MEADVILLE – Franklin County outfielder Vance Windom and NorthPike pitcher Dusty Davis and shortstop Justin Boyd were standoutplayers on their respective 2002 baseball teams.

Windom’s fielding and hitting ability helped the FC Bulldogs toa 24-10 record and the Division 7-3A title. Windom and the Bulldogsfell to a tough Greene County team in the first round of the statebaseball playoffs.

For his accomplishments, Windom has been named All- Area MostValuable Player on the The Daily Leader’s 2002 All-Area BaseballTeam.

North Pike Jaguars Davis and Boyd contributed immensely to theirteam’s success, finishing with a 16-6 record and runner-up in theDivision 7-3A. Davis has been selected as Defensive Player of theYear and Boyd is the Offensive Player.

The dream team, composed of players outside Lincoln County, wasselected by members of the DL’s sports staff, with input providedby area college coaches.

Joining Windom in the outfield are Carl Finch of North Pike andKlein Harbour of Lawrence County.

Also on the pitching staff are Thomas Garland of Copiah Academy,Pat Barnes of McComb and Colby Beach and Tommy Arnold of FranklinCounty.

In the infield are Davis, Calson Cline from Copiah Academy, KyleGinn Jr. from Parklane and David Gilbert from Lawrence County.

The catching staff features Dooley Simmons of Parklane, BertSmith of Franklin County, Ryan Williams of Wesson and Zach Powellof Lawrence County.

John Birdsong of Amite School Center and Brandon Halford ofFranklin County are the designated hitters. Jesse Boyd of McComb isthe utility player.

“It means a lot to me,” said Windom of his award. “I don’t knowhow to explain it, but I liked being named for it. I just gave itmy all this season and it paid off.”

Windom, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 175 pounds, is a senior.He batted .303 with four home runs, 27 hits and 33 RBIs. He wasnamed MVP on the All-Division 7-3A team.

Windom has played center field for four years. He also playedfootball as tight end and outside linebacker.

This summer, Windom is playing baseball for the BrookhavenBrakemen of the Cotton State League.

Windom added, “I’d like to thank God, my parents, coaches, fansand I’m honored about receiving this award.”

Windom plans to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College andmajor in special education. He will walk on with the Wolfpackbaseball team. Windom would also like to coach baseball.

“Vance is a team leader,” said Franklin County head baseballcoach Ed Zumbro, Jr. “He is our most dependable hitter. I thinkeveryone accepted him as leader. He led us in prayer every day.Overall, he’s one of our best leaders we’ve ever had.”

Dusty Davis (6-0, 170) is an exceptional left-handed pitcher forCoach George Lott’s Jaguars. Davis, a junior, finished the 2002season with a 7-3 record and a 0.92 ERA.

“My best pitch is my fastball,” said Davis who was strugglingwith laryngitis after attending Boys State at Delta StateUniversity this week.

“My average is 85-86 miles per hour but I was clocked at 89,”said Davis.

Davis worked 61 innings with 135 recorded strikeouts and allowedjust 10 total hits in 10 games. His fastball has been clocked at 89mph. He was named to the Division 7-3A team as Defensive Player ofthe Year.

“It’s a pretty good honor,” added Davis about being namedDefensive Player of the Year. “I would like to thank the Lord.”

North Pike coach George Lott III said Davis has a bright futurein baseball. “Dusty was our ace this year. He kept us in a lot ofgames with good pitches.”

Justin Boyd (6-0, 185) finished up his senior year with NorthPike playing shortstop. He led the Jags with a .417 battingaverage, hitting one home run and five doubles. Boyd was named tothe Division 7-3A Team.

“It is an honor to have been picked,” stated Boyd. “It has beenfun. It was a good year. We got together and played good.”

Boyd uses a Triple 7 aluminum bat to collect all of his hits.The bat is a 33-inch, 30-ounce specimen.

Last Saturday, Boyd played for the South All-Stars in theCrossroads Diamond Club/Pizza Hut Mississippi Class 3A/2A/1AAll-Star baseball Game that was won by the North 7-5.

