STARKVILLE — Considering the alternatives, there was no way Hunter Stovall could truly lose the battle for Mississippi State’s starting shortstop. He knew entering this academic year it would be him and Luke Alexander battling for that spot throughout the fall and likely in the spring, as well. If he won, he would have a starting position he’s always coveted; if he didn’t, he would move to second and resume a double play combination that got years of practice in youth travel ball that both parties loved.
Starting this weekend, that band is back together.
When MSU begins its season 4 p.m. Friday with a three-game series at Southern Mississippi, it will have Alexander at shortstop and Stovall at second base. MSU coach Andy Cannizaro is convinced that combination will be the best of its kind in the Southeastern Conference and possibly the best in the nation.
“When you start talking about those two guys that have both played for two years in the SEC, I think that gives us a lot of veteran presence and ability on the field,” Cannizaro said. “It’s really going to allow us to defend at an extremely high level again this season.
“Hunter Stovall is the best defensive second baseman in the SEC.”
Despite battling injuries throughout the season that cost him roughly 20 games, Stovall was still an effective hitter on top of his defensive prowess that has so impressed Cannizaro. Stovall hit .288 with nine of his 46 hits going for extra bases for a .375 slugging percentage. His impact was most apparent in crucial situations, such as his home run against South Alabama in the Hattiesburg Regional.
He’s convinced his time at shortstop in between then and now will make him an even better defender.
“I took it as an advantage to get a little more knowledge about somewhere else on the field” Stovall said. “I’ve played every position here at State except pitcher and first; I’m all about learning and knowing about every position, where everybody is supposed to be on the field and all that. Knowing that position helps me out in baseball.
“It made my arm stronger. It’s made my read balls better to come get the ball.”
The same can be said of Alexander. Alexander said he bulked up to about 190 pounds last season to be a better fit for the third base position he started in 47 times. To better fit at shortstop, he dropped back down to around 180 pounds.
“My lateral movement is a little bit better, more like it was my freshman year,” he said.
Offensively, Alexander had his struggles at times last season, leading to no starts in postseason play. He ended the season with a .222 batting average and a .295 on-base percentage with 58 strikeouts in 59 games. He washed all of that away with his summer in the Cape Cod League as a Cotuit Kettleer, hitting .272 with 17 RBI on 31 hits.
He said he’s felt the confidence from that performance carry through to this spring, “and I’m going to keep doing it.”
With reasons for optimism all around, there was no disappointment from Stovall when Cannizaro told him Alexander was going to be the shortstop. For one, it was good news for his roommate Alexander, who has been working to get back to that position since he briefly held it his freshman season; second, he knew the potential the current combo presented.
“It excited me. You look at me and Luke, I truly believe we are going to be the two best middle infielders, the best double play combo in the SEC, maybe in college baseball,” Stovall said. “We can turn a double play better than anybody I’ve seen: we’re both athletic, we both have range. I’m excited to see what we’re going to do in the middle of the field.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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