South pontotoc cougarS BaSeBall

SOUTH PONTOTOC

2021 cougarS BaSeBall

2021 South pontotoc cougarS BaSeBall team

This year’s South Pontotoc baseball team includes (front row left to right) Kaleb Pennington, Sam Tutor, Dalton Tutor, Emery Tedder, Drew Tutor, Corder Buckner, Hayes Gregory, Cole Chrestman, Emmison Johnson, Cruze Lackey, (middle row) Assistant Coach Lance Carter, Tristan Bone, Trace Ash, Eli Holloway, Jackson Rodgers, Eli Allen, Chris Fleming, McKinley Johnson, Bennett Mayo, Hadden Ward, Assistant Coach Ethan Donaldson, (back row) Assistant Coach Brett Freeman, Hunter Bagwell, Henley McNatt, Channing Lackey, Jackson Harmon, Ashton Goggins, Jackson Cook, Ashton Matthews, Chase Long and Head Coach Jeff Harmon.

Photo by Torrance Photography

COUGARS BUILDING TOWARDS PROMISING SEASON

Jonathan Wise

Sports Editor

The South Pontotoc Cougars are looking to make their presence felt in Class 4A after their first season in the higher classification was cut short last year. The Cougars will field what looks to be a formidable ball club, as they have gotten off to fast start during early action.

“We have played some pretty good ball, but it is early in the season,” said South head coach Jeff Harmon. “We have some young guys who didn’t get that year last year who are still trying to figure some stuff out.”

The Cougars have six seniors who will be a big part of the team’s success.

Channing Lackey will provide a key cog in the lineup and man first base. He has developed into a very dangerous left-handed bat with good power.

Right-hander Jackson Cook, an East Mississippi Community College signee, will be one of the anchors of the pitching staff. Chris Fleming returns in centerfield, and a Eli Allen will play in right field.

“Channing barrels a lot of balls up for us,” coach Harmon said. “He is a gap to gap kind of guy, and I am hoping he drives in a lot of runs this year. We need to get Eli (Allen) and Chris (Fleming) on for him with their speed.”

Henley McNatt will see time at catcher, and McKinley Johnson is a utility player who can play several different positions.

“He (Johnson) is playing well and has probably been one of the biggest surprises for us early on,” Harmon said.

“I am pretty excited about our senior class.”

Sophomore Hunter Bagwell has been starting since the eighth grade and will be crucial on the mound, in the field and at the plate, where he hit .438 as an eighth grader and .500 in last year’s brief campaign.

“Hunter is one of the guys we are going to have to rely on,” coach Harmon said. “He will be our shortstop when he is not on the bump. We just need him to keep doing he has been doing.”

Other key infielders will be junior Ashton Goggins at the hot corner and sophomore Hayes Gregory at second.

“We made some changes with Goggins’ swing, and he is swinging to a lot more contact now than he was,” Harmon said. “He had a really good offseason this year and plays a really good third base.

“Hayes does a good job of fielding what is hit to him and making the routine plays. He is a real consistent second baseman.”

Sophomore Jackson Rodgers has won a starting job in left field, and he looks to make an significant impact in the lineup and on the mound.

“He had a great offseason in the weight room and has developed into a really good player,” Harmon said.

Junior Chase Long is set to start at catcher.

“We will pitch by committee with (Jackson) Cook, (Jackson) Rodgers, (Hunter) Bagwell, Eli Allen, McKinley (Johnson) and Channing (Lackey) will have to throw too,” Harmon said. “We will have to mix Chris (Fleming) in there some, as well as maybe some sophomores like Trace Ash and Ashton Matthews.”

“We don’t have any superstars, we are just trying to build a team.”

2021 South pontotoc cougarS BaSeBall Schedule

MARCH 26

@ Itawamba AHS*

APRIL 9

Shannon*

APRIL 20

@ Caledonia*

MARCH 27 @North Pontotoc

MARCH 30 @ Mooreville*

APRIL 10

@ Water Valley

APRIL 13

Pontotoc*

APRIL 23

Caledonia*

APRIL 24 Houston

APRIL 1 Mooreville*

APRIL 6

@ Shannon*

APRIL 16

@ Pontotoc*

APRIL 17 North Pontotoc

APRIL 26 Lafayette * Division game