 hits over the course of the season as opposing batters hit just .129 against the budding star.

“First of all, he brought in a lot of experience,” Shuman said. “State champions last year, and he’s had the opportunity to play in some big tournaments in his summer and his travel ball experience. He was just a good, solid leader.

“Of course, his athleticism and the skills that he possesses are just far beyond what we’re used to seeing in this area.”

Derrick Davis is the sports editor at the Valdosta Daily Times.