Co-MVPs named for 2010 season

Picking an All-County Team in any sport is difficult. Choosing the Most Valuable Player in the county is even tougher.

You have to factor in how important the player is to his team and you also have to factor in the level of competition the player faces every game.

This year teams in Franklin County featured several great players, but two stood out above the rest. Both had MVP credentials and both are deserving of the award.

Vina’s Brent Townsend and Russellville’s Jake Ward are the 2010 Franklin County Times All-County Baseball Team Co-MVPs.

Townsend earned Class 1A All-State honors at second base for the Red Devils. His batting average was .400, he had 42 hits, scored 38 runs and had 17 RBIs.

Townsend also stole 40 bases for Vina and was only thrown out once. As a pitcher, he compiled an 8-1 record, struck out 55 batters, issued five walks and had an ERA of 2.49.

Townsend earned the victory for Vina in the opening game of the first round of the state playoffs. It was the first playoff victory for the Red Devils.

Ward helped guide Russellville back to the playoffs following a one-year absence and earned an All-State Honorable Mention in Class 5A.

He had a .514 batting average, had 69 total hits including 19 doubles, scored 55 runs, drove in 42 runs and stole 25 bases for the Golden Tigers.

Ward only struck out seven times during the season.

Townsend and Ward are a pair of senior that will be missed by both of their high school teams next season.

Townsend has signed to play at Blue Mountain College in Mississippi while Ward has signed to play at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa.