Boyd-Buchanan's Colby Morgan, front row center and flanked by his parents, mom Hayley Owens and dad Craig Morgan, has signed to play baseball for Carson-Newman University next year, On the back row are grandparents, Steve and Linda Scealf.
photo by Dennis Norwood
When Boyd-Buchanan’s high school principal, Renee Hood, first met Colby Morgan prior to approving his admission to the school off Moore Road, she just felt he was a good kid. As it turns out, she was more than right.
As Morgan prepared to sign his National Letter of Intent to play baseball for Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee, she remarked, “He’s a leader in school spirit. He’s always attending every game for every team – cheering for his fellow athletes.
He’s a leader – period.”
Morgan, the starting first baseman for the Buccaneers the past two seasons, appears to be heading into a starting position as a freshman for the Eagles. Carson-Newman’s first sacker is a senior who will graduate at the end of this season. That leaves the door wide-open for the two-time All District, Region and State athlete.
Last season, Morgan hit .481 with nine homeruns, 11 doubles and 38 RBIs. His coach at Boyd-Buchanan, Taylor Gilley, said, “He’s our anchor in the line-up with his bat. He always does such a great job, both at bat and in the field.” His stats back that up. Last season he had an on base percentage of .495 while averaging a hefty .974 slugging percentage.
Asked what led him to choose Carson-Newman, Morgan explained, “It felt like the right fit. After meeting Coach (Tom) Griffin I knew he was the kind of coach I wanted to play for.”
He continued, “I was motivated to commit the day after I visited the campus.”
His mom, Hayley Owens, is happy with her son’s decision, as well. “He instantly clicked with coach Griffin and I like that it’s a Christian school, it fits well with what we’ve experienced here at Boyd-Buchanan.”
She says that while being a baseball mom is chaotic, it’s well worth it. She also likes the fact that Jefferson City is not far away and she can continue to attend Colby’s games.
The senior, who enjoys watching minor league baseball over the majors, said, “This is a big jump for me. Not a lot of people get such an opportunity.” Colby, who has been playing since he was four years old, his first team was the Dupont-Rivermont Angels, says when not playing or watching baseball he enjoys just hanging out with his family. Morgan began playing travel baseball when he was eight and among the teams he has played for are the Mustangs and most recently, Xposure.
His favorite teams are the Lookouts (minor league) and the Atlanta Braves in the majors. Morgan has an older brother, Caleb, who is serving in the Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Morgan is the secnd Boyd-Buchanan baseball signee in the past two days with teammate Cade Evans inking with Auburn on Wednesday.
Buccaneers’ Athletic Director Joe Pope, summed it all up as, “Colby has made a huge impact on our team and the whole school.”
(Contact Dennis Norwood at sportsshooter614@gmail.com; follow him on Twitter at @DennisENorwood)