Boyd hasn’t signed with any college and says he may attendSouthwest Community College this fall. He is working at hisfamily’s new restaurant this summer.

Cal Finch, a senior, played left field for North Pike. Finchbatted .411 with three triples and two stolen bases. He wasselected to the Division 7-3A squad.

Klein Harbour, a sophomore, played extremely well for CoachChris Clark’s Lawrence County Cougars who finished the season18-13-1. Harbour held a .324 batting average and had 26 RBI.

Thomas Garland, a senior, posted a 5-3 record for Coach TerryBarner’s Copiah Academy Colonels. At the plate, Garland held a .300average. Garland, an outstanding punter, signed a footballscholarship with the Co-Lin Wolves.

Colby Beach, a junior, worked for Franklin County as both apitcher and a third baseman. Beach was 6-3 on the mound. He batted.432 with three home runs, 31 RBI, 38 hits and six stolen bases.Beach was honored as the Most Valuable Player in the Division7-3A.

Pat Barnes, a sophomore, pitched and played outfield for theMcComb Tigers. Barnes was 7-4 on the mound with 69 strikeouts in 63innings for an ERA of 2.44. He was named to the Division 6-4A teamand held a .427 batting average with three homers, one triple, ninedoubles and 23 RBIs.

Tommy Arnold, a senior, started on the mound for Franklin Countyand finished the season with a 5-0 worksheet. Arnold threw aperfect game against division foe Hazlehurst this season. Heallowed just six hits in five games.

Arnold held a .333 batting average and was selected to theDivision 7-3A team.

Calson Cline, a senior, batted .400 with 30 RBI for Copiah thisseason. Cline played first base and the outfield.

Kyle Ginn, Jr., a senior, was a shortstop for Coach KenJackson’s Parklane Pioneers. Ginn held a .452 batting average withthree home runs, a triple and 10 doubles and 29 RBI’s. Parklanefell to Starkville in the Class AAAA championship series. Ginn hassigned to play for Meridian Community College next fall.

David Gilbert, a junior, stood out for Lawrence County playingsecond base this season. Gilbert held a .290 batting average and a.420 on base percentage, stealing 17 out of 17 bases.

Dooley Simmons, a senior, was a catcher for Parklane. At theplate, Simmons had a .438 batting average with four home runs,three triples, 14 doubles and 29 RBI.

Bert Smith, a senior, played catcher for Franklin County and waselected to the Division 7-3A team. Smith batted .262 with 17 hitsand nine RBI.

Ryan Williams, a junior, was starting catcher for the 12-17Wesson Cobras who were coached by Jerry Brewer. Williams batted.352 with three home runs, two triples, 11 doubles and 14 RBI. Healso stole 11 bases.

John Birdsong, a senior, batted .463 with 9 homers, including 3grand slams for Coach Stephen Cooksey’s ASC squad. On the mound heposted a 6-1 record and a 4.01 ERA as the Rebels advanced to theClass A state championship game. Birdsong has signed a scholarshipwith Southwest.

Zach Powell, a junior, was catcher for Lawrence County. Powellfinished with a .313 batting average.

Brandon Halford, a junior, batted as the designated hitter forFranklin County. Halford ended the season with a .500 battingaverage, collecting two home runs, 13 hits and 11 RBI’s.

Jesse Boyd, a senior, played first base for the McComb Tigerswho were under the direction of Chuck Freeman. Boyd held a .366batting average with one home run, eight doubles and 23 RBI. He wasnamed to the All-Division 6-4A team and has signed with theSouthwest Bears.

HONORABLE MENTION WITH DISTINCTION

Amite School Center: Steward Gordon, Jeremy Perkins.

Copiah Academy – Patrick Williams.

Franklin County – Will Buckels, Jasper O’Quinn

Lawrence County – Casey Williams

McComb – Jarrod Dyson, Michael Lewis, Chany Stiers

North Pike – Tyler Travis

Wesson – Russell Robinson, Joseph Langham, Justin Smith.