star watch

Baseball America has put the spotlight on some Mississippians in the small and junior college ranks for the coming season. Former Grenada High star DeMarcus Tidwell, now an outfielder for Southern Poly, and Belhaven pitcher Brett Blaise, from Columbus by way of Pearl River Community College, were rated the Nos. 3 and 4 draft prospects in NAIA by BA. Tidwell was drafted out of junior college by Cleveland last June but didn’t sign. The aptly named Blaise, a junior, was one of eight Blazers chosen to participate in the Southern States Athletic Conference’s Fall All-Star Classic. Also, Hinds CC freshman shortstop Travious Relaford was named a juco preseason All-American by BA. Relaford was a baseball and basketball standout at Creekside High in Georgia. Hinds is ranked No. 8 preseason by Collegiate Baseball.