Tag Archives: Trustmark Park

29 Apr

morning after

Ole Miss 11, Mississippi State 1. The largest margin of victory in the 36-year history of the Mayor’s Trophy/Governor’s Cup series. No one saw that coming Tuesday night at Trustmark Park — but maybe we should have. The Rebels (24-22) certainly have perked up at the plate. They had scored five or more runs in seven of their previous 11 games, including outbursts of 10, 11 and 18. Their team batting average is up to .266 after pounding State pitching for 15 hits. They also drew seven walks. With all due respect to Ole Miss senior pitcher Scott Weathersby, who was great on Tuesday in his first career start, State has fallen and can’t get up. Since that long-forgotten 13-0 start, the Bulldogs (23-22) have scored two runs or fewer 12 times. They’ve also lost eight times when they’ve scored five runs or more. Go figure. State has a .272 team average and five players hitting .295 or better. But clutch hits seem to be evading the Bulldogs much too often. See Wes Rea’s strikeout and John Holland’s bounce out with the bases loaded in the third inning on Tuesday night; UM scored five in the bottom half and took command at 7-0. The Rebels, 10-11 in the SEC with three series remaining, head to Missouri this weekend with some real momentum. The Bulldogs (7-14) get LSU in Starkville. That could get ugly.

20 Apr

ballpark fare

Yes, tonight is Free Hot Dog Night at Trustmark Park. On Tuesday, there is a cap giveaway, and then there’s Thirsty Thursday and Friday Night Fireworks. Just in case you needed some other reason to head out to the ballpark in Pearl this week, the Mississippi Braves are hosting what Baseball America touts as one of the most talented teams in the minors. The Chattanooga Lookouts, now a Minnesota Twins affiliate, feature No. 2 overall prospect Byron Buxton, No. 13 Miguel Sano and No. 36 Jose Berrios, plus quite a few more of the Twins’ top prospects. Buxton, an outfielder with all the tools, is batting just .225. Third baseman Sano is at .200 with two homers, and Berrios is 1-0 with a 3.29 ERA. Shortstop Jorge Polanco, No. 8 on Minnesota’s list, is hitting .324, and Ole Miss product Stuart Turner (No. 13) is batting .250. The Lookouts’ top hitter is Dalton Hicks at .385. Of course, the home team also trots out a few prospects, including right-hander Jason Hursh (Atlanta’s No. 6), third baseman Rio Ruiz (No. 10) and center fielder Mallex Smith. Hot hitters for the M-Braves, off to a 5-4 start, include Chris O’Dowd, who is 6-for-13 with a homer and seven RBIs; Matt Lipka (.393); Daniel Castro (.361); and Smith (.361, six steals, nine runs). In tonight’s series opener at 7 p.m., Hursh (0-1, 9.00) faces Chattanooga’s Tyler Duffey (0-0, 0.00 ERA in 13 2/3 innings).

08 Apr

so much to remember

The year 2015 brings a bonanza of significant anniversaries for Mississippi pro baseball teams.
On April 19, 1975, 40 years ago, the Jackson Mets played their first game at Smith-Wills Stadium, beating the Arkansas Travelers 6-4 before a crowd of 2,862. Managed by John Antonelli, the original JaxMets went 65-65 and did not make the Texas League postseason. It was not a club of future big league stars. It was a club of Mike Agosto, Craig Casek and Angel Cantres, the team leaders in homers, average and RBIs. There was also Craig Clark, Rich Miller, Randy Trapp and Carlos Sagredo. Jeff Grose went 13-8 with a 3.54 ERA, and Mississippian Bobby Myrick won seven games.
In 1985, 30 years ago, the Jackson Mets won a Texas League championship, the franchise’s third pennant and second in a row under manager Sam Perlozzo. The tone was set in the home opener at Smith-Wills, when Biloxi native and Delta State product Barry Lyons hit a walk-off home run. Lyons, who batted .307 with 11 bombs and 108 RBIs, was one of a bunch of future big leaguers on that club. Some others: Mark Carreon, Keith Miller, Greg Olson, Randy Milligan, Stanley Jefferson and DeWayne Vaughn.
Fifteen years later — in the year 2000 — after Jackson’s Texas League team had moved away to Round Rock, Texas, the DiamondKats took up residence at Smith-Wills for one largely forgettable campaign. The independent club, managed by ex-Ole Miss and MLB star Steve Dillard, posted a 38-74 record and was outscored by almost 200 runs. Crowds were sparse. Some players did manage to shine, however. Mark Carreon, at age 36, joined the team late in the season and hit .340 in 42 games. Casey Myrick batted .329 with nine homers and 56 RBIs, and Jeremy McClain, another Delta State product, went 7-9 with a 3.27 ERA. The roster also included Popeye Cole, Willie Gardner, Jimbo Pinnix, Perry Miley and Rusty Camp, all Mississippi natives.
And 10 years ago, a new era dawned when Double-A baseball returned to central Mississippi. The Mississippi Braves trotted out a team on opening day at brand new Trustmark Park in Pearl that would produce 10 major league players, including Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, Gregor Blanco, Blaine Boyer, Luis Hernandez, Scott Thorman, Macay McBride and Zack Miner. But that original group wasn’t together for very long. McCann went to Atlanta in June, and many others would also move up over the next few weeks. The ’05 M-Braves, managed by Brian Snitker, finished 64-68 overall, failing to make the Southern League postseason. Still, it was a great debut act, one that started a steady stream of talent flowing through Pearl to the big leagues.

