scatter shots

Lance Berkman, the former Jackson Generals star who has been in the big leagues since 1999, earned his first World Series ring on Friday night. Ole Miss alumnus Lance Lynn, in the big leagues since, oh, mid-summer, also got one. Berkman (.423 in the Series) had another hit and scored twice and Lynn threw a perfect inning in relief as St. Louis beat Texas 6-2 in Game 7 for the championship. … Ex-Mississippi Braves standout Matt Harrison wasn’t sharp in his start for Texas, allowing three runs in four innings and taking his second loss of the Fall Classic. You gotta think Harrison and the Rangers have the talent to get back to the Series, but it’s no given. … Mississippi State product Craig Tatum was claimed on waivers by Houston and becomes, for the moment, the fourth catcher on the Astros’ 40-man roster. Tatum, a defensive specialist, came up with Cincinnati and played this season with Baltimore, batting .195 in 31 games. … Ex-Ole Miss standout Matt Tolbert, who hit .198 in 87 games with Minnesota in 2011, has become a free agent. The versatile infielder is a .230 career hitter in 247 games. … Keep an eye on former Oak Grove star Taiwan Easterling, the state’s Mr. Baseball in 2008. A 27th-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in June, Easterling, an outfielder, advanced three levels this summer, hitting .307 overall with two homers, 17 RBIs and 10 steals. Easterling, a two-sport star at Florida State, passed on his last year of football eligibility to launch his baseball career. He caught 43 passes in 2010 at FSU.