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Pettit goes All Star
Former WHS Viking signs with Mesa Community College

<br>Submitted photo<br>
Michael Pettit throws out a pitch during the recent All Star baseball game in Phoenix.

<br>Submitted photo<br> Michael Pettit throws out a pitch during the recent All Star baseball game in Phoenix.

It's been an exciting summer for former Williams High School (WHS) Viking Michael Pettit, who plans to leave the Williams area to begin his college career in August. Pettit was recently picked to play in the AZBCA All Star Game, held June 7 in Phoenix. Pettit played with other baseball players from the north division in the recent game.

The north won the game with the help of Pettit. According to Pettit's coach Johnny Hatcher, it has been nearly eight years since the north won an All Star game. The north beat the south with an ending score of 9-6.

"We had them down 9-2, but let them inch back in," Hatcher said. "He (Pettit) threw an awesome game. I was so delighted just watching him. I was there to watch, but they put me to work in their dugout. He came in with six innings. He threw two strikeouts and a groundball. Michael threw well. He was topping out about 88 miles an hour, which is pretty good. He had one at bat, but he got hit. I think he was a little scared when he got hit. The guy was up there throwing 90. Michael threw the second hardest of all those guys down there. He made a real good showing. Actually, after that game, Michael got offers for two more scholarships to Phoenix and Gateway Community College. Yesterday he signed with Mesa Community College, so he's doing well. I expect great things out of him."

Pettit was also slated to play in a recent ACA baseball game as well, but an illness prevented his attendance. Out of the two games played, Hatcher said, the south won one and the north won one.

"That one was supposed to be pretty good. I really wish I could have went to it," Pettit said.

The game he did make it to, he said, was a one day event that required him to be in Phoenix at 8 a.m.

"They had a practice that morning we had to be at. It was about an hour," Pettit said, adding that he enjoyed the company of the other players he met in the valley.

"They were all cool. I knew two of them from Mogollon."

Hatcher said those in attendance asked about Pettit during the more recent ACA game.

"They were not necessarily the same kids that he played the week before. We played St. Gregory in the state playoffs, the pitcher there, he really wanted to meet Michael. They dueled with each other. He throws just like Michael and they were just dueling with each other. He was kind of hurt that Michael wasn't there, because he really wanted to meet him. All those kids did. That's all I got asked, 'Where's Pettit at?' He's known."

Hatcher has been coaching Pettit for a number of years and has gotten to know the young ball player quite well.

"I had Michael in Flagstaff with me two years ago and people are going to be surprised at him, he's a totally different kid away from Williams than he is in Williams," Hatcher said. "He's got all his friends from grade one here and they've got a certain action. When he gets around other kids his action changes. People won't believe it, but he gets quiet. He's real shy around other people, he is. He's going to mature in college. He's going to be a late bloomer."

Pettit will pitch shortstop when he goes to college. He'll start in mid-August. Hatcher said he plans to practice with Pettit at the beginning of July to help get him in shape for college baseball. Hatcher said he will also begin Viking football in early July as well.

"Before football I'll work out with him and then I'll go to football practice," he said.


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