Highland County commissioners honor Lynchburg-Clay baseball program

Highland County commissioners Brad Roades, Terry Britton and David Daniels issued a proclamation recognizing the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs baseball team for their accomplishments during their 2025 season Wednesday, July 9, following the Mustangs’ first-ever trip to the state Final Four.

Accepting the proclamation were head coach James Flowers and his wife, April, as well as 12 members of the team: Kristian Beachy, Caden Boone, Josiah Burns, Jay Cordrey, Caden Faust, Elam Faust, Christian Flowers, Tanner Roberts, Aric Slack, Cole Wells, Quin Wells and Braedon West.

The 2025 Mustangs team also included Max Baker, Austin Bell, Cody Bell, Ryan Creditt, Asher Faust, Harley Lewis and Trevor Niehaus, while coaches included Aric Fiscus and Shane Wells.

“We had an outstanding season,” Coach Flowers told commissioners. “We finished 24-2, set the school record for most wins in a season, won our second district title, first regional title and obviously first trip to the state Final Four for baseball.”

Britton thanked the team representatives for being able to make it to the meeting with their work schedules and other commitments this summer.

“This was a great feat that you guys have accomplished, and this will go on for years and years,” Britton told them. “When you’re old and gray, there's going to be people talking about Lynchburg-Clay baseball, so I just want to congratulate you what you've accomplished. 

“You ought to be proud. I know that your community is proud of you, your school's proud of you, the county's proud of you, and actually, the region is proud of you. The whole state is looking at you, so congratulations.”

Daniels said he would “add my congratulations” as well and encouraged the players to “take the time at some point to thank your parents for all that they did for you to get you to games, to have dinner late and all the things that are associated with what the parents do to help support you and support your team.”    

Britton asked if a “spokesman” for the team had any comments, and West said that Flowers was “a pretty good dancer” who did a good job keeping “the energy flowing” for the team.

Britton also asked the Mustangs to discuss their hats, which are adorned with both a yellow ribbon and a pizza pin. Coach Flowers said the ribbon is for Eastern baseball coach Steve Goetz, who has been battling cancer, and April Flowers pointed out the pizza is in memory of longtime LC supporter and staple of the Lynchburg community Terry McGinnis, who passed away June 4 — the day the Mustangs played their regional semifinal.

After meeting with the group, Roades read the commissioners’ proclamation. In addition to the accomplishments already mentioned, it included recognizing the Mustangs’ pitchers for their 16 shutouts and 1.235 ERA and referencing the All-Southern Hills Athletic Conference and All-Southeast District honors for the team.

“The Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs baseball team has brought pride, unity and inspiration to Highland County and continues to be a model in athletic excellence and community spirit,” Roades read from the proclamation. “The Highland County Board of Commissioners do hereby congratulate and commend the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs baseball team for their historic 2024-25 season and extend the deepest appreciation to the players, coaches, families and supporters who have contributed to this extraordinary achievement.”

In other discussion:

• Commissioners voted 3-0 to accept a quote submitted by Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders for a 2025 Dodge Durango from Jake Sweeney at a cost of $39,491. 

Sanders said the HCSO “could use two,” but only one is available currently. 

“They could have another one on the lot in three months,” he said.

Roades asked about the cost to outfit each vehicle to fit the sheriff’s cruiser specifications, and Sanders said it is another approximately $16,000 each.

ARPA funding coordinator Nicole Oberrecht that they “have money in the budget right now to purchase one and outfit one, but we would not have enough to do two without doing an additional appropriation.” 

“I move we authorize the purchase of one, and then I think that then we can revisit whether or not we've got additional funds to reappropriate to purchase a second,” Daniels said.

• Commissioners accepted a quote from Cotterman & Cotterman Company Inc. for repairs to the Highland County Administration Building roof at a cost of $1,900. 

According to Roades, the damage was found during the ongoing construction project at the administration building.

“We've never had a leak going on, but when the ceiling tiles were removed, we walked up one day after a big rain and saw a puddle on the floor, and it was coming right across, right in the area where there's a chimney stack,” Roades said. 

The quote accepted included “installing clear or limestone caulking as needed on the chimney and spraying the chimney with silicone sealer,” while the county also had a quote from RoofX to “reseal chimney flashing and reseal the masonry work above the chimney flashing” for $286.38.

However, Britton said Cotterman & Cotterman was the contractor that put the roof on the building and could make “any repairs to the actual roof,” and Daniels said their estimate “has more detail.”

• Commissioners approved a AT&T Dedicated Internet Service Pricing Schedule contract with the Sheriff’s Office and ACC Business, with a monthly fee of $953. According to Sanders, this is to replace an existing contract.

“This is the start of the next-gen 911 stuff, and it adds that and will do away with our copper lines down the road,” Sanders said. “That monthly costs will go away, and it’ll also take place of our internet service on the office.” 
 
• Commissioners authorized a budget modification within the 2160 fund, Certificate of Title, from Other Expense to Telephone in the amount of $500.

• Commissioners authorized an appropriation from unanticipated revenue to Sheriff-Salaries in the amount of $15,948.85.

• After their regular meeting, commissioners entered an executive session to consider discipline with legal counsel Brett Geary of Clemans, Nelson & Associates.

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