It had been some tough times for Justin Pickett and the Morristown West baseball team coming into 2024. The Trojans had won just four games in 2021, 13 games in 2022 and 11 in 2023. However, Pickett felt like the program was close and had the team in 2024 to make some noise in the district and region.
Pickett was correct. The Trojans tied the school record for wins with 26, won the regular season district championship, the district tournament championship and won a region tournament game for the first time in 21 years. Because of that, Pickett has been named the Citizen Tribune Lakeway Area Baseball Coach of the Year.
“I knew it was going to be a grind for a couple of years starting and relying on freshmen but also knew it would pay off over time,” Pickett said. “We had a lot of talent, they just needed the experience and maturity. From the baseball side of it, I knew we had a bright future.
” While Pickett believed in his players from the beginning, Pickett’s players also believed in him. That trust a coach has in his team goes a long way, and that was the case for the Morristown West team. “To be a great player, you have to have a coach to believe in you,” Paxton Seal said.
“Coach Pickett not only believes in me, but his team, and will do anything to make sure we succeed in any way possible on and off the field. Not only is he my coach, but also my mentor. Coach Pickett is the best coach I’ve played for so far.
” Coming into the 2024 season, the Trojans we.