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BASEBALL SEASON PREVIEW/OPPONENTS
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2021-22 PREVIEW
SEASON OUTLOOK
COLTON PRESLEY CALEB HOBSON
By now, it’s no secret that the NJCAA’s toughest and most stacked region lies in Division II, Region 23.
Aside from staunch national powerhouse LSU-Eunice, the rest of Region 23 encompasses the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference. Together, the overall region usually sports five to seven teams in the national rankings at once and for the couple teams that make it into the Division II World Series, most of the time their postseason stay ends with a championship banner or at least a deep run against other teams from across the nation.
Historically, Northwest is no stranger to that type of success, but the Rangers have also fallen victim to some of those teams. Last season, head coach Mark Carson’s club kept the streak alive of 14 straight winning seasons, only to be eliminated in the first round by a red-hot East Central squad that ended up two outs away from punching its ticket to the World Series.
It’s that level of toughness that makes the MACCC and Region 23 so grueling year in and year out. While that might be intimidating to some, Northwest has come to expect the obstacles that are attached with competing in this conference, and this year’s club is up to the challenge.
“We caught the wrong team at the wrong time,” Carson said, reflecting on last season’s elimination. “They were hot as firecracker and I give credit to them and what they accomplished. For us, we lost so much of last year’s team because we had a lot of guys with extra eligibility after COVID. Because we lost so many of those guys, this team really is a whole new look. We have had to come in and put the puzzle pieces together and start from the ground up.”
Although Northwest loses a lot of punch from last season’s batting order, the Rangers do return several key pieces to their sophomore class. One of those is sophomore outfielder and UT Martin signee Caleb Hobson, who finished as the team’s leading hitter with a .344 batting average.
“Caleb is a tremendous athlete and one of the best outfielders that I have ever coached,” Carson said. “He’s a fast player who plays the game the right way and he had a great freshman year. We’re expecting him to pick up right where he left off and hold down center field for us. We have worked him out at shortstop too, so we might utilize him a little in the infield, but he’s going to primarily be in the outfield, hitting in the top of the order and hopefully stealing a lot of bases for us.”
On the mound, the Rangers return another strong arm with recent UAB signee John Luke Marlin. The Tupelo native made five starts and 12 appearances as a freshman and finished with 39 strikeouts, good for second behind only current Delta State pitcher Hammer Franks. “He’s going to be one of our best arms,” Carson said. “We used him last year as a starter, but he might play a different role this season. We’re looking to have him primarily come out of the bullpen and I think that lines up with what he might do down the road at UAB. He throws that under-slot that can go all over the place, so he’s effective at everything he does.”
Hobson and Marlin are far from the only sophomores expected to make an impact, however. Northwest returns a stable of pitchers that include Colton Presley, Jake Savage, Judah Buckner and Zach Willingham, while also welcoming back redshirt sophomore outfielder Landon Rogers, power hitter Wesley Lester, catcher Brady Logan and infielder Alan Kivett.
“We’re excited to have Landon back for a third season,” Carson said. “He might be the best athlete on the team and he’s an extremely hard worker. Wesley is another third-year guy that will play first and serve in a designated hitter role, as a strong, physical guy that can really contribute and help us.”
Also joining the fold are a slew of transfers, led by former LSU pitcher Brooks Rice, catcher Ryan Lee (Union University), infielder Hunter Cramer (Wichita State) and recent newcomer Brayden Sanders, who spent the fall at Ole Miss.
On his transfers, Carson expects Lee and Logan to share catching duties, while also anticipating a fully-healthy Rice to make his debut in early March.
For his sophomore class as a whole, Carson is hoping to have his team carry on the hardworking tradition, while also aiming for his newcomers to adjust to in-game experience.
“The culture we have always had here is working hard and doing things the right way,” Carson said. “We do have some really good leaders back on this team, so you hope that this culture continues to spread to our transfers and our freshmen for everyone to carry on. We have guys who bring a lot to the table and have a skill-set that is really good. Most of the things they lack are game experience, so that’s going to be something that we watch to see how they handle it.”
Navigating through this season’s schedule is going to be the biggest key to measuring the Rangers’ success, and the non-conference portion is no exception. Northwest opens out of the gate against Southwest Tennessee on Friday, February 11, before turning around to Millington, Tenn. the very next day for a pair of contests with Lake Land College and Glen Oaks Community College. From there, doubleheaders with Jackson State (Tenn.), Wallace State-Hanceville, Rend Lake and Freed-Hardeman pepper the remaining non-conference slate.
