A New Look for Choctaw Baseball
A renewed focus on internal changes will be the driving force for the Choctaws on the field.
The Mississippi College Choctaws baseball team is coming off a 16-33 season. They look to turn the ship around under Coach Haworth.
Big Changes
The Choctaws will roll out a new squad this season with improvements in a few key categories. The main change among this team will not be on the field, but off. The coaches and players are all on the same page: the main difference this season, said Haworth, is the culture.
“Last year we had a talented group and our culture was not there,” Haworth said. “We did things this fall a lot differently than we had in the past.”
“We fully understand what the word family means when it comes to playing the game of baseball and brotherhood,” senior first baseman Caleb Reese said.
Even with some familiar faces returning for the Choctaws, the new culture has the clubhouse expecting new results.
Players to Watch
This year, the pre-season all-conference outfielder JT Vance is leading the way in the position player group. Vance is coming off a year in which he led the Choctaws in seven offensive categories and finished in the top 10 on the team in 13 categories. Another player to watch this season is Caleb Reece, who is coming back from an ankle injury.
“Caleb has rehabbed well and this spring, so far, has really torn it up,” said Haworth. Reece looks to add to his 32 career home runs this season and help drive the Choctaw offense.
On the pitching side, Coach Haworth praises transfer from University of Southern Mississippi Holland Townes. “This fall he has been absolutely really good,” Haworth said. The head coach also mentioned transfer from Northwest Mississippi Community College CJ Lofton and Ryan Franklin from Seminole State College as two pitchers who can make a tremendous mark on this year’s team.
Outlook
Overall, the Choctaws are looking at a solid season. The team is excited and ready for the grind of a long season ahead. Some of the big bats from last year are returning, and new arms will remedy a past weakness for the Choctaw team. The Choctaws look to get the season started right on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. versus Emmanuel College.
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