the kids are all right

Itawamba Community College’s Ben Hudspeth was named to the NJCAA Division II All-America team, one of just two freshmen to make the 12-man first team. Hudspeth, a right-handed pitcher (who also plays catcher), went 11-0 with a 1.82 ERA and tossed a no-hitter against Northwest. Also on the first team is Hinds CC’s Tyler Akins, a sophomore infielder who signed with Belhaven. Meridian CC’s Wade Wass, a sophomore who signed with Alabama and was also drafted last week, made the NJCAA D-I third team as a catcher. On Monday, Mississippi State’s Jonathan Holder and Southern Miss’ Bradley Roney were named on the Collegiate Baseball Writers Freshman All-America team, Holder as a first-team pick and Roney on the second team. P.S. Former Mississippi Braves lefty Jonny Venters earned an ignominious distinction tonight when he served up Alex Rodriguez’s record-tying 23rd career grand slam in Atlanta’s 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees. A-Rod equaled Lou Gehrig’s long-standing mark.