STARKVILLE — Travis Garner wants the Starkville High School baseball program to become known for sending players to college every year.
The third-year Yellow Jacket coach had two players sign in his first two seasons with only seven seniors during that span. But he felt like the class of 2016 would be different with eight seniors.
Already having two who signed national letters of intent, Garner saw left-handed pitcher Justin Conner sign with Blue Mountain College and catcher Rashon Tate sign with Northeast Mississippi Community College Wednesday.
“We want to get kids the opportunity to play at the next level,” Garner said. “To do that you’ve got to kind of run the program the right way, you’ve got to play the right teams, but you’ve also go to get the kids to buy in.
“Colleges sign kids off of winning programs because they know they know how to do the little things right and know how to play the game the right way.”
Conner, Tate and Starkville (16-8) play at DeSoto Central (15-9) 6 p.m. Friday night in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A playoffs. Game two is in Starkville 6 p.m. Saturday, with Monday’s if necessary game three scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at DeSoto Central.
Outfielder Milton Smith, Jr. signed with Meridian Community College earlier this year and outfielder A.J. Brown will play both football and baseball at Ole Miss.
Tanner Clanton signed with East Mississippi Community College two years ago and Colby Rivers signed with Mississippi Delta Community College last year.
Conner, who is 3-4 with two complete game shutouts, said the last three years with Garner have been a big reason he is getting an opportunity to live out his dream.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without him,” Conner said. “He’s helped me grow as a player and a better person. He’s a great coach to have. I’m so glad I could play under him for three years.”
Conner also had offers from Mississippi Delta Community College and Coahoma Community College. One day this season, Garner asked Conner where he was leaning and he was surprised to learn Blue Mountain was the favorite.
Conner said he felt at home on the campus and the coaching staff made him feel welcomed. Garner told Conner to go where he felt like was the best fit and Conner followed those words of advice.
Garner said when he arrived at SHS, Conner was 5-foot-8 and weighed in at 115 pounds. He threw Conner to the wolves by pitching him against the likes of Northwest Rankin and Madison Central early in his career, but that has paid off.
“He’s a guy who’s worked and that’s worked his tail off,” Garner said. “He doesn’t have the most athletic ability in the world, but ever since he was a little kid he’s known he wants to play college baseball. He’s a kid that’s truly made it his mission to do that and we’re awfully proud of him.”
Tate, who is batting .373 with two home runs, five doubles and 25 RBIs, had interest from Meridian Community College, but liked the feel of NEMCC. He agreed with Conner that Garner was a big reason he is continuing his career. He said Garner pushed him every single day and made sure he was putting in the extra work to separate him from other players.
Tate doesn’t take for granted that he and three of his teammates get to continue their careers.
“It’s a life goal of everyone,” Tate said. “Us four are truly blessed to go to the next level and play the game of baseball. You don’t get people every day who get to do that.”
Garner said pro scouts have been watching Smith and Brown and he has been asked many times about their prospects as professionals. Even with all the athleticism those two have, Garner said coaches have asked more about Tate because of the effort he has shown this season.
“He’s just that kind of player,” Garner said. “He’s our rock, he’s the one guy on the team that we can’t lose and he’s having a great year. He’s going to be a really, really good junior college player. I think Northeast got a diamond in the rough and I think you’re going to see him blow up at junior college.”
Garner remembers Tate’s sophomore season when he barely hit .200, but is proud to see how far he has come since then.
Garner said he is going to miss Conner and Tate next season. Tate has been catching for Conner since Little League and they have developed a a friendship that will last.
“It’s pretty cool to be signing on the same day with one of my best friends. I’m definitely going to miss him in college,” Conner said.
Garner expects to have a fifth player sign from this year’s class.
“It means we’re running the program the right way, it means our kids are going about it the right way and I think we’re turning the corner,” Garner said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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