MOULTRIE – Two more members of Tony Kirkland’s 2018 Colquitt County High senior class are on their way to college baseball.

On Tuesday, Kirkland announced that pitcher Brandon Dean is going to attend Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Fla. Infielder Raines Plant, the Region 1-7A Co-Hitter of the Year, will play for the Thomas University Nighthawks.

Dean is going to a school with a baseball program only five years old. His draw to this campus, however, is their commitment to teaching through a Christian world view.

“It’s built off Christian values,” said Dean. “I’ve built my life on those principles.”

In school, Dean said he would like would like to study either sports management or kinesiology, which involves the movement of the human body. For baseball, Trinity Baptist plays in the NCCAA, and Dean said he plans a lot of work in the weight room to get better as a pitcher.

Raines, in 2018, was Colquitt’s leader in batting average (.394), hits (39) and RBI (21). He didn’t strike out much, eight times, while playing all season.

That came after numerous clashes with Kirkland in the batting cages about plate approach. The coach said Plant, a left-handed hitter, had 21 up-the-middle to opposite-field hits this spring.

He also said Thomas personnel would be at games constantly recruiting Plant.

“He’s one of the best I’ve ever been around,” said Kirkland.”

“We didn’t see eye-to-eye,” said Plant about those disagreements. But eventually he listened and had that incredible senior season.

“It’s not too far from home,” said Plant about going to the NAIA school in Thomasville. “I’ve built strong relationships here, and if I need to be here I can.

“I hope to play third base, hit and help the team win, be the best I can be. I need to get physically and mentally stronger. It’s a different game (in college).”

Plant said he is undecided about a college major.