Brookhaven’s Cayce Wallace plays the game of baseball withintensity and enthusiasm. The senior shortstop was a key to thePanthers’ success during the 2001 campaign, leading them in battingwith a .366 average. He was a star on defense, too, providing manyoutstanding plays.

For his performance, Wallace has been selected The DailyLeader’s Player of the Year on the 2001 All-Lincoln CountyBaseball Team. Linicoln County’s Mr. Baseball also worked as apitcher.

Brookhaven players joining Wallace on the dream team are catcherAaron Oberschmidt, second baseman Daniel Boyd, first baseman BenGoza, outfielder Fred Perkins and pitchers Miguel Banks and JamesMcCall.

Other catchers named to the team were Chase Coley of Loyd Star,Nathan Cutrer of Bogue Chitto and Cody Hall of West Lincoln. Theother infielder is Seth Britt of Loyd Star.

Pitchers named were Adam Smith of Brookhaven Academy, CassBrister of Loyd Star and Jacob Leggett of Bogue Chitto.

Joining Perkins in the outfield are Johnathan Cutrer of BogueChitto and Jeffrey Waycaster of Brookhaven Academy. James McCaffreyof Enterprise is the team’s designated hitter and Cody Wallace ofWest Lincoln is the utility player.

Input on the team was provided by high school and collegecoaches.

Wallace, a 5-foot-8, 140-pound sparkplug, celebrates his 18thbirthday July 22. He uses a Wilson A-2000 glove at shortstop. Hestarted at third base in his first varsity game as a freshman.

“At shortstop you’re in the middle of everything,” said Wallace.”It’s a mental game.” He compiled an impressive .927 fieldingpercentage.

He was 1-1 as a pitcher, striking out 15 batters and walking 6in 14.2 innings. He had a 2.39 ERA.

At the plate, Wallace collected 6 triples, 4 doubles and 1homer. He batted .366 and had 17 RBIs.

The Panthers were runners-up to Terry in the Division 6-4A raceand lost to Oak Grove in the first round of the state playoffs.Wallace was looking for more success.

“We had a good year but we thought it would be better,” saidWallace. “We had our chances to beat Oak Grove. Warren Central (theClass 5A state champion) and Terry were real good teams we facedthis year.”

BHS head coach Randy Spring has coached Wallace for two years.Robbie Hayes coached Wallace for his first two varsity seasons.

“Both of my high school coaches were real good guys,” saidWallace. “Coach Spring always stressed defense and pitching. CoachHayes liked hitting.”

Spring said Wallace has been a major factor in his team’ssuccess. “Cayce has been a big-time clutch hitter for us. He got abases-loaded triple against McComb which helped us come back andwin.”

Spring said Wallace has exceptional defensive skills and astrong arm for a player of small stature. “He has real good range.He has good instincts about the batter and gets in position.

“Cayce has a great arm for a kid his size,” Spring continued.”If he were 5-10 and about 165 pounds, he could play major collegebaseball.”

Excellent in academics, Wallace maintains a 4.0 GPA. He plans toattend Copiah-Lincoln Community College and then transfer to OleMiss where he wants to pursue a career in medicine.

Aaron Oberschmidt and Wallace were chosenco-Most Valuable Players on the BHS squad. A 3-year starter,Oberschmidt batted .361. He had a .989 fielding percentage.

Chase Coley was an MVP at Loyd Star as he movedbehind the plate this season. He batted .390 for Coach AnthonyHart’s Hornets who finished runners-up to St. Andrew’s in theDivision 6-2A race.

Nathan Cutrer of Bogue Chitto was another MVPwho worked as a catcher. He batted .406 and hit 6 homers thisseason for Coach Mike Hodges and the Bobcats who won the Division7-1A title.

Cody Hall at catcher was a key to West Lincolnfinishing runner-up in the Division 7-1A race. He batted .377. Hewas coached by Andrew Redd.

Daniel Boyd of Brookhaven worked at secondbase. He batted .427 as a senior, collecting 7 doubles.

Seth Britt of Loyd Star batted .319 as a junior and hit4 homers. He also pitched, compiling a 4-2 record.

Ben Goza played first base for the Panthers. He hit 2homers and batted .325.

Fred Perkins worked in center field for thePanthers, batting .304 and hitting 1 homer.

Johnathan Cutrer was recognized as BogueChitto’s best defensive player. He batted .346.

Jeffrey Waycaster, an outfielder, was one ofthe keys to Brookhaven Academy winning its first District 4-AAchampionship for Coach Ron Rushing. He batted .384 and hit 2 homersas a junior.

James McCaffrey of Enterprise owns the highestbatting average on the squad at .511 and serves as designatedhitter. He was coached by Steve Sasser.

Cody Wallace, a junior first baseman, leads thedream team in home runs with 8 and is the utility player. He batted.379.

Miguel Banks of Brookhaven is the only seniorpitcher on the dream team. He compiled a 4-4 record and struck out49 batters in 54 innings. He had a 2.45 ERA. He batted .381 and hit2 homers.

Adam Smith of Brookhaven Academy was the mostvaluable player on the Cougar squad, helping the team post a 17-12worksheet. He compiled a 6-3 pitching record and a 4.45 ERA with 48strike outs in 45 innings. At the plate, Smith batted .418 and hit6 homers.

James McCall posted a 6-2 record as a junior and struckout 57 batters in 48 innings. He only walked 8 batters and posted a2.48 ERA.

Cass Brister, a junior, posted a 5-4 record and struckout 40 batters for Loyd Star.

Jacob Leggett, a junior, had a 4-4 record for BogueChitto. He struck out 83 batters in 53 innings and walked23.

HONORABLE MENTION WITH DISTINCTION

Bogue Chitto – Scott Edwards, Brian Wallace, ToddDavis.

Brookhaven – Justin Sykes, Kern Hoff.

Brookhaven Academy – Ben Davis, Ben Sandifer, KellyAllred, Chad Lagrone.

Enterprise – Brent Boyd, Scott Johnston.

Loyd Star – Jody Britt. Adam Speeg, BlakeWall.

West Lincoln – Cody Mitchell, Jeremy Branning, JamieSisco, Corey Easley.