Oak Hill Academy and Starkville Academy were part of a banner season in baseball for the area in 2017.
Mitch Bohon and Brooks Roberts led the Raiders and Volunteers to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools playoffs with the help of strong mixes of veteran and younger players.
Last week, the MAIS recognized the accomplishments of Oak Hill Academy and Starkville Academy by naming three players from each squad to its All-State teams.
Starkville Academy seniors Landen Rogers and Dillon Carrell and junior Will Holley were named to the MAIS Class AAA All-State team, while Oak Hill Academy senior Ken “Buddy” Dill and juniors Reiley Tate and Dylan Scott were named to the Class AA squad.
Dill hit .480 with 45 hits, 16 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 40 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. He was named to the MAIS Senior All-Star games in football, boys basketball, and baseball. Dill will continue his baseball career at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.
“You couldn’t ask for a better one,” Bohon said. “He was a tone-setter. Offensively, he carried the team the entire year. He did everything and more you would ask him to do.”
Tate and Scott also made significant impacts in their first years with the Raiders. Tate, who transferred to the school at Christmas from Maryland, started the season at second base and moved to shortstop. He also played third base and saw time on the mound as the team’s closer.
“Reiley is probably one of most toolsy players I have coaches,” Bohon said. “He is one of the smoothest if I have ever had with his hands.”
Tate hit .430 and had 50 hits, including 15 doubles, three triples, and two home runs. He also had 23 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.
Bohon said Tate’s defense also was exemplary and that he made everything look so easy. He said Tate has an extremely high ceiling if he continues to mature and work at his game.
“It is really fun to watch him play because how effortless everything seems to be,” Bohon said.
Scott, a transfer from West Point High School, was the team’s workhorse on the mound. Scott led the Raiders with a 6-2 record and a 2.80 earned run average. He struck out 50 in 55 innings.
“I knew going into the year I was going to count on him being our best arm,” Bohon said. “He stepped up in every situation and he wanted the ball. In the playoffs against Canton at home, he threw the best game of his life. He was a big-game pitcher and our most consistent arm. He has a shot to be a really good player down the road.”
Roberts feels the same way about his All-Stars.
In Carrell, the Volunteers had a run producer who also was a strong defensive first baseman. Carrell had a .434 batting average, led the team in doubles, and was second in home runs. He also struck out only two times in 53 at-bats.
“Every time he went up there he gave us an option to drive in a run,” Roberts said.
Roberts said Carrell still is exploring options to play baseball in college. He said Belhaven and East Mississippi C.C. have expressed interest in Carrell.
“He has really quick hands for a guy his size,” Roberts said. “His selection process wasn’t there last year. He was trying to drive the ball too much instead of letting it come to him. He was forcing it too much and popping some balls up. But his approach got better this season. He was another guy who realized it was his last chance to make an impression on somebody to continue his career. Hopefully, he was able to make enough of an impression to be able to continue his baseball career.”
Roberts said Holley rebounded from a sophomore season in which he lost his spot in the lineup. Holley hit .370 with a team-high five home runs. He also was second on the team in RBIs and threw out 14 runners trying to steal.
“He put it together and put in the work,” Roberts said. “After football, he came right to the cage and worked to get better.”
Roberts said he had a few conversations with Holley about what he needed to do after his sophomore season. He said Holley took it “personally” and didn’t make excuses or lose confidence. Instead, he said Holley expected more out of himself and pushed himself to realize his potential.
“He really took it to heart and became the best catcher in the state in AAA private ball,” Roberts said. ”
Rogers, who was the Class AAA, District 2 MVP, was the team’s ace on the mound. He won his first five decisions and struck out 40 in 44 innings. He also hit .302 and had four doubles and five RBIs.
“He doesn’t throw as hard as most people, but he knows how to pitch,” Roberts said. “Every time he went to the mound he gave us a shot to win.”
Roberts said Rogers had opportunities to continue his baseball career in college, but he said Rogers opted to stop playing. He said Rogers will go to school at EMCC.
“He was well prepared,” Roberts said. “He was a four-year starting pitcher for us. … He attacked the zone and had a great changeup. I think his curveball overtook his changeup as his best pitch. He faced 190 batters and only gave up 15 runs. That is pretty remarkable.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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