07 Apr

ten years after

Drumroll, please. As the Mississippi Braves approach the 10th anniversary of the first game at Trustmark Park (April 18), here’s an updated all-time M-Braves team (based on their performance with the Double-A club): At catcher, the great Brian McCann (.265, 6 homers, 26 RBIs in roughly two months in 2005) has to take a backseat to Christian Bethancourt, who went .277, 12, 45 in 2013 and was very good behind the plate. At first base, Ernesto Mejia’s monster season in 2011 will be tough to top; he batted .297 with team records for homers (26) and RBIs (99). Second base belonged to J.C. Holt, who hit .285 with 45 RBIs and 22 steals for the 2008 Southern League championship club, until Tommy La Stella came along in 2013. La Stella batted .343 with four homers, 41 RBIs and 32 runs in 81 games. Tyler Pastornicky still rates the nod at shortstop after batting .299 with six homers, 36 RBIs, 50 runs and 20 steals in 90 games in 2011. Third base goes to Kyle Kubitza, whose 2014 numbers (.295, eight homers, 55 RBIs, 31 doubles, 11 triples, 21 bags) eclipse Wes Timmons’ production in 2005 (.272, seven homers, 34 RBIs and 31 doubles). In the outfield, there’s Matt Young (.289, 10 triples, 81 runs, 42 steals in 2009), Brandon Jones (.293, 15 homers, 74 RBIs, 12 steals in 2007) and Todd Cunningham (.306, 23 doubles, 51 RBIs, 77 runs, 24 steals in 2012). The M-Braves have had so many good arms, it’s hard to whittle the number down to five starters. But here goes: Tommy Hanson, Todd Redmond, Chuck James, Jo-Jo Reyes and Jason Hursh. Luis Valdez (now known as Jairo Asencio), with his 28 saves in 2008, is the closer. P.S. Amid the new hot prospects and familiar veterans that fill the Mississippi Braves’ 2015 roster, there is one name that sorta jumps out. Who is Kyeong Kang? Well, he is a 27-year-old South Korea native who went to high school in Georgia and junior college in Alabama and has spent eight years in pro ball. He was drafted in the 15th round by Tampa Bay in 2006, played in the MLB Futures Game in 2009 and toiled for the Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League from 2011-13. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, Kang has a career .269 average and 68 home runs, with four double-figure dinger seasons. He batted .282 with 12 homers in Double-A with Baltimore in 2014. Atlanta signed him in the off-season. … Former M-Braves Brandon Cunniff and Cody Martin, both looking for their MLB debut, made Atlanta’s opening day roster, and Jeff Francoeur, an original M-Brave from 2005, made Philadelphia’s club.

