JACKSON, Miss. – Brett Sanchez of the Belhaven Baseball team was one of five finalists for the 2022 Ferriss Trophy, which was presented to the Most Outstanding Baseball Player in Mississippi on Monday. Brett was the 4^th finalist for the Blazers in the 18^th year history of the award and the first since 2014 when Tyler Akins was named a finalist.

Head Baseball Coach Kyle Palmer stated, "Being my first time to be invited to the event, it only proved to me more how deeply rooted Mississippi baseball is and how great of a year Brett had.  For Brett to be voted as a finalist by such great baseball minds truly shows you the kind of year Brett had.  I am proud of the way he represented Belhaven and this will just be another story he gets to share about his legacy here at Belhaven.  His experience will only motivate us more to do our best to be back next year."

Sanchez led the Blazers' pitching staff with an 8-1 record through 85 innings pitched. The sophomore appeared in 11 games, earned one shutout, and posted a .91 WHIP. Additionally, he went the distance four times, tallied 84 strikeouts, and faced 318 batters.  

"Being a finalist for the top baseball player of the year in the state of Mississippi is awesome. Not being from Mississippi, I never really could fathom how important the award was until the great Ron Polk took the stage and looked over at our table and said you 5 don't understand how big a deal this is for you to be sitting at that table. Being able to be at that event with some of my teammates, coaches, and influential parts of Belhaven successes was an awesome and unforgettable experience. I'm just glad that I was able to represent Belhaven in the upmost way," said Ferriss Trophy Finalist Brett Sanchez.

Sanchez was one of three pitchers and two position players that was named a finalist for the Ferriss Trophy.  RJ Yeager – Mississippi State, Tim Elko – Ole Miss, Tanner Hall –USM, Harrison Haley – Delta State were the other finalists.  

Pitcher Tanner Hall from the University of Southern Mississippi took home the Ferriss Trophy on Monday afternoon at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

For the latest news on Belhaven Blazers athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.