Many consider 2019 as a watershed year for Cloudland High School baseball. A third-year coach, Corey Rhodes, is getting settled into his job.

The team understands their coach’s philosophy of playing the game and for the first time in several years, Cloudland has a homerun slugger on the roster.

Collin Morgan may only be a freshman, but he stepped up during the 2019 season and made a statement in upper East Tennessee as a pure home run hitter and clutch player.

Morgan hit four home runs during the season including two that came at critical times during games and guaranteed Cloudland a victory.

According to the website, MaxPreps, Morgan is currently tied for fourth in home runs in Tennessee’s Class A division.

Morgan, who has hit a total of 11 home runs counting his Little League play, hit his first home run for the Landers during the 2018 season when he was only in the eighth grade.

Since that time he has shown a marked improvement in his pitch choice and his swing. This would lead him to the stellar year he had during the 2019 season.

Along with these four home runs, Morgan had 14 RBI’s, a batting percentage of .405, an on-base percentage of .510, and a .833 slugging percentage.

These statistics made him one of the top hitters in Tennessee single A baseball.

Morgan also pitches and plays first base and right field for the Landers and last year had 20 strikeouts while pitching only 14 innings.

The young man is one of the humblest people you will ever meet and is a constant team player. He gives all of the credit for his successes to “his Lord” and to his teammates.

“We had a really good team this year, and I just wish we could have won more games and went further into the playoffs,” Morgan said. “I will really miss these guys that are graduating.”

Starting at a very young age, he learned a passion for the sport when he could barely pitch a ball.

“I guess I started playing baseball when I was around three years old,” Morgan said. “In Little League, I played for the Burgie Drug team.

“I really enjoy playing and hopefully I can play on the college level one day. I want to play for either Walters State or Cleveland State Community College.”

Morgan gives credit for much of his success to his grandfather and also Coach Rhodes. “My Papaw got me involved in baseball when I was just a little boy, and he really encouraged me,” Morgan stated. “Coach Rhodes has done a lot to help my swing and to help me with all those little things that make a good hitter. He is one of the best coaches I have ever had.”

Whatever the future holds for Morgan, baseball will undoubtedly be a part of it.

With his arm strength, hitting technique, and eye for the ball, this high school freshman can only get better and continue to find success on the baseball diamond.