Barefoot named state’s Player of the Year

By Adam Capps

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Matt Barefoot pitching in a game at Terry Sanford High School in an Easter Tournament last season. He was named state POY this past weekend.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_IMG_1427.jpgMatt Barefoot pitching in a game at Terry Sanford High School in an Easter Tournament last season. He was named state POY this past weekend.

Kyle Hawley receives his State Championship medal following their win over Bunker Hill on June 6, 2014, in Greensboro.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_IMG_0133.jpgKyle Hawley receives his State Championship medal following their win over Bunker Hill on June 6, 2014, in Greensboro.

Midway’s star baseball players and now graduates, Matt Barefoot and Kyle Hawley, keep racking up the accolades. On Sunday night, it was released that Barefoot and Hawley had been named to the North Carolina Coaches Association All-State Baseball 2A team, with Barefoot being honored as player of the year in the state of North Carolina at the 2A ranks.

Barefoot, the hard throwing left-handed pitcher and outfielder, had an ERA of under one during his senior campaign, and batted over .500 for the season.

Hawley, the Raider catcher, batted .575 on the year, and gunned down nearly 85 percent of the batters who tried to steal on him.

“You can’t talk Midway baseball and not mention Matt Barefoot and Kyle Hawley,” said Midway’s head coach, Jason Fussell. “They are very deserving of all of their awards and accolades, and they have been a part of the group that has set a precedent for Midway baseball.”

“It’s an honor to be named to the All-State team, and to be named player of the year,” said Barefoot. “The hard work does pay off, and to be on that team, recognized with Kyle makes it even better.”

Hawley expressed his satisfaction of being named to the team, saying, “It is an award and recognition to be proud of. Matt and I kind of go about the game the same way, just trying to play it the right way and to work hard. This is just validation that hard work does not go unnoticed.”

During the two’s careers at Midway, they each won a State Championship, and participated in two State Championships and three Eastern Championships. They have essentially been playing ball together all their lives, and are now set to go their separate ways, as Barefoot is headed to Campbell in the fall to play for the Camels, and Hawley is taking his talents to Pitt Community College.

For each of the two, expect nothing to change.

“We have got to this point by working hard,” said Barefoot. “I plan on working even harder when I get to Campbell, and I know Kyle will keep working hard. That’s just the only way we know. Seeing the hard work pay off, that’s just reassurance that it does matter. I know I can speak for both of us when I say that playing the right way and working hard will allow all the other things to take care of themselves.”