All of that, Carson says, is to prepare for the onslaught of challenges that will come from the regular season MACCC slate.
WESLEY LESTER
SEASON OUTLOOK
“I’m not someone that is going to search around to see how many [non-conference] games we can win,” Carson said. “Some people do that and that’s their prerogative, but I feel that we need to schedule games that are going to help us prepare for a really stout conference schedule. We have loaded it down with some teams that we think are great clubs and we have to go on the road a few times, so the non-conference schedule is important in helping us solidify a lineup for conference play.”
One of the biggest challenges heading into this season has been improving from the fall. And while Carson admits the fall schedule didn’t turn out as he had hoped, he also says that there were signs of improvement late in the semester that he hopes to carry over into the spring.
“We didn’t have a good fall and we left some questions unanswered heading into this semester,” Carson said. “We worked hard, but our numbers didn’t show that and I think that might have been some of our inexperience showing up. I told our team that toward the end of the fall, I thought I saw us turning the corner and some guys making some strides, but then the fall had to come to an end. So I have been real anxious for us to get back out there and I think we picked up where we left off.”
While there are no easy games on the schedule, Carson remains positive that his team will rise to the occasion, as so many of his clubs have done in the past.
“The biggest hurdle we have to get over is establishing our identity quickly,” Carson added. “I want our identity to be one that when other teams see us coming up on the schedule that they know they’re in for a dogfight, they know that they are in for a battle against a team that’s going to play hard. As a head coach, that is what I want our identity to be. I think that’s contagious and it comes with leadership, starting with myself and the coaching staff. I believe that aspect will show up on the field.”
Last season’s playoff journey came to a quick end for coach MARK CARSON and his team. This year, Carson is looking to navigate a young roster through another stacked schedule.
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2021-22 SEASON OPPONENTS
Southwest Tennessee
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Memphis, Tenn. Founded: 2000 Enrollment: 8,382 President: Dr. Tracy T. Hall Athletic Director: Sherman Greer Conference: TCCAA Nickname: Saluqis Colors: Red & Navy Ballpark: USA Stadium (Millington, Tenn.) Head Coach: Eric Shoenrock 2021 Record: 14-25-1 2021 Conference Record: 11-20-1
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Keith Gentry Phone: (901) 333-4114 Email: mgentry@southwest.tn.edu Web Address: athletics.southwest.tn.edu Series History: Northwest leads series 60-39-1 First Meeting: March 7, 1973 in Memphis, Tenn.: Northwest 7, Southwest Tennessee 3 Last Meeting: March 5, 2019 in Millington, Tenn.: Southwest Tennessee 4, Northwest 3
Jackson State
February 22 • 1/4 P.M. • Senatobia, Miss. • Jim Miles Field March 1 • 2/5 P.M. • Jackson, Tenn.. • Jack Martin Field
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Jackson, Tenn. Founded: 1967 Enrollment: 3,542 President: Dr. George J. Pimentel Athletic Director: Steve Cornelison Conference: TCCAA Nickname: GreenJays Colors: Green, Blue and Black Ballpark: Jack Martin Field Head Coach: Michael Winders 2021 Record: 8-25-1 2021 Conference Record: 6-21-1
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: None (refer to AD) Phone: (731) 424-3520, ext. 50239 Email: scornelison@jscc.edu Web Address: jscc.edu/athletics Series History: Jackson State leads series 36-37-2 First Meeting: March 24, 1983 in Senatobia: No results recorded Last Meeting: February 20, 2018 in Senatobia: Jackson State 11, Northwest 10
Lake Land College
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Mattoon, Ill. Founded: 1966 Enrollment: 3,644 President: Jonathan “Josh” Bullock Athletic Director: Bill Jackson Conference: GRAC Nickname: Lakers Colors: Red & Black Ballpark: Laker Baseball Field Head Coach: Julio Godinez 2021 Record: 27-28 2021 Conference Record: 13-17
