and they’re off

The early leader — OK, so it’s REALLY early, but still — for the Ferriss Trophy is Belhaven College’s Craig Westcott. The senior transfer had quite the debut for the Blazers today as they beat Spring Hill 3-2 at Mobile in the game that launched the 2009 college season in Mississippi. Westcott, a 6-foot-4 left-hander, went five innings and allowed just one hit while striking out 11. He also hit fifth in the lineup and went 1-for-2 with an RBI. A transfer from Division II West Florida, Westcott looks like he could be a key player for a Blazers team that is ranked in a couple of NAIA polls.
P.S. Tougaloo also debuted today and lost 19-1 to Loyola of New Orleans. The new coach at Tougaloo, Robert Franciskato, still has a lot of work to do with the fledgling Bulldogs program.