The Southeastern Conference announced that Kentucky baseball senior Dorian Hairston was named to the 2016 SEC Community Service Team, the league announced Wednesday. The Community Service Team looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to his community in superior service efforts.
Hairston picks up the honor for the second time in his career after being named to the 2015 SEC Community Service Team. In addition to participating in a community restoration project and reading books to children at Maxwell Elementary School, the senior outfielder took part in Sleepout for the Homeless, Walk-a-Child, the Backpack Program, and has volunteered for UK Children’s Hospital and Miracle League. The Lexington, Ky., native is also an inductee in the Frank G. Ham Society of Character in recognition of his academic and athletic achievement, as well as community service and career preparation.
Earlier this month, Hairston was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. While sporting a 3.87 GPA in English, Hairston has played in 37 games for the Wildcats in 2016, batting .286 on the season with 24 hits and 14 RBI while scoring 10 runs. The Tates Creek High School product has homered five times this season, including a walk-off home run to clinch the series against No. 2 South Carolina on May 8. Hairston is a model student who is active in the Affrilachian Poet Society and has had several pieces of poetry published.
Kentucky baseball will wrap up the regular season with a home series versus Missouri. The Wildcats will square off with the Tigers on Thursday to kick off the series at 6:30 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Friday’s game is also slated for a 6:30 p.m. start time, while the series finale will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m.
For more information on the Kentucky baseball team, follow @UKBaseball on Twitter and Facebook or visit UKathletics.com.
by Tony Neely