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: None (refer to AD) Phone: (217) 234-5296 Email: wjackson60312@lakelandcollege.edu Web Address: lakelandlakersathletics.com Series History: Series tied at 6-6 First Meeting: April 8, 1990 in Senatobia: Northwest 8, Lake Land 5 Last Meeting: February 24, 2017 in Senatobia: Northwest 13, Lake Land 2
Wallace State-Hanceville
February 26 • 1/4 P.M. • Hanceville, Ala. • James C. Bailey Stadium
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Hanceville, Ala. Founded: 1966 Enrollment: 6,000 President: Vicki P. Karolewics Athletic Director: Paul Bailey Conference: ACCCC Nickname: Lions Colors: Orange & Blue Ballpark: James C. Bailey Stadium Head Coach: Randy Putman 2021 Record: 28-21 2021 Conference Record: 19-13
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Russell Moore Phone: (256) 352-8443 Email: russell.moore@wallacestate.edu Web Address: athletics.wallacestate.edu Series History: Northwest leads series 1-0 First Meeting: February 25, 2020 in Senatobia: Northwest 8, Wallace State-Hanceville 2 Last Meeting: February 25, 2020 in Senatobia: Northwest 8, Wallace State-Hanceville 2
2021-22 SEASON OPPONENTS
Freed-Hardeman JV
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Henderson, Tenn. Founded: 1869 Enrollment: 3,945 President: David Shannon Athletic Director: Mike McCutchen Conference: Mid-South (NAIA) Nickname: Lions Colors: Maroon & Gold Ballpark: Carnes Baseball Field Head Coach: Jonathan Estes 2021 Record: 2-2 2021 Conference Record: N/A
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Taylor Hodges Phone: (731) 989-6356 Email: thodges@fhu.edu Web Address: gofhulions.com Series History: First meeting
Mississippi Delta
March 9 • 2 P.M. • Senatobia, Miss. • Jim Miles Field April 20 • 1/4 P.M. • Moorhead, Miss. • Jimmy Bellipanni Baseball Complex
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Moorhead, Miss. Founded: 1926 Enrollment: 3,609 President: Dr. Tyrone Jackson Athletic Director: Jason Conner Conference: MACCC Nickname: Trojans Colors: Red & Black Ballpark: Jimmy Bellipanni Baseball Complex Head Coach: Luke Stanley 2021 Record: 15-21 2021 Conference Record: 11-17
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Jason Conner Phone: (662) 246-6479 Email: jconner@msdelta.edu Web Address: mdcctrojans.com Series History: Northwest leads series 81-60 First Meeting: 1964 (no date recorded): Mississippi Delta 5, Northwest 1 Last Meeting: April 6, 2021 in Senatobia: Northwest 5, Mississippi Delta 3 (10 inn.)
Rend Lake
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Ina, Ill. Founded: 1955 Enrollment: 2,295 President: Terry Wilkerson Athletic Director: Tim Wills Conference: GRAC Nickname: Warriors Colors: Black & Red Ballpark: RLC Baseball Field Head Coach: Walker Bullington 2021 Record: 21-21 2021 Conference Record: 14-14
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: None (refer to AD) Phone: (618) 437-5321, ext. 1270 Email: wills@rlc.edu Web Address: rendlakewarriors.com Series History: Northwest leads series 7-4 First Meeting: February 19, 2010 in Senatobia: Northwest 10, Rend Lake 8 Last Meeting: February 18, 2017 in Senatobia: Northwest 4, Rend Lake 3
Coahoma
March 9 • 5 P.M. • Senatobia, Miss. • Jim Miles Field April 6 • 1/4 P.M. • Clarksdale, Miss. • Eddie C. Smith Sportsplex
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Clarksdale, Miss. Founded: 1949 Enrollment: 1,860 President: Dr. Valmadge Towner Athletic Director: Reggy Hankerson Conference: MACCC Nickname: Tigers Colors: Maroon & Silver Ballpark: Eddie C. Smith Sportsplex Head Coach: Lee Hodge 2021 Record: 6-28 2021 Conference Record: 6-15
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Bradley Charles Phone: (662) 621-4044 Email: bcharles@coahomacc.edu Web Address: coahomasports.com Series History: Northwest leads series 116-5 First Meeting: 1972 (no date recorded): Northwest 16, Coahoma 1 Last Meeting: March 16, 2021 in Senatobia: Northwest 11, Coahoma 2
2021-22 SEASON OPPONENTS
Pearl River
March 12 • 1/4 P.M. • Poplarville, Miss. • Dub Herring Park
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Poplarville, Miss. Founded: 1924 Enrollment: 3,914 President: Dr. Adam Breerwood Athletic Director: Scotty Fletcher Conference: MACCC Nickname: Wildcats Colors: Maroon & Gold Ballpark: Dub Herring Park Head Coach: Michael Avalon 2021 Record: 36-9 2021 Conference Record: 23-5
