MCC Baseball Continues Tradition

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College baseball team has had a long standing tradition of sending its players to the next level and four more players can now say they are among the elite. The MCC baseball team held a special signing ceremony in the Castell Gallery Wednesday afternoon on campus to recognize the four young men that have officially signed national letters of intent with the university of their choice.

Jonathan Porter (University of West Alabama), Dalton Thomas (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), Bryant Johnston (Delta State University), and Jake Smith (Nicholls State University) made it official Wednesday afternoon during the ceremony with family, friends, and teammates in attendance.  

“Dalton, Jake, Bryant, and Jonathan signing to continue their baseball careers and education is not just a great day for our program, but also for Meridian Community College,” said MCC head coach Dillon Sudduth. “From the administration to professors, and everyone that has been involved in these young men’s two years at MCC should be proud.”

Porter will be taking his talents to the Gulf South Conference next season to be a part of the squad at the University of West Alabama. Porter, a former Clarkdale star, saw significant time on the mound last season for the Eagles. Porter finished 2014 with a 2-3 record and complied a 4.05 ERA for the Eagles who finished runner-up in the 2014 Region 23 Tournament. Porter collected 38 strikeouts in 40 innings, while earning one save out of the bullpen. Porter enjoyed a great high school career under the direction of head coach Scott Gibson at Clarkdale High School. Porter finished his senior year at Clarkdale with a 9-1 record and a 1.06 ERA for the Bulldogs, while collecting 92 strikeouts in just over 59 innings pitched. Porter ended his senior season for Clarkdale with eight complete games and four shutout wins, to go along with a no-hitter at one point in his career. Porter will look to help boost the pitching staff at UWA next season after the Tigers finished the 2014 campaign with a 27-18 overall record and 15-12 in GSC action.

Dalton Thomas also made his intentions known Wednesday afternoon by signing with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Thomas will be joining former MCC head coach Chris Curry next season to try and boost the lineup for the Trojans. Curry was named the head coach at Arkansas-Little Rock back during the summer after spending two seasons as the pitching coach at Northwestern State University. Thomas should bring plenty of pop to the lineup after having a superb 2014 season for the Eagles. Thomas finished the season with a .323 batting average, seven homers, and 34 RBI’s for MCC head coach Dillon Sudduth. Thomas primarily played in the outfield and at first base last season for MCC.

Sophomore Bryant Johnston also joined the signing class Wednesday afternoon and inked with in-state power Delta State University. Johnston was a key factor out of the bullpen for MCC in 2014 and should make an immediate impact for the Statesmen. Johnston finished the season with a 3-2 record and recorded four saves out of the pen. Johnston complied a 3.93 ERA and collected 49 strikeouts, to go along with 22 appearances out of pen for the green and white.

Sophomore Jake Smith was the final player to sign his national letter of intent Wednesday afternoon by inking with Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA. Smith finished the 2014 season for MCC with a 3-4 record and a 4.85 ERA. Smith finished with 43 strikeouts and worked just over 42 innings on the mound in 2014 for the Eagles.