November 1997 MSU Baseball News

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Mississippi State University Sports Hotline: (601) 325-3861
Please contact me at swindoll@ebicom.net if you have any Miss State baseball info you would like to share. All comments are greatly appreciated.
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11/14/97 - Here's more baseball recruiting info. Derek Rix (not Ricks as I mentioned earlier) is the first baseman from Florida Community College of Jacksonville (FCCJ). Derek's a big kid: 6-2 and over 200 lbs. He was drafted out of high school and again this year after a successful freshman season at FCCJ. My source told me he came very close to winning the conference triple crown his freshman season at FCCJ. I'm told that while attending State's baseball camp two summers ago, he was hitting balls off the scoreboard. He can really swing the bat. Derek is expected to once again be drafted after this season.

11/13/97 - More baseball recruiting info:

  • According to The Commercial Appeal, Germantown pitcher Adam Larson will be signing with the Bulldogs today.

    • 11/12/97 - Ok guys, I have kept quiet long enough about MSU baseball recruiting. Over the last several weeks I have received tidbits here and there about players MSU is recruiting. I have names of a few players and bits and pieces on others we will sign but no names. With that said, let's talk baseball recruiting, MSU-style:

    1) Lance Lamberth - Batesville, Arkansas, catcher, chose MSU over Arkansas and Ole Miss. Lamberth hit .380 and is a 1996 All-State selection and is regarded as the best catcher in Arkansas. He registered a 1.78 second throw time to second base in tryouts with the Phillies and he's considered a draft prospect.
    2) Steven Dowe - Parklane Academy, LHP, chose MSU over Ole Miss and Southern Miss. Better than average fastball (upper 80's) and good curveball.
    3) Chris Curry - Meridian CC (via Arkansas), catcher, chose MSU over Texas A&M, big-time prospect.
    4) (First Name?) Ricks - Florida CC, 1B, big-time home run hitter, possible high draft pick.
    5) Pitcher from a California high school. Not sure of his name. He is a big-time talent. Has a very good chance to be a very high draft pick.
    6) Junior college shortstop. No name given.

    Those are all I know of. Wish I had more info, but maybe that will whet your appetite until the players are announced in the next few days.

    11/12/97 - Also received good news on the status of Scott Polk's rehab. He is about 95% and continues to improve.

    11/11/97 - According to a source of mine, former Bulldog great Jeff Brantley was traded to St. Louis.

    11/10/97 - Miss State, according to The McComb Enterprise Journal, has received a commitment from Parklane Academy's outstanding left-handed pitcher Steven Dowe. He chose the Bulldogs over the Ole Miss Rebels and Southern Miss Golden Eagles. He has a better than average fastball (upper 80's) and a good breaking pitch. I was told he is a good student who comes from a good family. What is surprising about this commitment is he comes from a fairly rabid Ole Miss family (his mother's father was a football coach at Ole Miss; he has a sister there now and another one on the way). He has also attended LSU and Ole Miss camps on a regular basis. What won him over to Miss State was the atmosphere and coaches at Miss State. It doesn't look like Ron Polk retiring has hurt Miss State's recruiting efforts, does it? I was also told the Kansas City Royals have been showing a lot of interest in him.

    11/08/97 - The Clarion-Ledger mentioned that two high school pitchers from Parklane Academy and New Hope HS were considering Miss State. Steven Dowe (Parklane Academy), a 6-1, 190-lb left-hander who throws in the upper 80-mph range, is considering MSU, Ole Miss and USM, according to his coach, Ken Jackson. The other pitcher is Shane Bazzell (New Hope), a 6-1, 170-lb right-hander who is hearing from MSU, Ole Miss, Delta State, Alabama and Miami. He is working on his academic situation and likely won't sign early, according to his coach. He throws in the 87-88 range, but has hit the 90 mark several times, according to his coach, Stacy Hester.

    11/05/97 - Coach Ron Polk was the guest speaker at the regional alumni meeting on the gulf coast. Here are a few things he mentioned, according to my source:

  • MSU, if they sell 4 more skyboxes, will move the light poles.
  • Also mentioned MSU will add skyboxes above the press box and in the outfield if the demand is there.
  • MSU will have a great team next year that could contend for the National Championship.

    • 11/04/97 - In the conclusion of the Bulldog World Series, the Maroon and White teams tied with three victories each. Because the White team scored more runs, they were declared the winners.

    In yesterday's games there were numerous players who had good games:

  • Rob Hauswald went 2 for 3 with a stolen base in the second game of the doubleheader.
  • Brett Wheeler pitched very well in his bid for a comeback from arm surgery, winning the 5th game 1-0. Hank Thoms was the hard luck loser, allowing an RBI single by Barry Patton in the bottom of the fourth.
  • Displaying a live arm, Tanner Brock , a 6-3 175, freshman righthanded pitcher form Altamonte Springs, FL., pitched a good game in the second game of the day, allowing 2 runs in 4 innings while walking 3 and striking out 5.
  • Travis Chapman had a 2-run double in the second game.
  • Freshman outfielder Chad Case went 2 for 2 with an RBI and stolen base.
  • Burney Hutchinson, a freshman from Tupelo, played well defensively, as did Lake Thoms (Hank's brother).

    • 11/01/97 - I wasn't able to make the baseball game yesterday, but someone was kind enough to telephone me with highlights.

  • Chris Reinike - 5 IP, 2 hits, 4 Ks, 3 walks, 0 runs.
  • Dustin Dabbs - 3 hits in 3 at-bats.

    • The gray team won the game, 8-0. The series now stands 2 wins Maroon; 1 win Gray.

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