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Dylan Dunaway Phone: (601) 403-1488 Email: ddunaway@prcc.edu Web Address: prccathletics.com Series History: Pearl River leads series 14-10 First Meeting: April 27, 1988 in Senatobia: Northwest 4, Pearl River 1 Last Meeting: November 4, 2021 in Senatobia: Pearl River 12, Northwest 0
Mississippi Gulf Coast
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Perkinston, Miss. Founded: 1911 Enrollment: 5,678 President: Dr. Mary S. Graham Athletic Director: Steven Campbell, Jr. Conference: MACCC Nickname: Bulldogs Colors: Blue & Gold Ballpark: Ken “Curly” Farris Field Head Coach: Bob Keller 2021 Record: 20-21 2021 Conference Record: 16-12
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Don Hammack Phone: (601) 928-6315 Email: don.hammack@mgccc.edu Web Address: mgcccbulldogs.com Series History: Northwest leads series 24-23 First Meeting: 1972 (no date recorded): Mississippi Gulf Coast 6, Northwest 0 Last Meeting: March 6, 2021 in Perkinston: Mississippi Gulf Coast 4, Northwest 3
Itawamba
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Fulton, Miss. Founded: 1948 Enrollment: 4,238 President: Dr. Jay Allen Athletic Director: Carrie Ball-Williamson Conference: MACCC Nickname: Indians Colors: Red & Navy Ballpark: Roy Cresap Field Head Coach: Rick Collier 2021 Record: 25-15 2021 Conference Record: 19-9
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Adam Gore Phone: (662) 862-8059 Email: acgore@iccms.edu Web Address: letsgoicc.com Series History: Northwest leads series 85-72-1 First Meeting: 1964 in Fulton (no date recorded): Itawamba 9, Northwest 5 Last Meeting: April 20, 2021: Itawamba 13, Northwest 7
East Mississippi
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Scooba, Miss. Founded: 1927 Enrollment: 3,232 President: Scott Alsobrooks Athletic Director: Sharon Thompson Conference: MACCC Nickname: Lions Colors: Red, Black & White Ballpark: Gerald Poole Field Head Coach: Brett Kimbrel 2021 Record: 18-18 2021 Conference Record: 11-17
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: David Rosinski Phone: (662) 476-5042 Email: drosinski@eastms.edu Web Address: emccathletics.com Series History: Northwest leads series 78-41 First Meeting: 1964 in Scooba (no date recorded): East Mississippi 4, Northwest 3 Last Meeting: March 3, 2021 in Senatobia: Northwest 5, East Mississippi 2 (9 inn.)
2021-22 SEASON OPPONENTS
Meridian
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Meridian, Miss. Founded: 1937 Enrollment: 3,096 President: Dr. Tom Huebner Athletic Director: Sander Atkinson Conference: MACCC Nickname: Eagles Colors: Green & White Ballpark: Scaggs Field Head Coach: Dillon Sudduth 2021 Record: 32-13 2021 Conference Record: 20-8
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Christopher Haralson Phone: (601) 484-8828 Email: charals1@meridiancc.edu Web Address: mcceagles.com Series History: Meridian leads series 20-12 First Meeting: 1979 (no date recorded): Northwest 4, Meridian 3 Last Meeting: March 13, 2021 in Meridian: Meridian 7, Northwest 6 (9 inn.)
Jones College
April 2 • 2/5 P.M. • Ellisville, Miss. • Community Bank Park
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Ellisville, Miss. Founded: 1911 Enrollment: 3,876 President: Dr. Jesse Smith Athletic Director: Joel Cain Conference: MACCC Nickname: Bobcats Colors: Maroon & Gold Ballpark: Community Bank Park Head Coach: Wes Thigpen 2021 Record: 25-20 2021 Conference Record: 17-11
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Kevin Maloney Phone: (601) 477-4146 Email: kevin.maloney@jcjc.edu Web Address: jcbobcats.com Series History: Jones College leads series 27-16 First Meeting: March 3, 1990 in Ellisville: Jones College 3, Northwest 1 Last Meeting: March 20, 2021 in Senatobia: Northwest 3, Jones College 2
Northeast
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Booneville, Miss. Founded: 1948 Enrollment: 3,500 President: Ricky G. Ford Athletic Director: Kent Farris Conference: MACCC Nickname: Tigers Colors: Black & Gold Ballpark: Northeast Baseball Complex Head Coach: Richy Harrelson 2021 Record: 17-23 2021 Conference Record: 10-18
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Blake Long Phone: (662) 720-7448 Email: bdlong@nemcc.edu Web Address: nemccathletics.com Series History: Northwest leads series 103-47 First Meeting: 1964 in Booneville (no date recorded): Northwest 11, Northeast 4 Last Meeting: March 10, 2021 in Booneville: Northwest 11, Northeast 0 (5 inn.)
