Baseball season in Bay County brought many firsts, including a new record made by Arnold pitcher Cooper Moss. The senior became the first baseball player in Bay County history to record 300 strikeouts and hit 20 home runs.
For all of his efforts, Moss was named the Bay County baseball player of the year as voted by a panel of coaches and media members.
"It means a lot to me and my team, they have supported me so much and I could not have done it without them," Moss said.
The senior finishes his high school career with a 23-8 record and a 1.28 ERA, recording 389 strikeouts. At the plate, he totaled 121 hits, 81 runs, 103 RBIs and 20 home runs.
Arnold baseball capped its best season in program history with a 27-8 record, capturing the Class 4A-District 2 title, the Class 4A regional championship and earning its first-ever trip to the Final Four. Head coach Chris Jones reached a major milestone this season, earning his 100th career win in just his fifth year at the helm.
Bozeman wrapped up a strong season with a 26-8 record, capturing its eighth district championship in the past decade and extending its playoff streak to 18 consecutive seasons. Competing in Class 2A for the first time, the Bucks proved they belonged, making an impressive run to the regional finals and continuing the program's tradition of postseason success.
Banji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at [email protected] or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.