North Pike’s Tyler Travis, Wesson’s Joseph Langham and McComb’sPat Barnes made the plays on the field and provided key leadershiptheir senior year during the 2004 baseball season.

Travis, the starting North Pike catcher, held a .463 battingaverage, including 3 home runs, 1 triple and 7 doubles for theSummit-based Jaguars. North Pike finished the season 17-6 (10-0 inDivision 7-3A) under the direction of 2004 Area Coach of the YearGeorge Lott.

For his achievements, Travis has been selected as Mr. Baseballand the Most Valuable Player on The DAILY LEADER’s 2004 All-AreaBaseball Team.

Langham is the All-Area Defensive Player of the Year and Barneswas picked the Offensive Player of the Year. Both players arerepeaters from the 2003 All-Area Dream Team.

The dream team is composed of players outside of Lincoln County.The players were selected by members of the DL staff with inputprovided by high school and college coaches.

Joining Travis behind the plate is Wesson’s TylerBroome.

On the mound are Langham, Tyler Cummins of Franklin County,Brett Hicks of Parklane and Justin Hay of McComb.

Making up the infield are Brandon Erwin of McComb, BlakeRobinson of Parklane, Dean Lewis of Amite School Center and CraigDickerson of North Pike.

In the outfield are Nick Gunter of Wesson, Jasper O’Quinn ofFranklin County, Marlon Stanfield of Lawrence County and Jeff Westof North Pike. O’Quinn is a repeater from last year’steam.

Barnes is the designated hitter.

Michael Lewis of McComb and Klein Harbour of Lawrence Countyare the utility players.

Tyler Travis (6-0, 185) said he appreciated beingnamed the Area MVP. “I think it is great,” smiled Travis. “I loveto hit and I love to throw.”

Lott has watched Travis grow into a fine catcher anda quality hitter.

“Tyler has always caught for us,” explained Lott.”He catches real good. He has come a long ways. He hits the ballwith a lot of power.” Travis’ slugging percentage was .796 and hison-base percentage was .580.

Travis signed a baseball scholarship with theSouthwest Bears.

Joseph Langham (5-11, 170) was the leading pitcherfor the Wesson Cobras. The 13-9 Cobras finished second behind theLoyd Star Hornets in the Division 6-2A race and advanced to thestate playoffs.

“Joseph did a real good job for us,” said Wessonhead baseball coach Hugh Knight. “He was a good leader and one ofour leading hitters. He did a good job on the mound. We will misshim.”

Langham finished the season with an 8-2 record. Hepitched 54.2 innings with 68 strikeouts, 6 walks, allowed 2 homeruns, 1 triple, 8 doubles for 44 hits and 33runs.

“It’s a great thing,” said Langham. “I reallyappreciate it. Coach Knight is a good coach. We were a young team.I was really surprised how well we did.”

Langham felt his best attribute as a pitcher was hiscontrol. “My slider is my best pitch.”

At the plate, Langham held a .461 batting average.In 76 at bats, he hit 4 homers and 9 doubles. He had 35 hits and 24RBIs.

Langham signed a baseball scholarship with theCo-Lin Wolves.

Pat Barnes (6-1,185) helped Coach Chuck Freeman’sMcComb-based Tigers to an 18-12 record and runners-up in Division6-4A to eventual state champ Brookhaven. Barnes signed athleticscholarships to play both football and baseball with the SouthwestBears .

Barnes, who played center field in baseball and quarterbackin football, held a .518 batting average and belted 6 home runsduring the season. He was named to the MHSAA All-Star team and theMAC All-Star as well as an All-Division selection.

“He (Barnes) has been an enjoyable player to watch,” saidFreeman. “He is a real talented offensive player. His numbersincreased. He signed with Southwest in baseball and football. He isgoing to see which sport he matures in best.

“He is excited about playing baseball for Coach (Pete)Young.”

