By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
May 22, 2002
The Mississippi Association of Coaches named 13 area baseball players to the 2002 MAC All-State Baseball teams.
Meridian High School, which made it the South State 5A series against Oak Grove, had three players named to the State 5A squad.
Leading the way was senior catcher/designated hitter Torry Bates who was named to the 5A first team. Bates batted .434 with 9 home runs and 49 RBIs for the Wildcats who finished the season with a 34-8 record. Bates was also selected to play in the State 4A-5A All-Star game.
Being named to the 5A second team were senior pitcher Jason Spinks and junior shortstop Richmond Alexander. Spinks paced the Wildcat staff with a 9-2 record. He had a 1.24 earned run average striking out 93 batters in 72 1/3 innings.
Alexander was a steady defensive presence for the interior of the Wildcat defense. He was also an effective leadoff batter with a .405 average with 47 hits and 49 runs scored.
The Quitman Panthers had two selections for the Class 4A team in seniors Lamarcus Anderson and pitcher Matthew Creighton. Anderson was tabbed to the first team joining five players off the Class 4A State champion Picayune High School. Picayune ousted Quitman in the second round of the 4A playoffs.
Anderson was a standout in the Panther order. He batted .388 with 44 runs scored and was 35 on 35 in stolen base attempts.
Creighton, who signed with Meridian Community College, was named to the second team. The left-hander was 10-2 with a ERA under a run. He struck out 172 batters in 74 innings pitched. He will also play in the Mississippi High All-Star game along with Bates.
West Lauderdale pitcher/ infielder Trent Posey was named to the Class 3A first team. The Knights went 24-6 before the Mississippi High School Activities Association stripped them of their division title and eliminated them from the playoffs.
Philadelphia High School, who moved up as division champs in West s place, had two players make the 3A second team. Infielder Jonathan Booker and outfielder Tyler Treadgill were selected. The Tornadoes advanced to the second round of the 3A playoffs.
Also named to the 3A second team was Newton County's Mylan Anderson. Anderson also claimed the 3A boys singles tennis title in the same spring.
All four of the area's 3A All-Stars are juniors.
In Class 2A, Enterprise junior Kelly Jimmerson was named to the first team. Jimmerson played outfield for the Bulldogs.
Named to the second team were Clarkdale senior Justin Brewer and Newton pitcher Brent McMillan.
Brewer recently signed with Meridian Community College. He hit .421 for Clarkdale and was the Bulldogs' top pitcher.
McMillan led Newton to the Division 5-2A title.
The Class 1A team was represented locally by Union's Jody Blount.