HHC honors four Golden Bears, names Shively Coach of the Year

Shelbyville baseball’s final season as a member of the Hoosier Heritage Conference was a memorable one.

The Golden Bears captured their first HHC title since 2014 and produced four All-HHC players and the Coach of the Year.

The 20-player All-Conference Team was recently released.

For Shelbyville, seniors Reece Prickett, Gavin Reed and Aiden Smith and sophomore Austin Martzall were selected based on their performances this season.

Prickett hit .357 with 15 runs scored and 18 runs batted in. He also went 4-2 with a 2.87 earned run average on the mound.

Reed hit .338 with 12 runs and 21 RBIs. He was 2-1 with a 3.84 ERA.

Smith led the Golden Bears with a .479 batting average, 37 runs, 30 RBIs and seven home runs. The Kentucky baseball recruit was 7-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 77 strikeouts when on the mound.

Martzall hit .393 with 34 runs and 14 RBIs. The left-hander was 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA.

"We are incredibly proud of Austin, Reece, Gavin, and Aiden for earning this well-deserved recognition," said Shively. "They were highly productive on the field, and their consistency, leadership, composure, approach, and growth mindset throughout the season reflected the program's expectations and were instrumental in our success. More importantly, they have grown tremendously as young men and continue to represent Shelbyville Baseball with character, humility, and class both on and off the field."

Other members of the All-HHC squad are Delta’s Maddox Huffman and Everrett Linn, Greenfield-Central’s Hayden Kidd, Steven Walker and Hayden Zellers, Mt. Vernon’s Mason Meyer, Drew Morgan and Gavin Weaver, New Castle’s Carson Bell, New Palestine’s Holden Hughes, Jacob Morris and Gavin Neal, Pendleton Heights’ Colin Axel-Adams, Hudson Frank and Jackson Maifeld, and Yorktown’s Ryan Burkholder.

Shelbyville head coach Jacob Shively was named HHC Coach of the Year.

"While I am grateful for the recognition of my fellow coaching peers, it's hard to see one name attached to an award that represents the efforts of so many people," said Shively. "This honor is really a reflection of our entire coaching staff and everyone who supports Shelbyville Baseball. Assistant coaches Brent Thoman and Barry Reed have poured countless hours into our players, our program, and our facilities. Their knowledge, dedication to building relationships, and commitment to high standards have been instrumental in everything we've accomplished."

The Golden Bears won the HHC title with an 11-3 mark. They finished the season 20-5.

Greenfield-Central (16-11, 9-5 HHC) and Pendleton Heights (19-10, 9-5) tied for runner-up ahead of New Palestine (15-10, 7-5), Mt. Vernon (15-14, 7-6), Delta (15-11, 6-7), Yorktown (11-16, 3-11) and New Castle (5-17, 1-11).

Shelbyville is joining the Hoosier Legends Conference this fall. Other members of the HLC are Beech Grove, Greenwood, Indian Creek, Monrovia, Speedway, Tri-West and Triton Central.

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