An MVP once more: MCHS retires Kenny Alfred's number

Kenny Alfred has worn multiple hats for Morgan City during his lifetime.
Baseball player. Baseball coach. Head football coach. Principal. They’re all things that have, at one time, described the current St. Mary Parish School Board member.
On Friday, he added a new description to his resume: first baseball player in Morgan City High School history to have his jersey retired.
Alfred received the honor during a ceremony in front of the pitcher’s mound at Tiger Diamond before Morgan City High School’s District 7-4A contest against Vandebilt Catholic.
A metal jersey bearing his No. 10 and noting his time playing baseball at Morgan City (1964-1968) and Nicholls State (1968-1972), as well as his years in the Atlanta Braves minor league organization (1972-1974), will be hung on the baseball stadium press box at Tiger Diamond.
He thanked his wife, Judy, first, and acknowledged those present, including his high school catcher, Ray Beadle, and those who umpired, coached, played for him or have or currently work with him as a member of the St. Mary Parish School Board.
He also acknowledged the Tiger baseball team, which stood behind him during the ceremony. Alfred coached some of the players two years ago when he was part of a coaching staff that filled in when Morgan City needed a coach at the last minute due to a vacancy.
“All these people represent different groups that all have a major part of an honor that is represented by this … metal T-shirt … and also this key to the city that I’m so honored to receive from (Morgan City Councilman) Tim (Hymel),” Alfred said.
He thanked Morgan City High School Athletic Director Scott Tregle and Principal Mickey Fabre for making the event possible; Al Belaire, who hired for him for his first teaching job; and Scott Tregle’s father, Al Tregle, who hired him to coach as a young man.
“I just appreciate from the bottom of my heart all those people that had anything to do with this,” Alfred said. “I love y’all and thank y’all and God bless y’all.”
During Alfred’s years at Morgan City, he earned all-district honors twice — including Most Valuable Player honors once. He was a first-team all-state selection his senior year and also was the most valuable player on the all-state team.
During his senior year, he pitched three no-hitters and approximately eight one-hitters and struck out 124 batters in 62 innings.
He signed a full scholarship with Nicholls State, where he started for four years. He recorded 31 wins, second most in school history, according to his biography.
He is ranked high in many lifetime categories and leads all of the categories for left-handed pitchers.
Alfred was part of Nicholls’ first conference championship in 1972 and a national runner-up team in 1970.
After graduating from Nicholls in 1972, Alfred signed a professional contract with the Atlanta Braves organization where he played for three years in their minor league system.
He played one year in Class A in Greenwood, South Carolina, and two years in Class AA in Savannah, Georgia.
During this time, he set what was then a class record, striking out 15 batters in a game.
After he was released, he began teaching and coaching at Morgan City in 1974.
His baseball teams recorded more than 200 wins during his tenure and many of them played collegiately, with one signing a professional contract.