JACKSON - Whenever you bring up the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, there is one team that is not only going to be competitive week in and week out, but can always go on to win a championship; that team is the Millsaps Majors. Entering his 24th season and the final season in the SCAC, Head Coach Jim Page looks to go out with a bang.
The Majors look to fight for another SCAC Title as they enter a promising 2012 campaign. A season ago, Millsaps finished second in the Western Division, but saw an early exit in the SCAC Tournament as they finished with a 24-18 record and an 11-9 record in conference. Millsaps showed great promise throughout the season, but must replace a few key starters from last season to make a run at championship number nine.
The Majors lost All-SCAC third baseman Will Hawkins, as well as All-SCAC pitchers Jason Riggins and Aaron Williams. Williams led the Majors and was top five in the SCAC with six wins, 14 starts, four complete games and 72.2 innings pitched. Riggins, meanwhile, posted a 5-1 record while recording a team leading 58 strikeouts and three saves. The offense loses arguably its most dangerous hitter on the team and in the conference in Will Hawkins, who led the team with eight home runs, 49 runs batted in, 14 doubles, 19 stolen bases, 45 runs scored and 63 hits after a tremendous football and baseball career.
Though the Majors are losing tremendous talent, they return one All-SCAC player in sophomore second baseman Kevin Wall, as well as honorable mentions junior Stephen Gates and senior Jules Roussel.
In the infield, Millsaps returns an experienced group beginning with Wall, who was second on the team last season with 12 doubles and third with 44 hits and fourth on the team with a .324 average at the plate. He also shows tremendous speed as he picked up 13 steals on the season. He was third on the team among starting fielders in the field with a .972 fielding percentage. The Majors received bad news last week, as Wall will miss the first month of the season with a broken arm. However, the Majors do return a huge component in Stephen Gates, who led the Majors with a .412 average. Gates was a huge surprise as he began to see time as a pinch hitter starting against Hendrix at the midseason point. Gates hit so well in those situations that he eventually earned a spot as the designated hitter and continued to swing a hot bat. With Hawkins graduated, Gates will move over to the full time third baseman. Millsaps also return starting junior catcher Wes Perkins who drove in 23 runs a season ago and senior shortstop Drew Leonard who picked up 16 stolen bases and two homeruns as they will be key to the Majors success. Millsaps also looks to the combination of seniors Drew Respess and Andrew Evans to take over at first base.
In the outfield, Millsaps loses Josh Ordeneaux and Jeremy Aliff who both had tremendous speed, but return Roussel. The big, power hitter was second on the team a season ago with three home runs and 27 RBIs while boasting a .311 batting average in 41 starts. The Majors will bring in new faces in senior Jordan Nolan, senior Ryan Zemke, and junior Will Lawrence who all look to make their way into the starting role this season. Nolan returns this season after tearing his ACL prior to the season starting a year ago. The senior appeared in 13 games two years ago and picked up three stolen bases. Zemke appeared in 29 games with nine stats while batting .333 at the plate. He also was 6-for-7 in stolen bases.
The Majors pitching staff will see junior starter Elliot Varney return from last year's season ending shoulder injury. Up until his injury, he was 2-4 on the season with a 6.85 ERA and 35 strikeouts. Varney figures to either close games for the Majors this season or the team's number one starter. Juniors Will Elmore and Wes Perkins also figure to star for the Majors rotation in the upcoming season. Elmore, known for a devastating curve ball, was 2-3 on the season with 29 strikeouts in 14 relief appearances. Millsaps also returns Zemke, sophomore Zander Romano, and junior Alex Granier
Coach Page will look to get instant contributions from a few key freshmen, both in the pitching staff and in the field. Freshmen William Chenoweth and West Hammond will both push for roles either in the starting rotation or coming from the Majors bullpen. TFreshman Keith Shumaker will also look to make an impact in the infield.
The Majors need to find consistent pitching to be successful this season. The Majors were 6-15 when allowing six or more runs, but boasted a 16-7 record when scoring six or more runs. The Majors can score runs as they score 10 runs or more 12 times last season (11-1 when they do). Millsaps will be dangerous again on the base paths as much of their speed returns. A season ago, Millsaps was 106-out-of-133 stealing and look for that kind of success again.
Other keys include fielding, the Majors struggled last season in the field and committed 81 errors with a .949 fielding percentage. The Majors must play well away from Twenty Field, as they were a combined 9-11 at other parks while 15-7 at home.
With the season approaching, the Majors have been one of the most successful teams in the SCAC and there is nothing more they want then to finish their tenure in the SCAC with a championship. With the experience coming back, the talent coming in, and the coach to lead the way, the Majors can end 2012 on a high note.
The Majors open things up on Tuesday, February 7th against the Belhaven Blazers. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
