David Beatty

David Beatty Award Group Photo.

Athlete/Coach

Inducted April 18, 2024

  • Outstanding athlete who was a rare four-sport letter winner at Kennedy High School (graduated 1971) who excelled in football, track, basketball and baseball. 
  • Held half-mile run track record; played quarterback on the football team; and started for two seasons on the Kennedy High School basketball squad.
  • Once played seven positions on the baseball team in a single game.
  • Attended Ferris State University and lettered three times in baseball. 
  • At West Junior High, he was a key member of teams that won eight championships in four sports over a three-year period – including five unbeaten teams. 
  • Coached various youth teams in multiple sports. Other than high school baseball coaching stints with the Gabriel Richard and Riverview, he spent all his grade school to high school coaching time in Taylor. 
  • Started the Michigan Braves baseball program, running up a 420-135 record across 11 seasons before retiring in 2007. 
  • Taylor players in this program included Corey Farner, Sean LaFontaine, Ron Kochan, T.J. Smith, Bobby Shufelt, Dean Beatty, Joe Sobocinski, Michael Larrcamp, Caleb Ramey and more, along with coaches Kevin Foley and Jeff Pizzo.
  •  The Braves competed in and won various national tournaments including USSA Great Lakes Challenge, USSS Firecracker, Chicago Wooden Bat, Mike Laarkamp Challenge, Allen Park Invitational, Joliet Wooden Bat, Southgate Invitational, Ivor James Invitational, USSSA Battle Creek Invitational and Kalamazoo Invitational.
  •  The Braves 2001 team went undefeated in the World Series down in Florida and was awarded “The USSSA Team of the Year” at a special Hall of Fame ceremony after the World Series.
  • An outstanding official, he refereed Michigan High School Athletic Association basketball games for over 40 years.