NATCHEZ — How do you choose a coach of the year between two coaches that led each of their teams to their first state title in school history?

You don’t.

For that reason, Trinity Episcopal’s Mitch Ashmore and Centreville Academy’s Jason Horne will share the title of coach of the year for The Natchez Democrat’s 2011 All-Metro Baseball.

Horne led the Tigers to a 29-9 record and the school’s first state championship in baseball. Ashmore, meanwhile, led Trinity to a 24-3 record.

“(Coach of the year) is just a great accomplishment for myself, Tiger baseball and Centreville Academy. It’s a big honor,” Horne said.

“It was not just me (this season), it was the team, and they got it done. I was just the leader of the ship, keeping it going.”

Ashmore was also very humbled to be Co-Coach of the Year in baseball, and said Horne actually had a bit of an advantage over him this season.

“He beat me twice this season,” Ashmore said.

Ashmore was also very complimentary of assistant coach and Trinity athletic director David King.

“All the credit goes to David King and what he’s done at the school all these years,” Ashmore said. “He taught them to be winners, and upgraded not just their physical abilities, but their mentall abilities.

“We wouldn’t have gotten where we did without him. I just appreciate him inviting me to the party.”

Horne, who has coached Centreville for eight years, said his team had great motivation this season.

“We dedicated this season to Emile Garrett, one of our teammates that got killed in a car wreck in January 2010,” Horne said. “We worked hard all year for him and for ourselves.”

Horne also said a tough loss to Brookhaven in the South State finals last season motivated his players this year.

“This year’s team had a bad taste in our mouths from last year,” Horne said. “The kids and I were upset, and they remembered that and didn’t want to feel like that again.”

Horne said extra baseball in the summer also helped to prepare his squad for the regular season. The Tigers played in the metro Baton Rouge summer league, and that really paid off this spring, Horne said.

For Trinity, a year’s difference in Ashmore and his team getting used to each other was a big factor for the Saints.

“We were more comfortable with each other this year,” Ashmore said. “The chemistry was 100 percent better. We came together and won some ballgames.

“Last year was my first year (at Trinity), and we were all a little uncomfortable with each other, me not knowing how they’d do things and them not knowing how I’d do things. This year, through, we kind of just hit the ground running.”

Horne said his proudest moment was watching his team celebrate their title victory.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, knowing how much (they wanted it), and seeing the way they were celebrating,” Horne said. “It was also great to win the state here at home and seeing (the joy for) Garrett’s family. It made it just a special night for the fans, the team and Centreville Academy.”

Ashmore, who already won a state title with Huntington in 1994, said he never takes getting the ultimate prize for granted.

“I went there (with Huntington) five more times after that and came in second place,” Ashmore said. “That was a tough feeling.”

But Ashmore said his players deserved most of the credit.

“They had a quiet confidence about them,” Ashmore said. “A lot of times you’d think they weren’t ready to play, but they just exuded confidence.

“This is one of the best ball clubs I’ve ever coached. I’m just proud for Trinity and for those kids. They’re great competitors and great people.”