Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Tuesday, May 21 at 6 p.m., the City of Hattiesburg will host its 2nd Annual “Parade of Champions” to honor all students and teams in Hattiesburg that have achieved a state championship in athletic or extracurricular competitions, and Hattiesburg High’s head baseball coach Joe Hartfield will serve as the Grand Marshal.
The champions will depart from Sacred Heart High School, route through downtown Hattiesburg and finish at Hawkins Elementary School. Members of the community are encouraged to show their support by lining the sidewalks from Sacred Heart to Hawkins.
“This has been an incredible year for students in Hattiesburg, and we need to celebrate their accomplishments,” Mayor Toby Barker said. “We want the community to come out and support our students because they are the future of our city.”
The parade will include students, administrators, coaches, valedictorians and retiring teachers. Led by the Hattiesburg Police Department, the one-mile route will celebrate the many achievements of our students and teachers, and it will give the community an opportunity to show their continued support.
Hattiesburg Public School District athletic coordinator and head football coach Tony Vance said there is no one more deserving of leading this year’s Parade of Champions than Coach Hartfield.
“Joe Hartfield is one of the best high school baseball coaches in Mississippi, but more than that, he is a shining example of hard work and perseverance for our players,” said Vance. “Coach Hartfield teaches young men how to win on the field and win in life, even when they are faced with difficult circumstances.”
Hartfield led the Baseball Tigers to a 5A State Championship in 2018, was named Coach of the Year for 2018 and won his 400th game during the 2019 regular season.
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