a madding crowd

The winner of the Ferriss Trophy, recognizing the state’s top college player, will be announced May 24. The list of candidates is long and impressive. Ole Miss left-hander Drew Pomeranz is the state’s top draft prospect and has posted a 6-1 record, 2.17 ERA and 112 strikeouts for an NCAA-bound club. But where would the Rebels be without Matt Smith’s bat? He’s hitting .367 with 12 bombs. At resurgent Southern Miss, closer Collin Cargill has eight saves and a 1.57 ERA and young shortstop B.A. Vollmuth is hitting .363 with 8 homers, 16 doubles, 46 RBIs and 54 runs. Mississippi State has scuffled but Connor Powers has not disappointed in his senior year with 14 homers, 63 RBIs and a .367 average. Willie Wesley is a weapon at red-hot Jackson State, hitting .359 with 45 steals and 61 runs. And Tigers ace Quintavious Drains is 11-2. Belhaven pitcher Brandt Hinton went 11-0 in the regular season and was named the GCAC player of the year. The NAIA tourney-bound Blazers’ most feared hitter is Timmy Foster (.394, 7 homers, 27 doubles, 61 RBIs). At Mississippi College, which is going to the NCAA D-III postseason, Tyler Seaman and Bo Bell were named ASC East pitcher and player of the year. Delta State had a disappointing finish to its season, but Josh Gordon, who hit .431 with 10 homers in the regular season yet somehow didn’t make All-GSC, deserves some Ferriss consideration.