STARKVILLE — An already talented Starkville Academy baseball team bolstered its roster last week, picking up pitching transfer Evan Siary out of Landrum High School in Campobello, South Carolina.
Thomas Berkery’s Volunteer squad was not hurting for talent coming off of an MAIS Class 4A north state semifinal berth, but Siary is certainly more than a welcome addition. The Mississippi State commit jumped at the opportunity to join the Volunteers.
“I think he knew immediately, just listening to him talk, that this was where he wanted to be and that what we’re building here and what we’ve got going on is something that he wanted to be a part of,” Berkery said.
Siary and Starkville Academy are both seeking to benefit from this change. Siary, a change of scenery which brings him a lot closer to Mississippi State, and the Volunteers get a great all around athlete and a great teammate. It would be hard to call that anything but a win-win situation.
“It’s just one of those things that the stars aligned,” Berkery said. “He’s their only child, his dad is retired military, and his mom was able to get a job on campus, and it just works out.”
On the diamond, Siary can bring more than just heat. He was the South Carolina Class 2A player of the year in 2021 and carried a 25-1 record during his 3 years at Landrum High. Berkery said part of what makes Siary a great fit on Starkville Academy’s squad is that he’ll require little attention and can bring high intensity on the mound at the same time. Berkery is excited to add Siary to an already incredibly talented and disciplined Starkville Academy team.
“It’s a pretty ridiculous add for us,” Berkery said. “He’s 93-94 and throws nothing but strikes, has a couple different breaking pitches and a good change-up. Offensively and defensively he competes really hard as well. He gives you good at-bats a lot of the time.”
Siary is one of the top commitments for Mississippi State and will have the opportunity to learn and grow under two former Bulldogs, as Berkery and pitching coach Todd Doolittle were standouts in the early 2000s and both spent time in the minor leagues.
Both coaches are equipped with knowledge from the likes of Ron Polk while at Mississippi State and knowledge from the time spent in the minor leagues.
“We’re just lucky enough to have that knowledge and to be able to pass it down,” Berkery said. “Something that’s been given to me, knowledge wise, is from somebody that’s done it a lot longer than me, so I don’t take any credit for that. All I’m doing is trying to relay that to the guys.”
Thursday’s scores
Prep Summer Baseball
New Hope 5, Starkville 0
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