Tyler Broome, a junior catcher,started for Wesson and finished the season with a .338batting average. He hit 1 home run, 1 triple and 4 doubles for 19RBIs and 22 hits.

Tyler Cummins, a senior pitcher/firstbaseman, finished the season for Franklin Countywith a .279 batting average. Cummins played for Coach Ed Zumbro Jr.His record was 5-4 on the mound with 52 strikeouts in 27 inningsfor a 2.02 ERA. At the plate, he collected 11 RBIs and stole eightbases.

Brett Hicks, a senior pitcher,played for Coach Ken Jackson’s Parklane Pioneers. Hicksfinished the season with a .333 batting average, including 2homers. Hicks had a 4-2 record with a 2.0 ERA, striking out 32batters in 42 innings.

Hicks was selected to the Academy South AAA All-Starteam. He signed a football scholarship with the SouthwestBears.

Justin Hay, a junior pitcher, also worked as acatcher for McComb. Hay finished with a 5-1 record for an ERA of2.94 with 3 saves. His loss came at the hands of Petal in the Class4A state playoffs.

Brandon Erwin, a senior first baseman, played firstbase for the Tigers, finishing with a .363 batting average,including 9 home runs for 39 RBIs. Erwin signed withSouthwest.

Blake Robinson, a senior pitcher/secondbaseman, batted .397 with 30 RBI for the Pioneersand was hit by a pitch 18 times. Robinson also hit 2 homeruns.

On the mound, he finished 3-2 on the season with a3.29 era. Robinson struck out 25 batters in 27 innings. He wasselected to the Academy South AAA All-Star team.

Dean Lewis, a senior shortstop, played for AmiteSchool Center as a shortstop his senior year. Lewis batted .465with an .880 fielding percentage. He was named to the MPSAAll-Stars.

Craig Dickerson, a junior, finished the year atNorth Pike with a .439 batting average, including 5 home runs, 6doubles and a triple. Dickerson played thirdbase.

Nick Gunter,a senior outfielder/pitcher, finishedhis senior year for Wesson with a .473 batting average. Gunter, whosigned to play football at Co-Lin as a placekicker, collected 35hits for 19 RBIs including 3 homers, 2 triples and 6doubles.

On the mound, Gunter was 5-4 with a 1.34 ERA. Heworked 57.2 innings with 95 strikeouts, 33 walks, 32 home runs, 1triple and 6 doubles allowed for 26 hits and 23 runsscored.

Jasper O’Quinn, a junior centerfielder, finishedwith a .310 batting average for Franklin County. He hit 1 homer, 8doubles and 2 triples for 29 RBIs. He stole 37 bases. In 3 years,he has stolen a school-record of 114 stolen bases for a career .942stealing percentage. His base percentage was .550 and he has ledthe state in stolen bases the last 2 years.

Jeff West, a senior centerfielder, batted .362 forNorth Pike with 2 home runs and 2 doubles. He was named to theAll-District 3A Team. He signed a baseball scholarship with JonesCounty.

Marlon Stanfield, a senior outfielder,held a .385 batting average with 40 hits including 1 homerfor Lawrence County. He had a .475 on base percentage for CoachChris Clark’s Cougars. On the mound, Stanfield was 2-0 with a 1.27ERA. He signed a football scholarship withCo-Lin.

Michael Lewis, a senior catcher/shortstop, signedwith Southwest following his senior year at McComb. Lewis, whoplayed catcher, shortstop and the outfield, wrapped up his finalyear with a .481 batting average, including 1 home run, 3 triplesand 8 doubles for 23 RBIs. He also stole 20 bases and was named tothe MHSAA All-Star Team.

Klein Harbour, a senior pitcher/first baseman,started for Lawrence County and was .365 at the plate with 2 homeruns and 25 RBIs.

Harbour was 4-3 on the mound with 63 strikeouts in 63innings. He has signed a baseball scholarship with East MississippiCommunity College.