February 6, 2007

JACKSON -- After winning a school-record 37 games and finishing ranked 13th in the country, the Majors find themselves ranked in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll for the first time, beginning the season right where they finished last year—lucky number 13.

Last year, the Majors were led by an unstoppable offensive attack that led the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in virtually every offensive category, including batting average (.338), slugging percentage (.476), on base percentage (.437), runs scored (490), home runs (36), RBIs (421) and doubles (109).

With eight position starters returning—including the entire infield, five all-conference performers and five seniors—the Majors will look for the same kind of offensive production in 2007.

Last year’s leading hitter, junior Hunter Abrams (.413, 2 HR, 53 RBIs), will man third, leading an infield that will undoubtedly be one of the best in the nation. Abrams ranked third in the conference last season in batting average and second in RBIs—while striking out just five times the entire season.

The rest of the infield will be occupied by three experienced seniors in Justin Carter, Nick Crawford and Luke Morrow. Carter (.358, 3 HR, 52 RBIs), the shortstop, made a huge impact in his first season in a Millsaps uniform, ranking third in the conference in RBIs.

Crawford (.270, 1 HR, 34 RBIs, 19 SB) provides the needed spark at the top of the lineup. The four-year starter at second-base has never tallied an on-base percentage below .450 in his career. Last season, he drew 30 walks and was hit by an NCAA-high 32 pitches.

After making the switch from third base to first base, Morrow (.366, 7 HR, 42 RBIs, .610 SLG) put up career numbers. His home run total and slugging percentage are team-highs among returning players.

Returning infielders Ronnie Causey, Bryant Palmerton, Zack Moore and Quinn Salmon will also look for playing time, along with newcomers Billy Murphy, Jason Riggins, Daniel Honeycutt and Bobby Osburn.

The Majors used four catchers over the course of 2006—all of whom are returning. Derrik Boland (.299, 4 HR, 44 RBIs) occupied the spot early last season, before taking over as the designated hitter the remainder of the ’06 campaign. Junior Nicky Prather (.323, 14 RBIs) and sophomore Russ Boyd (.160, 9 RBI) started the majority of the games toward the end of the season. Sophomore Hayes Brian (.242, 3 RBI) also received eight starts behind the dish, while freshman Tyler Berry gives the Majors a fifth catcher.

The one missing piece from last year’s team is quite obvious, rightfielder Garner Wetzel, one of the greatest players in school history. Wetzel capped off his career with a stellar 2006 season, bashing a school-record 14 home runs, while hitting a .400 clip and leading the nation (all divisions) with 91 RBI’s. For the second consecutive year, Wetzel was drafted—this time by the San Diego Padres in the 18th round of the MLB draft.

While losing that kind of production might be a source of concern for most coaches, 19th year head coach Jim Page has the benefit of two returning All-SCAC senior starters in leftfielder Jason Hadley and centerfielder John Pacillo.

Hadley (.346, 4 HR, 31 RBIs) will be starting for his fourth and final season, having established himself as one of the best pure hitters in Millsaps history, as evidenced by his .374 career batting average. Pacillo (.333, 1 HR, 17 RBIs, 19 SB) adds another experienced bat and great speed at centerfield. Along with providing offense, the two have proven to be spectacular on defense, committing a combined three errors last season.

Of the other returning outfielders, sophomore Tait Hendrix (.250, 4 RBI, 5 SB) received the most playing time, earning the start in 10 games. Junior Joe Blades, who was red-shirted last season, hit .253 with two home runs and 21 RBIs in 27 starts in 2005. Cape Bell, Taylor Jones and Fred Wiley also return from last season along with Hunter Owen who moves from the infield to the outfield, and will earn playing time.

In addition to a dominating offense, the Majors featured one of the best pitching staffs in years. Led by seniors John Fox, Todd Kindler, Tal Hendrix and Brad Mizerany, the Millsaps staff posted a team ERA of 4.06, holding opponents to a dismal .266 batting average. Fox (9-0, 3.83 ERA, 81 Ks) and Kindler (10-3, 3.45 ERA, 50 Ks) provided the best one-two punch in the conference.

Though the Majors will be missing those four pitchers, they will return one of the most improved pitchers from last season and four relievers that pitched 20 plus innings.

Junior Jay Hollenbeck (5-0, 2.08 ERA) established himself as a weekend starter in the middle of last season and had a great postseason, earning wins in the SCAC Tournament and NCAA Regional. His strikeout to walk ratio (33:6) was one of the best on the team, helping him reach a 7-0 career record.

Sophomore Drew Maddox (3-1, 4.84 ERA, 2 SV) had success coming out of the bullpen, appearing in more games than any Millsaps pitcher. Juniors Brandon Ingram (1-0, 2.92 ERA) and David Hutzel (2-1, 6.33 ERA), along with sophomore lefty Tait Hendrix (1-1, 2.45 ERA) also made starts for the Majors last season. Millsaps will also have the luxury of Abrams and Salmon available in the lineup.

In addition, the Majors signed two excellent transfers that should make an immediate impact. Former all-state standout Travis Bogue from Madison Central High School has transferred from Meridian C.C., providing the Majors with a big left-handed pitcher. Brent Buffa, a senior transfer from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., will provide Millsaps with another starting arm. Last season at Washington, Buffa posted a 10-1 record and a 2.81 ERA.

Page’s recruiting class also includes eight more pitchers who add depth on the mound in Josh Conlee, Max Berry, Philip de Kozan, Boomer Hudson, Riggins, Osburn and mid-semester transfers John David Childs (Pearl River Community College) and Andrew Fleming (University of New Orleans).

The Majors have the luxury of playing 21 home games in ‘07, including a four-game weekend series against SCAC opponents Austin College and Trinity and two-game sets with Div. III heavyweights East Texas Baptist and Emory.

In addition, the Majors will also look to defend their Maloney Series trophy against Belhaven and Mississippi College, playing each team three times throughout the season. In conference play, Millsaps will make two road trips to play four games against Southwestern and Trinity.

The 2007 campaign opens up Friday, Feb. 9, with a two-game homestand at Twenty Field against the visitors from East Texas Baptist. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m. with Saturday's contest slated for a 1 p.m. start.