legends of the fall

Though football is the main course this time of year for fans of college athletics, baseball devotees still have something to chew on. Especially in Mississippi. Fall ball is in full swing, and the state’s Big 3 Division I schools are busily tinkering with the recipe for a 2012 season that holds much promise for each. All three landed recruiting classes that were ranked in the top 20 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball magazine last month, and those players are now on campus. Ole Miss was No. 3, Southern Miss No. 13 and Mississippi State No. 20. The Rebels may have needed stronger reinforcements. Their 2011 season ended with a doubleheader loss to Arkansas that cost them a berth in the Southeastern Conference Tournament and an NCAA regional bid. Matt Snyder, Alex Yarbrough and Bobby Wahl return to the fold for Ole Miss (30-25), and there is much buzz about incoming freshmen like Pascagoula outfielder Senquez Golson (currently playing football), Sumrall catcher Austin Knight, Biloxi pitcher Hawtin Buchanan and Madison Central pitcher Josh Laxer. Golson, drafted in the eighth round of the major league draft by Boston, turned down a healthy signing bonus to play two sports at Ole Miss. All told, 11 members of the Rebels’ recruiting class were drafted, and nine are on campus. Southern Miss, which posted a 39-19 mark last season and made its ninth straight NCAA appearance, must replace five position players, three starting pitchers and its closer. A stout recruiting class will help. The Golden Eagles brought in, among others, George County outfielder/pitcher Mason Robbins (the state’s Mr. Baseball for 2011), Sumrall shortstop Connor Barron, Sumrall outfielder/pitcher Luke Lowery, Ridgeland pitcher Nick Johnson, Northwest Rankin pitcher Cody Livingston and Jones County Junior College pitcher Andrew Pierce. Barron was a third-round MLB draft pick by Florida. The newcomers join a group of returnees that includes outfielder Kameron Brunty, shortstop Ashley Graeter and catcher Jared Bales. Mississippi State went 38-25 last season and advanced to a Super Regional. The Bulldogs welcomed back outfielder C.T. Bradford (MVP of the Atlanta Regional last spring) and weekend starters Nick Routt and Chris Stratton and brought in a freshman crop that includes prized in-staters Brandon Woodruff, a pitcher/outfielder from Wheeler, and pitcher Jacob Lindgren from St. Stanislaus. The centerpiece of the class might be infielder Nick Flair of Belle Chasse, La., a prep All-American who batted .619 with 12 homers last season. Fall ball concludes with a showcase event at each school: Ole Miss’ Fall World Series is set for Oct. 26-28, State’s Bulldog World Series for Oct. 26-30. USM’s Black and Gold Game will be played on Oct. 30. Then they put the equipment away for a while. But not too long. Practice for 2012 begins shortly after the turn of the year, the games in mid-February.