Hinds
April 9 • 2/5 P.M. • Raymond, Miss. • Joe G. Moss Field
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Raymond, Miss. Founded: 1903 Enrollment: 12,000 President: Dr. Stephen Vacik Athletic Director: Nathan Werremeyer Conference: MACCC Nickname: Eagles Colors: Maroon & White Ballpark: Joe G. Moss Field Head Coach: Dan Rives 2021 Record: 25-18 2021 Conference Record: 19-11
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Matthew Alford Phone: (601) 857-3323 Email: matthew.alford@hindscc.edu Web Address: sports.hindscc.edu Series History: Hinds leads series 36-28 First Meeting: 1976 (no date recorded): Northwest 4, Hinds 3 Last Meeting: March 28, 2021 in Senatobia: Northwest 1, Hinds 0
2021-22 SEASON OPPONENTS
Holmes
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Goodman, Miss. Founded: 1925 Enrollment: 5,678 President: Dr. Jim Haffey Athletic Director: Andy Wood Conference: MACCC Nickname: Bulldogs Colors: Cardinal, Black & White Ballpark: Charlie Donald Field Head Coach: Scott DeLoach 2021 Record: 5-33 2021 Conference Record: 3-25
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Steve Diffey Phone: (662) 472-9068 Email: sdiffey@holmescc.edu Web Address: holmesathletics.com Series History: Northwest leads series 73-40 First Meeting: 1964 in Senatobia (no date recorded): Northwest 15, Holmes 2 Last Meeting: April 2, 2021 in Senatobia: Northwest 13, Holmes 6
Copiah-Lincoln
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Wesson, Miss. Founded: 1928 Enrollment: 3,094 President: Dr. Jane Hulon Sims Athletic Director: Bryan Nobile Conference: MACCC Nickname: Wolves Colors: Blue & Gray Ballpark: Walter R. Sullivan Field Head Coach: Clay Smith 2021 Record: 19-24 2021 Conference Record: 15-13
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Natalie Davis Phone: (601) 643-8354 Email: natalie.davis@colin.edu Web Address: colinathletics.com Series History: Northwest leads series 30-11 First Meeting: March 4, 1990 in Wesson: Northwest 10, Copiah-Lincoln 4 Last Meeting: April 18, 2021 in Wesson: Copiah-Lincoln 6, Northwest 3
East Central
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Decatur, Miss. Founded: 1928 Enrollment: 1,958 President: Dr. Brent Gregory Athletic Director: Paul Nixon Conference: MACCC Nickname: Warriors Colors: Black & Gold Ballpark: Clark-Gay Baseball Complex Head Coach: Neal Holliman 2021 Record: 30-17 2021 Conference Record: 23-10
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Lucas Calvert Phone: (601) 635-6377 Email: lcalvert@eccc.edu Web Address: ecccathletics.com Series History: Northwest leads series 31-27 First Meeting: 1973 in Decatur (no date recorded): No score recorded Last Meeting: May 8, 2021 in Decatur: East Central 13, Northwest 5
Southwest Mississippi
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Summit, Miss. Founded: 1932 Enrollment: 1,788 President: Dr. J. Steven Bishop Athletic Director: Bill Wallace Conference: MACCC Nickname: Bears Colors: Blue & Red Ballpar: Bear Park Head Coach: Jack Edmonson 2021 Record: 7-29 2021 Conference Record: 6-22
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Travis Connelly Phone: (601) 276-3878 Email: tconnelley@smcc.edu Web Address: southwestbearathletics.com Series History: Northwest leads series 16-9 First Meeting: 1993 in Summit (no date recorded): Southwest Mississippi 1, Northwest 0 Last Meeting: April 25, 2021 in Summit: Northwest 5, Southwest Mississippi 2
