Brian Ellis
Brian was a four-year letterman winner in baseball and a three-year letterman in football while at Hammond. As a baseball player, he received the Coach’s award as a sophomore and as a junior. Brian was named team MVP, All-Conference and All-State. During his senior season he was named Team MVP, All-Conference, All-State, Player of the Year for CISAA, and Player of the Year for Carolina Independent School Baseball Coach’s Association. The same year, he led his team in batting average and to a state runner-up title. As a football player, Brian was named Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman and All-Conference as a junior. He was named to the All-Conference and All-Area teams in his senior year. Following graduation from Hammond, Brian was recruited to play baseball at Clemson University. As a redshirt freshman he appeared in 23 games, four starts, and batted .320 for the Tigers. As a sophomore he was put in the lead-off position, with an on-base percentage of .535 and had the second highest batting average on the team with .374. His junior season, he started 56 games as catcher, and compiled 15 doubles, one triple, four homeruns, and 45 RBI’s. Brian was named Co-Captain and voted “Most Dedicated” by his teammates, starting 60 games and was named to the Johnny Bench Catcher of the Year list in his final season. He earned All-Region team honors as a senior and helped lead Clemson to the College World Series, where the Tigers finished #5 in the country. Brian’s baseball jersey is retired at Hammond.
