West Lincoln baseball losing large senior class

Published 4:47 pm Friday, May 22, 2020

It’s not just that the West Lincoln baseball team has five seniors graduating — that’s a big hole left to fill for any 2A squad. It’s also that this group is physically large — a quintet of big country boys who all love to hunt, fish, ride-four wheelers and play ball together.

“This group of seniors was a special group to work with,” said West Lincoln head coach David Gilbert. “They didn’t have to be told to work hard. They took the initiative and put the work in.”

As freshman, they were part of a 20-win team that finished in second place in Region 7-2A. West Lincoln got just six games under their belt in 2020 before COVID-19 canceled the season.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

“These seniors were putting in the work and I hate we didn’t get to see how much that work payed off for them,” said Gilbert. “They had a great deal of leadership that we’ll miss — they were a great group of guys to coach.”

Taylor Allen

The son of Kevin and Pepper Allen, Taylor plans to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College and major in welding. A versatile utility player that was used in many different positions by Gilbert during his career, Allen played five years of baseball for the Bears.

Tyler Allen

The son of Kevin and Pepper Allen, Tyler plans to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College and major in electrical technology. A first baseman and designated hitter, Allen was also a strong defensive tackle for the West Lincoln football team.

Travis Hall

The son of David and Amy Hall, Travis plans to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College and major in automation and control technology. A standout catcher who was a Daily Leader All-Area selection last season, Hall was also an All-State baseball player as a junior and played quarterback for the Bear football team.

Grant Jackson

The son of Justin and Heather Jackson, Grant plans to attend Mississippi State University on a football scholarship while majoring in kinesiology. At 6-foot-7, 315-pounds — Jackson was likely the biggest first baseman in the state. He was an All-Region pick last season and a two-time Daily Leader All-Area selection in football.

Nick West

The son of Stephen and Lacy West, Nick plans to attend Southwest Mississippi Community College and major in oil and gas production. A strong presence as a third-baseman, West played three seasons of baseball for the Bears.