making a case

Ole Miss product David Goforth, seeking to nail down a role in Milwaukee’s bullpen next year, picked up his first career win on Sunday. Goforth pitched a scoreless eighth inning against St. Louis, then benefitted from the Brewers’ seven-run rally in the ninth. They won 8-4. Goforth, 26, first called up in May, has made 18 appearances and put up a 4.09 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 22 innings. After converting from starter to closer in the minors and saving 27 games at Double-A Huntsville in 2014, Goforth was considered a candidate to close in the big leagues. Speculation now is that he may be better suited to a set-up role. Listed at 5 feet 10, 205 pounds, the Meridian native and ex-Neshoba Central star throws hard. He is on a list – surprisingly long — of pitchers who have hit 100 mph. That’s a nice weapon to have. P.S. On this date in 1978, Brian Cole was born in Meridian. Before his life was cut tragically short in a 2001 car wreck, Cole was one of the most promising players the state has produced. After starring at Meridian High, he played a year at Navarro Junior College in Texas, hit a reported .524 with 27 homers and was named Baseball America’s juco player of the year. The New York Mets drafted him in the 18th round in 1998, and two years later he was their minor league player of the year and No. 3-rated prospect. It’s so very sad that he’s gone.