By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

COMING THURSDAY: All-Cherokee County Softball Team

CENTRE – Cherokee County High School baseball coach Josh Decker was looking for a spark early in the Warriors’ 2026 season. They began the year at 1-4 and were just 3-7 in their first 10 games heading into the Cherokee County Tournament.

Prior to the county tournament, Decker had a conversation with former teammate at Snead State and current Lincoln baseball coach Cameron Furr, just bouncing ideas on how the Warriors could shake things up a little bit to turn their fortunes around.

“He was like ‘Have you thought about hitting Nate Black in the leadoff?’ We started thinking about it,” Decker said. “We sat Nate down and was like ‘Look, we’re going to hit you in the one (spot). You’re going to be guaranteed of at least one at-bat to get a fastball.’”

It was a move both the Warrior coaches and Black both haven’t regretted. It was exactly the spark the Warriors needed during the county tournament championship game against Spring Garden back on March 13.

But before he provided the spark at the plate, Black did it defensively in center field.

The Panthers had loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth inning, already leading by a run.

Ben Baker sent a fly ball to shallow center field, which was caught by a diving Black. Black then fired a precision shot to catcher Aiden Bobbitt, who applied the tag on Eli Bates at the plate for an inning-ending double play.

Then for good measure, Black led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to right center. His blast led to a 10-run inning, which he capped with a towering walk-off two-run shot to left in the Warriors’ 11-0 victory.

The win secured the Warriors’ third straight Cherokee County baseball title.

“I think what he did that night was not only able to propel us, but it propelled him into a monster month,” Decker said. “That kind of got him going a little bit. That was the turning point in our season. We kind of started realizing we can compete a little bit.”

Black finished the season batting .318 with seven home runs, three doubles, 13 walks, 23 runs, and 20 RBIs, numbers that helped lead the Warriors into the Class 4A state playoffs.

Those numbers also helped Black earn the county baseball coaches’ choice for All-Cherokee County Baseball Most Valuable Player.

“I’m very happy,” Black said on earning the honor, the third straight year it has gone to a Warrior. “I feel like I’ve worked hard for it. I put my time in. I was struggling a little bit (at the plate) to start the season. I was having a hard time getting on base. After that (county championship), I started getting on base more. I started hitting balls harder, and we just started winning as a team.”

It’s the latest honor that Black has under his belt from last season. Decker said last week Black was selected as a member of the North All-Stars on this summer’s upcoming North-South All-Star Game.

Decker said Black is well-deserving of both honors and doesn’t feel they’ll change him in the least.

“I think this (all-county MVP) is a great honor for him,” Decker said. “I don’t feel like that’s added any pressure to him. Nate has his own goals and ambitions, which is a great thing you want to see in a kid. He’s not a complacent kid. He’s not a selfish kid. Nate’s been Nate since he was a freshman, and I continue to look at him to be that.

“He’s started for us since he was a freshman. He played on some teams when he was young with Jeb (Crane), Jace Turner, Cooper Rodgers, Luke Young, Parker Wilson. He played with some guys above him who were really good ball players. He was just kind of a role player, but last year he kind of had a little bit of a coming-out party. Everybody started talking about him. This year, with the way he’s worked in the weight room, the way he’s progressed, the way he works in the off-season hitting, when he gets in the box he’s just a presence that’s felt by everybody in the ballpark. His measurables are off the charts. His size, speed, arm strength, power, he’s a complete five-tool player.”

Black plans on continuing to use his tools to their fullest extent.

“After my freshman and sophomore years, I felt like I hadn’t done much for the team and our program. I felt like I was still trying to get on my feet from when I first moved here (from Paulding County, Ga.),” Black said. “Definitely this year, I put my mental mistakes aside and just focused on myself and the team, just getting things done on the field one play at a time.

“It’s a role that I love. There’s no other spot I want to be in. You’ve got to embrace it and live through the pressure.”

Joining Black on the All-Cherokee County Baseball Team from the Warriors is Bobbitt, Adam Griffith, Cam Mayo, Owen Jacoway, and Case Hill. Warrior honorable mention players are Wyatt Baker and Cayce Tittle.

Representing Spring Garden (18-13) is Baker, Joel Hunter, Zane Edwards, and Clayton Sadler. Panther honorable mention players are Brady Ruark and Dawson Ellzey.

Selected from Gaylesville (5-10) is Cole Hendon, Jack Sentell, and Hayden Dodd. Trojan honorable mention players are Aydn Heinrich and Sean Poss.

Morgan Tucker and Brycen Murphy represent Sand Rock (7-23). Bailey Martin is a Wildcat honorable mention.

Kuper Bradley was chosen from Cedar Bluff (8-17). Tiger honorable mention players are Hunter Mobbs and Sam Payne.