keep a keen eye

Sometimes you can just tell. Pascagoula High players were scattered about in front of their dugout last week, playing catch before the game. Knowing nothing about any of them, you could tell that No. 8 was a ballplayer. He was built like a ballplayer. Carried himself like a ballplayer. Then the game started. No. 8 played second base and hit leadoff for Pascagoula. He banged out three hits in a loss to Hernando in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 5A state championship series at Smith-Wills Stadium. A couple days later, in Game 2, No. 8 banged out three more hits, scored twice and drove in a run as ’Goula evened the best-of-3 series with a 13-3 win. No. 8, it turns out, is Chase Nyman, an Ole Miss signee and an MLB draft prospect. Yes, he can play. Tonight, the Panthers go for the state title, which would be the first for ’Goula in 16 years. Keep an eye on No. 8.