New Walton HOF Class Includes Former MLBer, NFL Draftee

January 12, 2026 — The Walton High School (WHS) Sports Hall of Fame (HOF) recently introduced its 2026 class of honorees. Former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Marc Pisciotta and National Football League (NFL) draftee Mike Travis were inducted alongside Aaron Kelly, Amanda Ballinger, and the undefeated 1995 Men’s Soccer Team.

Marc Pisciotta’s WHS HOF induction marked the third former MLBer to be welcomed into this elite group, joining former Raider greats Blaine Boyer and Billy Burns. Pisciotta had a 20-2 career pitching record in high school with a 2.04 earned run average and 103 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched. He went on to pitch professionally for the Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals. Before high school, he was a dominant pitcher on the East Marietta team that won the 1983 Little League World Series title, and later added several amateur world titles with the East Cobb Astros.

“Baseball is a team sport,” Pisciotta stated humbly. “I just happened to be the guy who got some notoriety. I couldn’t have done what I did in my career without my teammates at all levels of play. Success takes nine positions on the field.”

Mike Travis entered the WHS HOF due to his accomplishments in both track and football. Blessed with great speed, he was the Cobb champion in both the 100 meters and the 4x400 relay as a junior. In football, he was selected to multiple All-County and All-Region teams and earned a spot on the 1981 All-State team in his senior year. He became a four-year starter at defensive back for Georgia Tech and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 1986 NFL Draft.

“This honor is not only because of me,” he said. “I didn’t block. I didn’t hand off. I didn’t do all the things that allowed us to be successful as a team. There are so many people that were a part of any success that any of us honorees have had. We didn’t earn this on our own.”

Two decades after Travis, Aaron Kelly also excelled on Friday nights for the Walton Raiders. However, Kelly’s talents were displayed on the offensive side of the football as a wide receiver, a position he didn’t play until his sophomore season. Clearly, it was the right move as he went on to earn All-County, All-State, and Cobb County Player of the Year Awards. In his senior season alone, he hauled in 55 catches for 955 yards and 17 touchdowns. He followed that with a solid four-year career at Clemson and four seasons in the Canadian Football League.

“I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I did without my family pushing me and motivating me,” Kelly emphasized. “I would still say to this day that my twin brother was a better athlete than I was. I felt like I was just trying to chase and keep up with him.”

Amanda Ballinger starred on the tennis courts for Walton from her first season. She won the 1992 State Singles Championship as a freshman, earning her recognition as an All-American. She went on to win team state titles in 1994 and 1995 before being named MVP of her University of Alabama tennis team and earning 2nd Team All-American honors during her time at Berry College.

“I woke up this morning very grateful for this honor,” Ballinger noted at the HOF ceremony. “I loved my experience here at Walton. I had the best four years, and every team we had was just so much fun. I loved being here and had so many amazing coaches that I just really thank for my career.”

1995 was obviously a big year at Walton as the men’s soccer team also won the state championship, dethroning two-time defending champion Parkview, which came into the matchup on a 57-game unbeaten streak. The Raiders won the title 3-1, with Brian Oakes netting two goals to help secure the trophy and an overall 16-0-3 record. This team allowed only seven goals against them for the season, largely due to the efforts of goalies Greg Chandler and Matt Richardson. They were coached by Bucky Boozer, who was inducted into the WHS HOF in the Class of 2024.

“We weren’t undefeated because we were perfect,” team captain Mikel Parker remarked while representing the team. “We were undefeated because we were together. Something special happened in that ’95 team. Thank you for this honor and for remembering the team that proved what’s possible when talent meets grit, preparation, and heart.”

Former Walton basketball coach Larry Pace is a member of the WHS HOF selection committee and a co-founder, along with former Raiders basketball star Tom Wideman. He was quick to point out the significance of being inducted into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame.

“We select the cream of the crop athlete,” he said as inductees were congratulated around him, “and this is one of the highest and most recognized athletic awards that we can give them.”

Congratulations to the Walton Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees!

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