McComb shortstop/pitcher Alonzo Harris used his athletic skillsto become one of the best players in southwest Mississippi. Harris(5-10, 165.) powered McComb at the plate, batting .540 with 25singles, 11 doubles, 3 triples and 11 home runs for 45 RBI andscored 60 runs. Harris, who runs a 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds,also stole 30 bases. He has signed a baseball scholarship with theSouthwest Mississippi Community College Bears.

For his accomplishments, Harris has been named Mr. Baseball andthe Most Valuable Player on The DAILY LEADER’S 2007 All-AreaBaseball Team.

Lawrence County pitcher Joseph Evans and LCHS infielder TrentHartzog were seniors who stood out during the 2007 baseballseason.

Hartzog is Offensive Player of the Year and Evans is DefensivePlayer of the Year. Both Hartzog and Evans have signed scholarshipsto play baseball at Co-Lin.

Joining Evans on the mound are pitchers Scott Reese of CopiahAcademy, Casey Paulk of North Pike and McKenzie Woods of LawrenceCounty.

Behind the plate are catchers Cable McMinn of Franklin County,Bubba Boggs of Parklane and Brandt Hood of Wesson.

In the Dream Team’s infield are Micah Davis of Wesson, MitchellYoung of North Pike and Nick Jackson of Lawrence County.

The outfielders include Corey Jones and Dane Hodges of FranklinCounty and Daniel Watson of Wesson.

The team’s designated hitter is Drew Richardson of North Pike.Utility players are David Hobkirk and Bennett Wilson of CopiahAcademy. The Dream Team, composed of players outside LincolnCounty, was selected by members of the DL’s sports staff, withinput provided by high school and college coaches.

“I feel good about MVP on All Area,” said Harris who ispreparing to play on the South Team in the June 11 Mississippi HighSchool All-Star Baseball Game at Trustmark Park in Pearl. He wasalso named All Division MVP, McComb Co-Captain and selected to theMcComb Athletic Hall of Fame.

Harris took on pitching duties during the year and finished witha 3-2 record. One of the biggest wins was over rivalBrookhaven.

“It was fun.” explained Harris. “There was a lot of pressure. Ihad to lead the team. I like being in that position.”

Harris said his best hitting games were against North Pike andLawrence County, where he hit 2 home runs against each team

His favorite bat is the Exo Grid Liquid Metal. It’s a 33-30.

“I felt good about beating Brookhaven,” stated Harris. “I hadgone to Brookhaven (through 8th grade) earlier. I threw 184 pitchesin that game. My best pitch is my curveball.”

When asked about his fastest pitch, Harris replied, “I clockedonce at 91 (miles per hour) at one time. I throw mostly 88-89.”

Harris wants to major in education and be a coach and a ateacher.

McComb head baseball coach Brady Jones said he enjoyed coachingHarris his senior year. “Alonzo is a guy that can hit. He has agood throwing arm. He plays hard. He is one of those players thatis confident in everything he does.

“Alonzo is the most confident player I have ever been around,”continued Jones. “His stats speak for themselves. He stepped up andgot on the mound when others went down. He came to work every day.He is a quick as a cat. He is one of the best runners in the state.He can run it.”

Harris said he is a switch hitter. “I batted right handed andthrow right handed. I can bat left handed, too.”

He is the son of Alonzo and Charlotte Denise Harris, Sr. He wasa start quarterback on McComb’s football team.

“I’d like to thank everyone that supported me,” added Harris. “Ithank God first. Thank Brookhaven and the surrounding area. And thepeople that believe in me.”

Joseph Evans (5-11, 165, sr. ), a right-handedpitcher, finished his season for Coach Cory Keyes’ LCHS Cougarswith a 9-1 record. Evans had a 1.48 ERA, with 68 strikeouts in 56innings. He holds the school victory record with 23 wins.

“It’s an honor to be on it,” said Evans of the All-Area Team.”I’m excited about it.”

At the plate, Evans batted .415, with 12 doubles, a triple, 2home runs and 25 RBIs. His favorite bat is an Ethan Sleat. He stole13 bases and was selected to the 4A/5A All-Star Team.

“Joseph has been a four-year starter for us,” said Coach Keyes.”He is a big-time, complete player.”

Evans plans to major in engineering at Co-Lin.

Trent Hartzog (5-11, 165, sr.) played shortstop andpitched for LCHS. Hartzog batted .402 with 6 doubles, 3 home runsand 29 RBIs.

“It’s an honor to be on a team with all of the greatplayers in the area,” said Hartzog. “I’d like to thank myteammates. We had four real good years. It’s been ablast.”

On the mound, Hartzog was 5-3 with a 2.51 ERA and 60strikeouts in 45 innings.

“Trent is a real hard worker,” said Keyes. “He isall-around good player.”

Hartzog also was selected to the 4A/5A All-Star Team. Heis undecided on a major at Co-Lin.

Scott Reeves is a sophomore who worked as a pitcher forCoach Scotty Cline’s Copiah Colonels (12-8). Reeves finished withan 8-2 record, with 63 strikeouts and a 2.03 ERA. He batted .402and hit 4 home runs.

Casey Paulk finished his junior year on the mound forthe North Pike Jaguars with a 6-3 record. Coached by George Lott,Paulk batted .529 with 1 home run, 14 doubles and 7 RBIs. He alsoplayed left field.

McKenzie Woods of LCHS signed an early baseballscholarship with the Belhaven College Blazers. During his senioryear with the Cougars, Woods had a 4-2 pitching record with 57strikeouts in 45 innings and a 2.80 ERA. At the plate, he batted.422 with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 5 homers and 29 RBI. He stole 11bases.

Woods threw a perfect game against St. Stanislaus earlyin the season.

Cable McMinn, a senior catcher for Franklin County,finished his campaign with a .305 batting average, including 4 homeruns and 22 RBIs. McMinn has signed a baseball scholarship withEast Mississippi Community College.

Bubba Boggs, a 3-year starter at catcher for Coach KenJackson’s Parklane Pioneers, wrapped up his senior year with a .400batting average. He was named All-Conference and signed to playbaseball at Southwest.

Brandt Hood played catcher for Wesson coach Hugh Knighthis senior year. Hood finished with a .320 batting average and wasnamed All-District. He signed a basketball scholarship with Co-Lin.The Cobras were 13-17 on the season.

Micah Davis finished his season at Wesson as a pitcherand shortstop. Davis, who signed a football scholarship withCo-Lin. had a .434 batting average. He was named All-District andto the All-Star football team.

Mitchell Young batted .569 for North Pike while playingthe infield. Young has signed with Southwest to playbaseball.

Nick Jackson played first base at LCHS his senior year.Jackson finished with a .326 batting average including 4 double, 8homers and 43 RBIs.

Corey Jones worked as a pitcher and outfielder for LCHS.Jones batted .389 with 6 doubles, 9 homers and 32RBIs.

Dane Hodges played center field for Franklin County. Hefinished his senior year at the plate with a .307 average,including 4 triples, 1 home run and 16 RBIs.

Daniel Watson wrapped up his senior year at Wesson andsigned to play football at Co-Lin. Watson played the infield andoutfield for the Cobras. He ended his season with a .350 battingaverage. He was named All-District.

Drew Richardson finished his senior campaign at NorthPike as a shortstop. Richardson batted .474 with 1 home run, 3doubles and 3 triples.

David Hobkirk batted .440 for Copiah his senior year.Hobkirk, who played first base, hit 5 home runs and had 35RBIs.

Bennett Wilson played second base his senior year atCopiah. Wilson batted .406 with 5 home runs and 35RBIs.