James Clark and M.J. Hamrick are proof that word of mouth can travel any distance.
It’s safe to assume both players would have attracted plenty of interest from other schools in the state of Mississippi, but Northwest Mississippi Community College Mark Carson took the recommendations of several Mississippi Association of Independent Schools coaches who have played against Clark, Hamrick, and the Heritage Academy baseball team the past two seasons to add two prospects to his program.
On Wednesday, Clark and Hamrick made it official, signing scholarships to play baseball for the Rangers in Senatobia.
Hamrick said Jackson Academy baseball coach Jay Powell served as a reference for him with NWCC. He also said Madison-Ridgeland baseball coach Allen Pavatte gave Carson positive feedback about him and Clark. From there, it was easy for Hamrick to get excited about a chance to play baseball for a coach who wanted him in his program.
“It was surprising,” Hamrick said of the recommendations coaches gave to NWCC. “I was kind of shocked other coaches would say something about me that far away and not have a clue.”
Hamrick, who transferred from New Hope High School as a sophomore, is coming off Tommy John surgery. He said the injury caused him to doubt if he would be able to stay on track to realize his dream to play professional baseball. He said the injury has motivated him to work even harder because he doesn’t want anything to stop him from playing the game he loves.
Clark, a right-handed pitcher and infielder, decided he wanted to go to NWCC after visiting the school. He said it felt really good to discover people have been saying good things about him. His goal now is to make them proud.
“It just makes me want to keep working hard and keep doing what I have been doing,” Clark said.
Clark assumed a key role on the Patriots’ pitching staff last season. He feels his attitude, the way he carries himself, and his work he does in school serves him well and allows him to have success.
Heritage Academy coach Bruce Branch said both players have matured throughout their careers. Both players started playing the sport in grade school and have been blessed with a little talent. He hopes they will play key roles on the team this season, and that their performances will help them set the stage for their college careers.
“We have been able to see them grow and mature as good ballplayers and take on some leadership roles for this team,” Branch said. “They have been starting here since they were sophomores in high school. They are going to be guys we lean on this year as leaders.”
Even though Clark and Hamrick are projected as pitchers, Branch is confident both players are versatile enough in the infield and at the plate that they can make bigger contributions. He said both of them have great hands from playing in the infield.
“As far as swinging the bat, I think they are two kids who can swing it with the best of them,” Branch said. “Just looking at the numbers each other of them have put up over the last couple of years, they speak for themselves.”
If the coaches hadn’t spoken up for Clark and Hamrick, the statistics certainly would have this season.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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