09 Dec

four months out

Four months from today, the Mississippi Braves will open the 2015 season — their 11th at Trustmark Park in Pearl — against the Tennessee Smokies. Sure, it’s a little early to start a countdown … but what the heck. Here’s a shot in the dark at how the team might line up come April 9. At catcher, Tyler Tewell, who batted .251 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs at Class A Lynchburg. Braeden Schlehuber (.230, 41 RBIs for the M-Braves) could return at that spot. At first base, Seth Loman, the minor league veteran who was re-signed after hitting .261 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs in an injury-interrupted campaign. At second base, Emerson Landoni, who batted .271 for the M-Braves before getting sent down to open the job for rising prospect Jose Peraza. At shortstop, Daniel Castro, another midseason call-up from Lynchburg who batted .277 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 51 games. At third base, Kevin Ahrens, a former Toronto first-rounder who hit .266 with seven homers, 65 RBIs and 41 doubles at Lynchburg. In the outfield, David Rohm (.255 in Mississippi), Will Skinner (.253, 11 homers, 52 RBIs at Lynchburg) and Cuban Dian Tascano, 25, who reportedly agreed to terms with Atlanta on Monday and needs some minor league seasoning. Also in the outfield picture are Matt Lipka and Robby Hefflinger, each coming off a poor, injury-marred season. The rotation may well be headed by Lucas Sims, Atlanta’s top pick in 2012 who went 8-11 with a 4.19 ERA at Lynchburg, or Tyrell Jenkins, acquired from St. Louis in the Jason Heyward deal. Greg Ross (7-3, 2.08) impressed with the M-Braves in 2014, and Jarrett Miller (8-9, 4.04) was a steady arm in Lynchburg. J.R. Graham, who had a rough 2014 coming back from injury, might well be back in the bullpen. Alex Wilson (16 saves, 2.02 ERA) was an outstanding closer at Lynchburg. As for who’ll be managing the 2015 M-Braves, Atlanta has not yet announced its minor league staff assignments, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Aaron Holbert back at the helm for a fourth year. He has done a commendable job. P.S. Former Petal High star Anthony Alford is plugging away with decent results in the Australian Baseball League. Alford, a Toronto prospect, is hitting just .239 but has a .346 on-base percentage and 21 runs in 18 games as Canberra’s leadoff batter. He hit his second homer on Sunday. … Former Hattiesburg High standout Robert Carson, hoping to get back to the big leagues, is pitching in the Dominican Winter League and has not allowed a run in three appearances for the Gigantes del Cibao. The big left-hander, who has a 6.82 career ERA in 31 MLB games (all with the New York Mets), is now in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system, his third organization.

06 Sep

that empty feeling

There is no game tonight at Trustmark Park in Pearl. Had the Mississippi Braves won the second half in the Southern League South, they would be playing Mobile at the TeePee in Game 3 of the division series. But two losses in the final series at Huntsville cost the M-Braves dearly, as Jacksonville ended the season with 10 straight wins and finished a game up in the SL South. It is disappointing that the M-Braves didn’t make the playoffs, but this was not a disappointing season. Not in the least. Manager Aaron Holbert’s club had the league’s best overall record: 83-56. They led the league in batting (.266) and stolen bases (141), finished second in ERA (3.37) and were tied for third in runs (609). Even attendance was up: an announced 3,152 per game. The M-Braves had six players on the final roster who batted .280 or better, led by Jose Peraza, a fast-rising prospect at second base who batted .335 and stole 25 bases in 44 games. Outfielder Cedric Hunter, a one-time big leaguer, surely re-opened some eyes by batting .295 with 14 home runs and 72 RBIs. Kyle Kubitza, another good prospect at third base, hit .295 with eight homers, 55 RBIs and 21 steals. And jack-of-all-trades Barrett Kleinknecht, a.k.a. Klank, hit .280 with nine homers and 38 RBIs. Pitching prospect Jason Hursh, Atlanta’s No. 1 pick in 2013, went 11-7 with a 3.58 ERA. Aaron Northcraft went 7-3, 2.88 before a midseason promotion to Triple-A Gwinnett. Williams Perez, Mitch Atkins and Greg Ross were also outstanding as starters. Shae Simmons was a lights-out closer (0.78 ERA, 14 saves) before he was promoted to Atlanta at the end of May. Several others in the bullpen stepped up, including Ryne Harper, John Cornely and Brandon Cunniff. This was a very good team, fun to watch. Such a shame they didn’t get to keep playing. P.S. Tim Bogar joined the ranks of former Jackson Mets now managing in the majors when he took over in Texas for Ron Washington, who surprisingly resigned on Friday. Bogar played shortstop for Our Jackson Mets in 1989, hitting .266 with four homers and 45 RBIs. The other former OJMs now managing are Ned Yost in Kansas City, John Gibbons in Toronto and Ron Gardenhire in Minnesota. Pittsburgh’s Clint Hurdle managed the JaxMets in 1990. Bogar, who was Washington’s bench coach, was a highly successful minor league manager, but his MLB debut didn’t go so well: The lowly Rangers (53-88) lost to Seattle 7-5.

