indian uprising

There’s a long, long, long way to go before a region champion will be crowned in junior college baseball. But we can compile a short list of viable candidates. There’s the defending NJCAA Division II Region 23 champion, Jones County, which began the year ranked No. 2. There’s Hinds, which also has made an appearance in the national top 10. And then there’s Itawamba, which moved to No. 4 in the poll last week. Yes, the Indians (29-7) lapsed by losing their first two games after getting the No. 4 nod — but they bounced back to sweep MACJC North Division challenger Northwest over the weekend. ICC’s got pitching. Ben Hudspeth is 7-0 with a 1.19 ERA and threw a no-hitter against Northwest. Dylan Earnest is 6-1 with a 1.09. On the offensive side, Cody Shrewsbury is a rare talent. The Tupleo product is hitting .438 with six homers and 28 RBIs. Catcher Zack Randolph, a Mississippi State signee, is regarded as the best defensive catcher in the league and is hitting .345 to boot. ICC has six division games left, then the mine field that is the juco postseason begins. When the smoke finally clears, the Indians just might be the last team standing. ICC hosts East Mississippi today, while Jones is at Copiah-Lincoln. Hinds hosts Southwest on Wednesday.
P.S. Former Mississippi State star Mitch Moreland reportedly has had surgery on an abscessed tooth but is ready to go again for the Texas Rangers. Hitting just .150 in six games, Moreland needs more bite from his bat.