follow the leader
They’d like to get quality outings from their starters. And it would help if the bullpen stepped up. Solid, if not perfect, defense would be a plus. And, of course, some guys have got to get on base. But if there is one thing the Millsaps Majors can’t win without, it’s big hits from Will Hawkins. Hammerin’ Hawk, a senior outfielder from Nettleton, is hitting .384 with eight homers and 49 RBIs. The team average is .297, and they have 20 homers total. “As Will goes, we go” said Majors coach Jim Page. “I’ve told him that. He’s put us on his back this year.” Millsaps (24-16) heads into the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday needing to win it all to ensure a berth in the NCAA Division III regionals. The Majors’ at-large bid hopes are very slim. It’s a situation similar to 2005, Page points out, when the Majors made a late surge and won the league tournament to qualify for the regionals. Millsaps has made six regional appearances and won eight league titles in Page’s 22-year tenure. He sees no reason why this club can’t pull it off. “This group has shown character and heart all year,” he said. “They’ve come from behind to win numerous times. We’ve learned with this team to be patient; they’ll figure out a way to get it done.” The Majors, who rallied to win two key games against Southwestern last weekend to earn the No. 2 seed from the West Division, open with DePauw on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in Millington, Tenn. The six-team, double-elimination event runs through Sunday. Page said earlier this week that he was undecided on an opening game starter. It could be Aaron Williams (6-2, 3.84 ERA), Jake Mills (2-2, 3.26), Jason Riggins (5-0, 3.33) or even someone else. “We’re just looking at matchups,” Page said. The Majors are also looking to Hawkins, a standout on the football field and in the classroom during his four years at Millsaps, for a final hurrah on the diamond. “I don’t know what it is about him,” Page said. “He’s just phenomenal in every way.”