Five MCC Baseball Players Ink Scholarships

From School Reports


The Meridian Community College baseball program has had a long standing tradition of paving the way for its players to excel at the next level. MCC baseball announced that five players on the current baseball team will continue their baseball and academic careers next season.

Wes Stokes, Johnny Tolson, Michael Manley, Gabe Woods, and Samuel Peterson all signed their national letters of intent in front a great crowd at the Castell Gallery at the MCC campus Friday morning.

Stokes signed his national letter of intent to play in the Southeastern Conference next season for Mississippi State University. Stokes is a native of Meridian, MS and attended high school at West Lauderdale. Stokes has enjoyed a superb 2012 season at Meridian Community College by leading the Eagles to a Miss-Lou Conference Championship. Stokes is currently 6-0 on the mound for and has logged over 67 innings, while collecting 45 strikeouts. Stokes has pitched two complete game shutouts this season and both game were conference wins against Baton Rouge Community College.

Stokes will join a list of players that have signed to play at Mississippi State that includes: Lake Thoms, Shane Kelly, Chris Curry (current MCC head coach), Casey Long, Todd Doolittle, Tyler Moore, and Wesley Thigpen.

Tolson will also take his talents to the SEC next season and play for the University of Arkansas. Tolson is a native of Lafayette, LA and has hit in the middle of the MCC lineup for most of the season. Tolson is currently hitting .355 for the Eagles, with one home run and 30 RBIs. Tolson is second on the team with 61 hits and has played a majority of his games this season at third base.

Manley will take his talents to Delta State University of the Gulf South Conference next season. Manley is a native of Terry, MS and was selected as a member of the 2011 All-Region Team as a freshman. Manley has logged over 44 innings and has collected 34 strikeouts, to go along with a 6-4 record. Manley has been used primarily out of the bullpen for much of the season at MCC and will look to make an immediate impact for the Statesman next season. Manley will join former MCC standout Ben Kingsley, who is currently a member of the team at Delta State University.

Woods will be continuing his career at Southeastern Louisiana University next season. Woods is a native of Albany, LA and transferred to MCC after spending a season at Ole Miss. Woods has played all of his games at second base this season and has been very productive at the plate recently for the Eagles. Woods is currently hitting .325 with three home runs and 40 RBIs.

Peterson also put to pen to paper on Friday morning by signing with McNesse State University. Peterson transferred to MCC after spending one season as a member of the baseball team at LSU. Peterson has played first base and catcher for much of the season, and has also pitched this season for MCC. Peterson is currently hitting .253 with 10 RBIs, and 12 runs scored. Peterson finished the season with a 2-1 record on the mound and logged over 21 innings pitched.

MCC is currently in preparation to host the 2012 Region 23 Tournament next weekend at Scaggs Field. The Eagles won the right to the host the event by winning the regular season Miss-Lou Conference Championship. The tournament is scheduled for May 11-13 at Scaggs Field.