By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
May 22, 2002
Two Meridian High Wildcats and Quitman standout Matthew Creighton have been named to play in the Mississippi High School All-Star Baseball game. The Wildcats will send catcher/designated hitter Torry Bates and pitcher/outfielder John Iverson to the 4A-5A contest.
Bates, Iverson and Creighton will all play for the South All-Stars against the North 4A-5A team.
Two players from Newton County will play in the 1A-2A-3A contest. Robby Carey of Newton County High School and Brent McMillan of Newton were named to the South All-Stars.
Bates and Iverson helped lead Meridian to a 34-8 record and a Top 4 finish in the Class 5A State playoffs. The Wildcats were beaten by Oak Grove in three games for the South State 5A title.
Bates was Coach Vince McLemore's top hitter batting .434 with 9 home runs, 13 doubles and 49 RBI. Iverson batted .363 with 3 homers and 24 RBI.
Both players also pitched. Bates was 8-2 with 44 strike outs while Iverson was 6-3 with 60 fans.
Creighton was considered one of the top pitchers in the area. He signed last week with Meridian Community College. The left-hander led Quitman to a 25-9 record and a second round spot in the 4A playoffs.
Creighton went 10-2 on the season with an earned run average of 0.80. He struck out 172 batters in just 74 innings pitched. He fanned 17 in a big divisional win over Northeast Lauderdale and had 18 K's against McComb in the first round of the playoffs.
Also on the South 5A-4A team is Meridian CC signee Van Pope of Terry High School.