Coach Seth Lofton and his Wesson Cobras baseball teamexperienced a magical year in 2011. After claiming their secondstraight division 6-2A crown, the Cobras made an impressive run inthe MHSAA Class 2A State playoffs.

Lofton and his team fought hard and clawed their way through theplayoffs to their first ever appearance in the 2A South Statefinals. Wesson ended up losing the best-of-three series to eventualstate 2A champions Taylorsville.

For this accomplishment, Lofton has earned The DAILY LEADER’sAll-Area Coach of the Year for 2011.

“This is a tremendous honor,” said Lofton. “It is a true honor tobe recognized alongside the other coaches that received this honorin the years past.”

Lofton presented his thoughts on his team’s amazing season. “We gotoff to a slow start early by playing a tough schedule, but ithelped us later in the season.

“Our guys started playing better baseball when we began to play ourdistrict schedule. We did the things that we had to do to win thedivision. We really came together as a team in the playoffs andmade an amazing run.”

Lofton had six seniors on his squad that played a huge part inWesson’s march in the playoffs: pitcher/shortstop Matt Smith,pitcher/outfielder Gib Britt, outfielder Tyson Wesley, firstbaseman Pat Boone, pitcher/outfielder Gage Wilson and second/thirdbaseman Kyle Cross.

Also in the starting lineup most of the time were third basemanCullen Greer, leftfielder Alex Smith and right-fielder JacobFischer.

The team posted a 20-13 record and accounted for 15 homeruns.

Lofton, 29, started his baseball coaching career as the head coachat Enterprise in 2005. Lofton worked endless hours to help buildthe Jackets baseball program. Lofton moved to Wesson afteraccepting an assistant baseball coaching job three years ago.

Lofton took advantage of a great opportunity to learn more aboutbaseball from Wesson Coach Hugh Knight. Last Summer, Lofton movedup to the head coach at Wesson. Knight stepped down but decided tobe Lofton’s assistant coach.

“Coach Knight is a great individual to be around,” said Lofton. “Heis a great asset to Wesson’s baseball program. He is the one thatlaid the foundation for this program, when he arrived here eightyears ago.”

During the offseason, Lofton serves as one of the assistant coacheson Wesson’s football team. As a teacher, he teaches math to thejunior high students.

Lofton is married to former Enterprise softball standout KaylinBurke. They have one daughter, named Kenzie Kay. They live in theMt. Zion community.