The Cole McBride era for Kosciusko baseball began last Saturday when the Whippets hosted a jamboree and came away with a victory and a tie. After a 4-4 draw with Pearl, Kosciusko defeated Scott Central 6-4.
McBride is a 2012 Kosciusko graduate who was an assistant Whippets coach in 2017 and '18. He returns after three years at Eupora that saw the Eagles improve each year, from 9-16 to 6-5 in the pandemic shorted 2020 season and 18-11 last year for second place in Region 4-2A.
He inherits a team that finished second in Region 4-4A last year and reached the second round of the playoffs. Derrick Boland resigned as coach after the season to become coach at Winston Academy.
McBride was pleased with his team's offense at the jamboree. “As a whole, we did a really good job. We barreled a lot of balls. We hit some right at people, which happens. We went both games without a strikeout, which is a testament to the guys’ willingness to battle.”
Kaylan Powell, Jacob Nunn and Hayden Rogers had RBIs in the Pearl game. Landon Wallace, Anthony Medine and Will Carter did the pitching. McBride said all threw did a good job mixing pitches and throwing strikes.
Parker Ryals and Nunn handled the pitching chores against Scott Central. “They located their pitches.”
Wallace had the big hit, a bases loaded single that plated two runs.
“We have a bunch of guys who can throw strikes. A lot of guys are going to see a lot of innings,” McBride said.
In addition to the jamboree pitchers, there's Ethan Wood who put in a lot of innings on the mound last year.
There are multiple candidates for catcher and second base. Braylen Allbritton is penciled in for first base, Nunn at shortstop and Ryals or Medine at third. Outfielders are Wood, Carter, Rogers and Powell.
Region opponents are Leake Central, Louisville, Northeast Lauderdale, West Lauderdale and Choctaw Central. West Lauderdale, a traditional power in the sport, is the defending champion.
“Our district is tough,” McBride said. “There isn't a game where you can just show up and win. We'll have to be mentally prepared to go out there and trust what we do in practice.”
A key, he said, is throwing strikes. “When our pitchers make good pitches, we have the defense to back them up.”
The regular season began Tuesday with a game at Pearl. The Whippets have a home game with Neshoba Central Friday and travel to Ackerman next Tuesday to play Choctaw County.
2022 Kosciusko baseball roster
1 Adam Greer
3 Drew Grace
4 Cooper Black
5 Anthony Medine
5 Payton Odom
6 Ryan Tillman
7 Hayden Rogers
8 John W. Ruscoe
9 Lyntavious
Merritt
9 Barnett Kuhn
10 Robert Pickle
11 Kayden Powell
12 Larson Fancher
13 Andrew Mancell
14 Riley Patton
14 Bailey Powell
15 Jacob Sims
16 Ethan Wood
17 Will Carter
18 Braxton Ray
19 Bennie Powell
19 Elijah Ramage
20 Ty Ramage
20 Brody Gowan
22 Jacob Nunn
23 Reggie Carter Jr.
24 Landon Wallace
25 Parker Ryals
27 William Kemp
28 Connor Wallace
29 Braylen Allbritton
30 Ty Ramage
31 Bennie Powell Jr.
31 Cooper Stevens
32 Braden Allen
Alan R.Greer Jr.
