By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The Millington Trojan Baseball program send out a congratulations to Jayce Fiene and Julio Hernandez on behalf of former Trojan Baseball Head Coach Ronnie Osborne.
It was announced this week that Fiene and Hernandez are the recipients of the 2021 Coach Ronnie Osborne Scholarship. Established back in the school year of 2019-20, Osborne worked alongside Millington Central High School assistant principals Beth Hale and Zane Adams to form the criteria and purpose for the scholarship.
Jayce Fiene
The scholarship is awarded to a Trojan Baseball senior who has played multiple years for the program, has a certain grade-point average, solid conduct marks and positive community involvement. The first recipient was Tommy Clifton in 2020.
Clifton was a four-year starter in baseball and football. He has maintained a 3.82 GPA. And Clifton is currently attending Harding University.
Now the names of Fiene and Hernandez are added to the list and legacy of Trojan Baseball by receiving the scholarship.
The legacy of Osborne with Millington Baseball started back in 1971 when he was hired by William “Mr. Bill” Osteen. Osborne and his players enjoyed championship success in 1977. Those Trojans were the first in school history to reach the State semifinals. The Trojans finished 25-7 that year despite losing four of their top five hitters and their top three pitchers from the previous season.
Under the direction of Osborne and his assistant coaches Phil Rix and David Hughes, numerous club records were set that year and five Trojans were selected to the All-District team.
That success paved a way for Osborne to join the coaching staff at Mississippi State University. After his five years in Millington from 1972-77, Osborne went to the top of the Southeastern Conference with the Bulldogs. He coached two College World Series.
Osborne and his Trojan Baseball teams were selected for the school’s Athlete Hall of Fame in 2016. He came back to visit in 2019 to establish a scholarship for a MCHS baseball player. This is the second year of the scholarship and he choose to award two this year. It was great to witness Coach Osborne coach and challenge the students. The criteria for the scholarship required them to reflect on the impact baseball has made on their life. Coach Osborne started in Millington and is still teaching and coaching players here in Millington.