05 Jun

time to make a move

Chattanooga at Mississippi, today-Monday — this can aptly be termed a “big series” for the M-Braves. Trailing first-place Mobile by a game in the Southern League South, the M-Braves get the league’s worst team (by record) at Trustmark Park while the BayBears are on the road for five against the team with the SL’s best record, Huntsville. The next five days could be pivotal in the M-Braves’ title quest. They finish the first half with five games on the road; Mobile finishes with five at home. This M-Braves club (34-25) has become a good one, worth a look if you haven’t seen them yet. They had six players picked for the SL All-Star Game (June 17 at Chattanooga), though one, closer Shae Simmons, is gone to Atlanta. Elmer Reyes (.333) and Mycal Jones (.299) are going to Chattanooga, but several other position players have nice numbers, too: Matt Kennelly (.316), Cedric Hunter (.306, 25 RBIs), David Rohm (.296, 29 RBIs) and Seth Loman (nine homers, 35 RBIs). Starting pitchers Williams Perez and Aaron Northcraft made the All-Star Game, but Jason Hursh (4-4, 3.68), who’ll start tonight, has been very good in his Double-A debut and fellow top prospect J.R. Graham also has had his moments. Unsung reliever James Hoyt, likely to fill Simmons’ closer role, is also an All-Star. The M-Braves are trying to make the playoffs for a second straight year and a fourth time in 10. Again, the next five days could be pivotal.

21 Apr

the rivalry

In April of 1984, a newcomer to Mississippi ventured out to Smith-Wills Stadium to watch a college baseball game. The newcomer had a hard time finding a parking place. The newcomer was stunned to see that the Jackson ballpark, which seats about 5,000, was practically full. For a college baseball game. Where the newcomer came from, no one would have believed this. That 1984 game matched Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the fifth renewal of what used to be known as the Mayor’s Trophy Game. It’s now called the Governor’s Cup and is played at Pearl’s Trustmark Park. The Mississippi Braves’ home stadium, which can accommodate 7,000-plus, will be packed when the Bulldogs and Rebels meet there Tuesday night. Both teams are nationally ranked, but that doesn’t matter. The fans would show up regardless. The tickets are pricey — $12 for general admission, $25 or more for a reserved seat — but that doesn’t matter, either. The fans will pay. Even lousy weather won’t keep them away. Ole Miss-State is that kind of rivalry. In a recent issue of Baseball America, a columnist built a case for Clemson-South Carolina as the best current college baseball rivalry. The columnist ought to make a trip out to the TeePee on Tuesday night. Like that newcomer to Mississippi back in 1984, he might be impressed. He might change his mind on that rivalry thing. P.S. The Rebels are coming off a series loss to LSU, though they outscored the visiting Tigers 8-7 in three tense games. State is coming off a series sweep at Missouri. Ole Miss took two of three from State in Starkville just over a week ago, outscoring the Bulldogs 23-11.

17 Apr

progress report

Two weeks into the Southern League season, the Mississippi Braves are just treading water. The record is 6-7. Tough to tell which direction they might be headed. The pitching has been in good form. The club’s 3.01 ERA ranks fourth in the 10-team league. Williams Perez is 1-1 with a 1.26 and fellow Double-A rookie Jason Hursh is 1-1, 2.57. J.R. Graham, like Hursh a highly rated prospect, has not allowed a run in 9 2/3 innings heading into his third start tonight at Trustmark Park. Closer Shae Simmons has four saves, and the bullpen as a whole has a league-best eight holds (for whatever that’s worth). One of the few stragglers is Ryne Harper, who has a 6.75 ERA in five appearances; he was very effective in 2013. The hitters, with a few exceptions, are flailing about. The .230 average ranks sixth in the SL, the 42 runs seventh. Gustavo Nunez, now displaced at shortstop by Elmer Reyes, is at .306. Seth Loman is batting .302 with three of the team’s five home runs. Emerson Landoni is at .282 and Joe Leonard at .267. No other hitter is above .238. Needing to pick it up soon are Robby Hefflinger (.171, no homers), Kyle Kubitza (.206) and Matt Lipka (.227).

08 Apr

bird watching

Seemingly wherever you look, Eagles are taking off. Southern Miss’ Golden Eagles have won eight of 10 games and take a 19-14 record into tonight’s rivalry game with Mississippi State at Trustmark Park in Pearl. Matt Durst has been carrying the Eagles’ attack with a .318 average, four home runs and 22 RBIs. Hinds Community College’s Eagles also have won eight of 10 and have surged to the top of MACJC South Division standings with an 11-3 mark, just ahead of Jones County JC at 9-3. Hinds (21-12) has gotten outstanding production from freshman Chase Lunceford, a former Clinton High star who is batting .318 with seven homers and 30 RBIs. Yet another flock of Eagles, the ones at Meridian Community College, has moved to the top of the Miss-Lou Conference standings with a 3-2 record. MCC (20-16) split a doubleheader on Saturday at Scaggs Field with Delgado (La.), the No. 2-ranked team in NJCAA Division I. Scott Votaw homered, Grant Hill drove in a pair of runs and Jake Smith pitched four strong innings in the Eagles’ 7-6 win in Game 2 of that twinbill.