Hinds baseball signs eight prep athletes

Raymond, Miss – The Hinds Community College baseball program recently added eight student-athletes from metro-area high schools during the first week of the early signing period for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

The eight student-athletes are Caleb Baucum (Hillcrest Christian School), Carey Taylor and Joseph Veazey (Brandon High School), Jacob Thomas (Vicksburg High School), Ryno Martin-nez and Pierson Waring (St. Aloysius), and Alex and Andrew Gunn (Clinton High School).

“We are pleased to announce our early signing class. By signing some of the better players in the area, we will continue to help our program grow and be successful,” said Hinds head coach Sam Temple. “We are always looking for dual position players, and there are six athletes in this class that play a position and pitch, which helps us maximize our scholarships.”

Baucum is an outfielder/right-handed pitcher for the Cougars. The Byram resident has been a three-year standout for the tradition-rich program headed by Shane Kelly. Baucum shows versatility on defense and is a powerful right-handed hitter.

Taylor is a right-handed pitcher/infielder who will serve as the Bulldogs ace pitcher as a senior. He has the ability to throw three pitches for a strike and is a right-handed hitting third baseman.

Veazey is the Bulldogs catcher for Neill Bartling’s Brandon Bulldogs. He possesses a strong throwing arm and excellent blocking skills behind the plate while also serving as the Bulldogs’ cleanup hitter.

Thomas is a left-handed pitcher/infielder for Jamie Creel’s Vicksburg High Gators. The southpaw is an equally effective pitcher and position player, where he hits in the middle of the lineup and plays first base for Vicksburg High.

Martin-nez and Waring have started for the Flashes since the seventh grade, with Martin-nez serving as the team’s shortstop and pitcher, while Waring has had a highly successful career as second baseman and leadoff hitter for St. Al.

Alex Gunn is a left-handed pitcher/infielder for the Clinton Arrows, where he will fill the role of number one starter on the mound as a senior. He will also hit in the middle of the Arrows’ lineup.

Andrew Gunn is a left-handed pitcher/outfielder for Eddie Lofton’s team, where he will assume the number two role on the Arrows pitching staff, and will hit at the top of the Arrows’ batting order.

“I am looking forward to coaching each one of these young men,” said Temple. “They are all very good students and hard-nosed ballplayers who will fit in well with our program, both on and off the field.”

Hinds opens the 2010 baseball season on Saturday, Feb. 13 at home versus Mississippi Delta Community College. The first pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.

First picture: Seated (L to R): Tammy Baucum (mother) and Caleb Baucum of Byram; Standing (L to R): Jonathan Grantham, Hillcrest asst. baseball coach; Shane Kelly, Hillcrest head baseball coach; Bradley Lum, Hinds asst. baseball coach and Sam Temple, Hinds head baseball coach

Second picture: Seated (L to R): Philip Gunn (father), Alex Gunn, Andrew Gunn and Lisa Gunn (mother). Standing (L to R): Sam Temple, Hinds head baseball coach and Eddie Lofton, Clinton High head baseball coach

Third picture: Seated (L to R): Pierson Waring and Ryno Martin-nez. Standing (L to R): Clint Wilkerson, St. Aloysius head baseball coach; Howard and Belinda Waring (father and mother); Cindy and Randy Martin-nez (mother and father) and Sam Temple, Hinds head baseball coach

Fourth picture: Seated (L to R): Tommy Taylor (father), Carey Taylor and Dorian Taylor (mother). Standing (L to R): Neill Bartling, Brandon High head baseball coach, Phillip O’Brien, Boycee Varnes, Jeb Lee and Kary Bridges, all Brandon High asst. coaches, and Bradley Lum, Hinds asst. baseball coach.

Fifth picture: Seated (L to R): Joy Thomas (mother), Jacob Thomas and Marshall Thomas (father). Standing (L to R): Jamie Creel, Vicksburg High head baseball coach and Dan Rives, Hinds asst. baseball coach

Sixth picture: Seated (L to R): Patrum Veazey (father), Joseph Veazey, Vicky Veazey (mother) and Booth Veazey (brother). Standing (L to R): Neill Bartling, Brandon High head baseball coach, Phillip O’Brien and Jeb Lee, Brandon High asst. baseball coaches, and Bradley Lum, Hinds asst. baseball coach

For more on Hinds sports please go to www.hindsccsports.com