PINETOWN — It’s been said that tragedy brings out the best in a community and last Friday the proof of that could be seen at Northside High School as Panthers fans packed the ballpark to show support for the Bryan Keith Woolard Memorial Scholarship ceremony.
On Jan. 3, 2009, former Northside star catcher Bryan Keith Woolard passed away as a result of a tragic automobile accident, leaving behind his wife Teresa and son Ryan Woolard, who recently turned 11. Since then, the Woolard family has created the Bryan Keith Woolard Memorial Scholarship and has awarded it to a Panthers senior who best exhibits the late Bryan Keith Woolard’s love for the game and work in the classroom and this year Caleb Sherman was chosen to be the recipient.
On Friday, Northside supporters flocked to the school for the fifth annual Bryan Keith Woolard Memorial Scholarship award ceremony and the overwhelming support was touching gesture.
“The ceremony went great,” Teresa said. “(Woolard’s former coach) Larry Anderson presented the scholarship with Ryan for the fifth consecutive year. Overall, it was a great turnout. A lot of people came out and supported the school’s Senior Night and the scholarship night and it went really well.”
Current Northside coach Keith Boyd agreed.
“It was a real nice ceremony and we had a lot of folks come out to the park,” Boyd said. “It was good and everything went smooth. It’s always kind of emotional, (Woolard’s) son Ryan threw out the first pitch, but it was a good day to honor someone who needs to be honored.”
Sherman is a four-year varsity player for the Panthers and leads the team with a .489 batting average and a .750 on-base percentage. Boyd said Sherman was well deserving of the honor.
“Caleb’s a great young man,” Boyd said. “He’s good in the classroom and he’s well above average on the baseball field. His baseball IQ is through the roof. He just does everything well. He’s a leader for us and he’s our leadoff hitter. He does everything that a leadoff hitter should do. He’s as tough an out as I’ve ever coached.”