BAY MINETTE - Eight new members were inducted into the Baldwin County High Athletic Hall of Fame last Friday (October 30) in ceremonies before and during halftime of the BCHS-Theodore football game at Bay Minette's Simmons Field.

The five athletes and three associate members were introduced at halftime and were officially inducted into the Hall before the game at the Bay Minette Elementary School cafeteria near the football stadium.

The new class includes athletes LaToya Baker, Matthew Stevens, Larry Catrett, Abraham French, and Skeet Hall along with associates Coach Jerry Wright, Reverand Harry Pond, and Jimmie Clark.

LaToya Baker is a 1999 graduate of Baldwin County High and was a standout three sport athlete. She participated in volleyball, softball, and basketball. Baker twice earned all county honors in softball (1998 and 1999) while helping her team to the state tournament.

But basketball proved to be her sport. She led the Lady Tigers to two area championships, a region title, and a final four berth in the 6A state tournament. Baker was all county in basketball in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 as well as all area each year. Baker was also named regional MVP when set a region championship scoring record, scoring 37 points in a victory over Tuscaloosa Central in 1999. The Tigers then lost to state champion and national power Butler of Huntsville in the state semifinals.

Baker graduated with a 3.8 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Baker received a basketball scholarship to Springhill College where she became the second leading alltime scorer with 1,654 points. She was a three time All Gulf Coast Athletic Conference player, All American honorable mention and Springhill College female athlete of the year in 2004. She earned her Bachelors degree in accounting and is now employed as Senior Accountant at Azalea City Credit Union and is also assistant basketball coach at McGill-Toolen High in Mobile, where she resides.

Matthew Stevens is a 1996 grad of BCHS. While at Baldwin County High, he played baseball and football and earned seven letters.

As quarterback for the football team, he played four years and was a starter for three of those years. He was an All-County selection in 1994 and 1995.

As a member of the baseball team, he was a three year starter in the outfield. He received All-County honors in 1995 and 1996 and ended his career with a combined career .321 batting average.

Stevens received a baseball scholarship to Faulkner State Community College where he was a standout player for the Sun Chiefs in 1997 and 1998. He is employed as a HVAC technician with JLS International and is engaged to Amanda Moody. Stevens resides in Bay Minette.

Larry Catrett graduated from Baldwin County High in 1958. He was two sport standout at BCHS in football and baseball. Larry earned two letters playing quarterback for the Tigers and was a part of the 1958 team that has had several members inducted into the hall of fame.

Larry worked in maintenance at Kimberly-Clark, formerly Scott Paper, retiring after 37  years of service. He was married to Nancy Chastang, who is now deceased. He is the father of three children and resides in Stockton.

Graduating from BCHS in 1975, Abraham French participated in football and track and field. As an offensive back on the football team, French lettered three years and was a first team All-County selection in 1974. In 1975 he was voted Outstanding  offensive back of the year and made the Region 2 all-star team. He also earned track and field all county honors in 1975.

French was also very active in the Future Farmers of America and was named Mr. FFA in 1974.

French received a football scholarship to Montgomery Community College in Rockville, Maryland in 1976 and in 1977, enrolled at the University of Maryland. But an injury in 1978 cut short his football career and he returned home to Bay Minette.  

Very active in the community, French coached 24 years in the girls youth softball programs, holding the offices of president and vice-president of the leagues at different times. He also coached in the boys baseball program for 15 years and also managed a men's softball team for six years. French is well known for his over 20 years of work at BCHS football games as part of the chain crew. He is married to Sheila Hooks French and they have five children and four grandchildren and reside in Bay Minette.

Skeet Hall graduated from Baldwin County High School in 1973.  Skeet played two sports in high school.  He played basketball as a freshman and he played baseball all four years of high school, earning letters in all four years.  Skeet was named to the All-county team 3 years, sophomore through senior year.  Skeet was also a drummer in the BHS marching band.

Following high school, Skeet received a baseball scholarship to Faulkner State Community College.

Skeet coached baseball in Little League and Babe Ruth for many years.  He announced games on the radio, was a mentor and was a voice known to countless Bay Minette Youth.

Skeet was also a firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, and one time Safety Leader at Halter marine and Board.  He was a member of the Tensaw River Hunting club.  He was self-employed.  Skeet and his wife, Rosemarie, were the parents of two sons, Les and Blake.  Skeet passed away in 2008.

Jerry Wright has been teaching and coaching young men and women for 29 years.  Twenty of those years have been at Baldwin County High School.  Prior coaching and teaching positions were at McGill-Toolen, Robertsdale, and Evangel School.

Beginning at BCHS in 1989, Jerry coached the baseball team through the 2007 season.  During his tenure as Head Baseball coach, he won 7 area championships and finished as runner-up 4 times.  He led his teams to playoff berths 11 times, reaching the state semi-finals in 1996 and quarterfinals in 2005.  While head baseball coach at McGill, he won 4 area championships, and made four state playoff appearances.

 Jerry received numerous awards as a baseball coach. He was selected as the Head Coach of the East/West All-Star Game 10 times, was selected as head coach of the North/South All-Star game in 2003.  He was selected as Area 1 Coach of the Year 3 times, Area 3 Coach of the Year 5 times, and 2005 Region Coach of the Year.  During his tenure as a baseball coach he compiled a record of 490 wins-290 losses with a record of 383-245 as coach of the BCHS Tigers.

 Jerry has also been the varsity offensive line coach for 12 years at BCHS and was the Freshman head coach for 6 years, earning Freshman Coach of the Year honors 3 times.  He also received the AHSAA Award for 25 years of Coaching Service.

 Jerry and his wife Kathy are parents of 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.  They reside in Perdido, Alabama.

Harry Pond has always been a avid supporter of Baldwin County High School Athletics.  For many years, Harry attended every football that was played by Baldwin County High School.  At the home games, he sat at the same place in the stands every week.  For the away games, he had a seat on the team bus and attended the games wherever the Tigers  played.  He also could be seen at almost every afternoon practice, sitting in his chair by the field house.

Affectionately known as “Reverand Pond”Harry was nominated by the 2001 BCHS football team, who went  11-2 and played in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.

They said of him, “Throughout our career at BCHS, Reverand Pond was a mentor to us.  He was there during our ups and downs, on and off the field.  He was an inspiration to us and a loyal supporter whether it be at each practice or games home and away.  Rev. Pond taught us in his own special way to press on when things were at the worst.  We have the most respect and gratitude for him.  We could envision our time ending at BCHS without Rev. Pond as a member of the football team.”

 Harry is retired from Standard Furniture as well as being a retired preacher.  Harry was honored in 2008 for his service by the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church.

 Harry is the father of 1 child and the grandfather of three.  He resides in Bay Minette.

    Jimmie Clark graduated from Baldwin County High School in 1970.  Jimmie lettered two years in football and was a member of the 1969 undefeated team.  Jimmie also played basketball for two years. 

 Jimmie was a good athlete, but what set Jimmie apart was his character, integrity, and his work ethic. Jimmie was told as a youth that he could never play football because he was born with two missing ribs.  But he never told the coaches and played anyway.  While in junior high school, he played the entire second half of a game against Fairhope with a broken leg.

 Jimmie was voted the most dedicated football player in 1969.  He was a member and board member of the Key Club, and he received the Sandy Nininger Award which is given to the Outstanding Key Club Member.

 Jimmie is employed with Energy Corporation as a Senior Health Physics Technician / Radiation Protection.  In 1999, he received the Premier Award at Waterford 3 Nuclear Operations.

 Jimmie and his wife Becky are the parents of two sons, Jeff and Mike.  They reside in Bay Minette.