In 2017, Tommy Battey IV and Brian Battey were starters for the Sarasota High School football team.
The team went 5-5 that season, but there was a silver lining for the brothers. Tommy Batty, a senior, played defensive back and took occasional snaps at quarterback. Then Brian Batty would be next to him. Brian Batty, then a sophomore, would eventually become the best running back in the Sarasota area. His rise began that season.
The brothers only played together in the 2017 season, but both played with enthusiasm and earned the respect of their teammates. In a 34-14 victory over Booker High School that year, the brothers combined for 285 yards.
Happy memories only make the events of May 18th even more tragic.
Brian Batty and Tommy Batty IV played soccer together at Sarasota High School in 2017. The brothers were shot in Sarasota on May 18th. Tommy Batty IV was pronounced dead at the scene, and Brian Batty was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
According to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, the Batty brothers were among a group of people shot and killed around 3:30 a.m. May 18 at the Talleywood Center Plaza in the 3400 block of 17th Street in Sarasota. Tommy Batty IV, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene. Brian Batty, 22, was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The other four victims were taken to local hospitals.
As of May 19, SCSO had not released the shooter's name or a motive, but said it appeared to be an isolated incident. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this shooting is asked to contact the SCSO Criminal Investigation Division at 861-4900 or Sarasota Crimestoppers at 366-8477.
Tommy Batty IV did not continue his football career after his senior season in 2017, but Brian Batty did.
An excellent running back and kick/punt returner, Brian Batty was a scoring threat every time he touched the ball. He had options where he could play at the NCAA Division I level. He chose to attend the University of South Florida, where he spent three seasons, recording 1,842 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, and 1,427 kick return yards and three touchdowns. He was named an NCAA Consensus All-American in 2021 for his performance on special teams. Batty transferred to Auburn University before the 2023 season and amassed 227 rushing yards and a touchdown, as well as 645 kick return yards, for the Tigers.
When Brian Batty was in his final year at Sarasota High School, his offensive coordinator was Brody Wiseman. This was Wiseman's first time on the team. The Sailors had had 13 consecutive winless seasons, but that year they ended the season with 6 wins and 4 losses, breaking that streak and setting an offensive record. Wiseman, who will become the team's head coach next season, said this was all credit to Batty.
“I don't think I would have had the opportunities I had as a coach (after that) without Brian playing for me,” said Wiseman, who is now the offensive coordinator at Riverview High School. “He had a huge impact on our program and the kids around it.”
His talent was obvious at the time, but his off-field impact was just as important. Wiseman said Batty was a humble player at Sarasota, someone who treated everyone on the team the same, regardless of their seniority or skill level. He was stronger than a brick wall. During his senior season and throughout most of his college career, Batty played with an injury to his toe, which doctors had a hard time repairing, Wiseman said. He often felt limited in his practice. But he was unrecognizable during the game.
Mr. Batty didn't have to do that, Mr. Wiseman said. He had already committed to USF and his future was certain. No one would have blamed him for missing a few games. Instead, Batty played better than ever. In his final high school game, against rival Riverview, he ran for 148 yards and a touchdown as the Sailors battled for a playoff spot. Although the Sailors lost the game, Wiseman never forgot the effort.
Former Sarasota High School running back Brian Batty transferred from South Florida to Auburn before the 2023 season.
Since graduating, Batty has returned to the area frequently. Wiseman said Batty would often show up to Sailors practices to help coach the team's running backs. Wiseman said he still plays video games with Batty, including “Call of Duty” and the boxing game “Fight Night.” It all paints a picture of someone who wanted to stay connected to the places, people and organizations that helped him achieve his dreams.
“He's like a big brother to a lot of people here,” Wiseman said. “A lot of kids are hurt by this.”
Wiseman made sure to use the present tense when talking about Batty. He's still fighting, Wiseman said.
Battie's coaches, fans and friends have also been sharing memories and words of support on social media using the hashtag #BattieStrong. Daniel Da Prato, now Texas State's associate head coach, was the special teams coach at South Florida during Batty's tenure. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Da Prato called Batty “my buddy” and posted a photo of the two of them, adding a broken heart emoji to the message.
On May 13, Batty and his father, Tommy Batty III, shared a post on Instagram. It was a video of Battie working out. Local trainer Batty III was helping his son prepare for his 2024 season.
The video's caption reads, “Finally healthy, doing well, and discovering my own destiny.”
I pray that he gets a chance and that the entire Batty family finds peace after this tragedy.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Batty family with medical and funeral expenses.
