HARTSELLE, Ala. — For 37 years, William Booth coached the Hartselle High Boys Baseball team. Sadly, for his family, team, and community, he passed away this morning at the age of 79.
Briggs also said Booth's program at Hartselle was one of the best in the nation. “He helped our state take high school baseball to another level,” said Briggs. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his immediate family, his Hartselle High School family, to his players and assistant coaches and to all who have been touched by this generous and kind man’s wisdom through his career.”
According to AHSAA, Booth’s current team is scheduled to open play in the Class 6A State Baseball Championship Series Friday. Hartselle is playing Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. Hartselle High School athletic director Jake Miles is also the assistant head coach. Due to illness, Coach Booth was unable to attend most of his team’s games this season. AHSAA says his team recorded the 1,200th win of his coaching tenure earlier this season. Hartselle won state titles in four different decades - 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2009, 2013, and 2022 - with Booth at the helm.
More than 100 of his former players played in college and/or professional baseball.
FOX54 will update this story with memorial arrangements when they become available.
