of anthony and eunice

The game within the games this weekend in Hattiesburg is the Southern Miss pitching staff vs. Rice slugger Anthony Rendon. USM’s pitching is very good, from starters Todd McInnis, Geoffrey Thomas and Jonathan Thompson (23-4 combined!) to closer Collin Cargill. But so is Rendon, Baseball America’s national player of the year in 2010 and the potential No. 1 pick in the June draft. The right-handed hitter’s Triple Crown numbers might not leap off the page — .326, five homers, 33 RBIs — but he’s also walked 72 times, scored 50 runs (for an outstanding 83 RAF) and stolen 10 bags. Oh yeah, he’s been bothered by ankle and shoulder injuries, which he says are improving. USM (37-13, 15-6 C-USA) might have more offensive weapons than Rice (36-17, 14-7), which also has a fairly strong rotation. But Rendon’s performance could be a difference-maker in this compelling showdown for the C-USA regular season title. Game 1 is tonight at Taylor Park. … Meanwhile, at Donald Field in Goodman, the NJCAA Division II Region 23 Tournament starts today with the shadow of LSU-Eunice looming large. The second-ranked Bengals (43-13) are the defending national champs. In fact, they’ve won two of the last three national titles and finished third in 2009. They’ve got 10 .300 hitters and a deep stable of arms, capped by closer Kaleb Manuel (nine saves, 1.25 ERA). And yet, the Mississippi schools ought to put up a good fight. MACJC champion Jones County Junior College (38-14 and ranked No. 12) might have better pitching than LSU-E with a staff led by Andrew Pierce (10-1, 1.20 ERA) and Vito Perna (9-1). Chase Headrick and Darion Hamilton have shown a knack for clutch hitting. Regional host Holmes CC (31-19) didn’t play well in the state tourney but can’t be overlooked. Reggie O’Briant is a fearsome slugger, and Rafiel Johnson (eight wins on the mound, .324 hitter) does a little of everything for the Bulldogs. Northwest (31-19) surged late in the year to catch Holmes in the North Division (settling for second on a tiebreaker) and then reached the title round in the state tournament. Jeremy Carlisle (eight homers), Drew Griffin (.389, four saves) and Garrett Radicioni (6-3) are players to watch for the Rangers, who get the first crack at LSU-E at 2 p.m. Holmes and JCJC play at 6.