Tag Archives: West Lauderdale High

21 Mar

high-lights

Gulfport High, which has been getting a lot of attention in the national polls, moved up to No. 9 in Baseball America’s new rankings released on Tuesday. Jamie McMahon’s Admirals (12-1 when the BA poll was released, 13-1 now) are also ranked 22nd in MaxPreps’ most recent Xcellent 25 and No. 24 in Collegiate Baseball’s latest prep poll. After reaching the MHSAA Class 6A finals in 2017, the Admirals are looking to chart a championship course, which would be the school’s first since 1985. Gabe Lacy is batting .386 with five homers and is 4-0 with an 0.64 ERA on the mound. Blake Johnson is at .410 and 2-0, 3.00. … At No. 16 in the BA poll is West Lauderdale, the Jerry Boatner-built dynasty that is off to an 11-1 start as the defending state 4A champ. The Knights are led by Hunter Eldridge (.464, five homers, 22 RBIs) and sophomore Braden Luke (.471). … Hattiesburg, featuring the highly touted Joe Gray, was ranked 11th in Collegiate Baseball’s preseason poll but, at 10-3, has dropped out of the top 30. However, the Tigers will get a chance to make some noise in next week’s National High School Invitational in Cary, N.C.

21 Jun

knight moves

West Lauderdale, the MHSAA Class 4A champion, is ranked No. 6 in Baseball America’s final high school poll. The Knights, who finished 33-3, are the only state school in the Top 40. The 2017 title, accomplished in a three-game battle against Corinth at Trustmark Park in Pearl, is the 14th for West Lauderdale and legendary coach Jerry Boatner. “This is probably one of the best teams we’ve had, especially in a good while,” Boatner told the Meridian Star on the eve of the state finals. “This bunch can beat you with hitting, bunting, stealing, pitching.” Boatner’s program has produced three major league players – Jay Powell, Paul Phillips and Jamie Brown – and many other pros, including 2014 first-round pick Blake Anderson (now in Miami’s system) and Jody Hurst, the former Mississippi State star whose son Cole was one of the best players on the 2017 Knights team.

07 Jun

head of the class

There are always surprises in the MLB draft. Blake Anderson qualifies as one. The catcher from West Lauderdale High was rated No. 216 on Baseball America’s last pre-draft prospect chart. He went 36th overall, taken by Miami in the competitive balance round. As the first Mississippian picked, Anderson joins a list that includes Hunter Renfroe (2013), D.J. Davis (2012), Connor Barron (2011), Drew Pomeranz (2010) and Billy Hamilton (2009). Anderson has a chance to join another short list – the one of Mississippi-born catchers who have had success in the big leagues. The state has produced Jake Gibbs, Barry Lyons, Jerry Moses, Eli Whiteside … and, well, there aren’t many. The Marlins obviously like something about Anderson, who goes 6 feet 3, 180 pounds. Defense is said to be his forte, but he did hit .438 with eight homers this year for a perennially strong prep program that won another state title. He is a Southern Miss signee. P.S. Four Magnolia State natives were picked in the first two rounds, which is impressive. Mississippi State left-hander Jacob Lindgren, from Bay St. Louis and St. Stanislaus High, was taken 55th by the New York Yankees, who reportedly think he can rise quickly. Columbia High shortstop Ti’Quan Forbes (an Ole Miss signee) went 59th overall to Texas, and former Madison Central star Spencer Turnbull, a right-hander at Alabama, was No. 63 by Detroit. … Only one Mississippi juco player was picked in the first two days: Left-hander Lane Ratliff of Jones County JC went to Seattle in the sixth round.