FERRIDAY, La. &045; Not much was expected of Trey Brasher coming into this season. After all, eighth graders don’t generally have a big impact on high school teams.

But the hard-throwing lefty got his chance and made the most of it. His play was crucial during Huntington’s run through the playoffs that fell one game short of an MPSA Class A state championship.

Together with Hounds catcher Ples Arthur, the Huntington duo head up the The Natchez Democrat 2005 All-Metro baseball first team.

&uot;Looking at Trey, we didn’t have a lot of play-ins for him,&uot; Huntington head coach Mitch Ashmore said. &uot;We got in a tournament where we played four or five games and we had to throw somebody. I threw him out there and he shuts out Prairie View, one of the best teams in the state. After that, I’m thinking he can throw.&uot;

Brasher’s rise this season mirrors the Hounds’ success as a team. Huntington went from a team looking to make the playoffs to one looking to win a state championship. Brasher went from a player hoping to get into a few games to the team’s ace.

&uot;I think basically (Ashmore) just ran out of pitchers that day,&uot; Brasher said. &uot;He decided to see what I could do.&uot;

Brasher finished the season with an 11-2 record, a 1.10 earned run average in 83 innings itched and 103 strikeouts. He also hit a big home run against Tunica in the Huntington’s win in the second game of the championship series, despite not hitting at all the majority of the season. That ability at the plate will be important next year when Ashmore said Brasher will have to be an everyday player in addition to his pitching duties.

&uot;If I keep on batting like I was this year, I’ll be happy,&uot; Brasher said. &uot;I’m struggling a little right now in summer ball, but I’ll be OK.&uot;

And with him for that ride was Arthur, blocking those balls in the dirt, heading out to the mound for a quick talk with his young batterymate and making sure the defense was in the right position. Arthur said he was impressed with the way Brasher handled himself.

&uot;I’d seen him pitch when he was young, so I knew what he could do,&uot; Arthur said. &uot;He’s already good and he’ll be very good when he gets older. If he keeps working at it, he’ll be unreal.&uot;

Arthur had a .398 batting average and a .980 fielding percentage behind the plate and was responsible for aligning the Hounds defense during games.

&uot;It was still a good season, even with the loss (in the championship series),&uot; Arthur said. &uot;Nobody thought we would be there except us.&uot;

Ashmore had good things to say about his junior.

&uot;Ples Arthur’s a good talent. He can hit it out of the yard, though I don’t think he hit one this year. He hits on a line a lot, so maybe next year we’ll teach him a little about lifting the ball,&uot; Ashmore said. &uot;But anytime you have a catcher that can learn the things we throw at them, you know you have someone special. You have to have a guy who knows what they’re doing, and he did a good job.&uot;

Arthur said catching for Ashmore’s team wasn’t too tough for him.

&uot;It wasn’t that hard because I’ve been doing it so long,&uot; Arthur sadi. &uot;(Ashmore’s) on me more than anybody because when I mess up everyone sees it, but I like it.&uot;

Joining the Huntington duo on the first team infield are first baseman Reid Simpson (.355 batting average, 25 RBIs) and second baseman Brett Hinson (.386 average, 38 RBIs, 2.65 ERA as pitcher), two key cogs in Vidalia’s playoff run, Wilkinson County Christian Academy shortstop Taylor Fontenot (.559, 21 RBIs, 20 stolen bases) and Cathedral third baseman Charlie Lane (.545, 43 RBIs, 45 runs).

Cathedral’s Jeremy Davis (.500, 47 RBIs), Adams Christian’s David Trisler (.435, 11 home runs, 42 RBIs) and WCCA’s Spike Deville (.420 average) form the first team outfield, and ACCS’ Cole Bradford (.464 average, 33 RBIs) is the first team designated hitter.