Three former Rangers drafted by major league teams

Three former Northwest Mississippi Community College Ranger baseball players heard their names called during the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft June 5-6.

 

The trio includes Brian Leach, Chad Cregar, and Chase Ware. All three players still have one year of eligibility remaining if they choose to return to their respective four-year schools.

 

The group was a part of Northwest's 2007 team that won the Region XXIII championship and placed fourth at the NJCAA Division II World Series.

 

Pitcher Leach of Brandon was taken in the 25th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Leach, who was also selected in the 2007 draft before signing with Northwest, was 2-4 on the mound this spring at the University of Southern Mississippi. 

 

First baseman Cregar of Oxford enjoyed a stellar season in his first season at Western Kentucky University and was drafted in the 47th round by the Chicago Cubs.

 

Cregar led the Hilltoppers with a .360 batting average and set a school record with 82 RBI. Cregar also belted 20 home runs and was named Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year.

 

Pitcher Ware of Southaven was picked in the 50th round by the San Francisco Giants. Ware was a second team All-Sun Belt Conference selection this season while playing at Arkansas State University. Ware posted a record of 5-6 with the Indians and led the team with 67 strikeouts in 85 innings. 

 

Walker selected second team All-American

For the second consecutive season, Northwest Mississippi Community College shortstop Taylor Walker has been selected second team All-American by the NJCAA.

 

Walker, a sophomore from Senatobia, led Northwest in hitting this spring with a .468 average. He also collected 11 home runs, 15 doubles, 44 RBI, and scored 36 runs. Walker's career numbers include a .449 average with 19 homers, 87 RBI, and 32 doubles.

 

A consensus All-Region XXIII and first team MACJC All-State choice, Walker led the Rangers to a record 26-16 this season and a third place finish in the MACJC north division standings.

 

Walker has signed to play at the University of Southern Mississippi next season.

Four Rangers earn post-season awards

Four Northwest Mississippi Community College baseball players have earned post-season awards for helping the Rangers to a 26-16 finish during the 2008 season.

 

Northwest sophomore shortstop Taylor Walker of Senatobia was the only Northwest player to be selected All-Region XXIII and first team MACJC All-State.

 

Walker, who was named second team NJCAA All-American as a freshman, led the Rangers in almost every offensive category this spring.

 

Walker batted .468 with 11 home runs, 44 RBI, and 36 runs scored. He also stole five bases and hit 15 doubles and two triples.

 

Northwest sophomore first baseman Craig Dean of Coldwater joined Walker in the list of first team All-Staters.

 

Dean was second on the team batting .392 with eight home runs, 13 doubles, and two triples. Dean also collected 37 RBI and scored 41 runs.

 

Two Rangers were selected second team All-State.

 

Sophomore pitcher Josh Ross of Southaven was the ace of the Northwest staff with a record of 5-1. Ross also registered a team-high 48 strikeouts in 47 innings.

Freshman outfielder Seth Walker of Eads, Tenn., was also a second team choice. Walker led the Rangers with 13 homers this season and batted .361. Walker also tallied 40 RBI, scored 47 runs, and stole nine bases.

 

Seven home runs fuel Rangers in season finale
 

Fifteen Northwest Mississippi Community College Ranger sophomores were honored in a pre-game ceremony before taking the field against Jackson State in their season finale April 30 in Senatobia.

 

That group went out in style by hitting five of Northwest's seven home runs in a 13-6 rout. The Rangers closed the season with an overall record of 26-16.

 

"What a way for our team to finish the season," said Northwest Head Coach Mark Carson. "You will always want to win your last game to give you some momentum heading into next year. These sophomores have been an asset to our program and I wish them the best."

 

Ranger sophomore Richard Chaney (pictured left) of Coldwater led the attack by going two-for-three at the plate with two home runs and five RBI. Sophomore Craig Dean of Coldwater had three hits and sophomore Jameson Rodgers of Batesville collected two. Northwest had racked up 14 hits in all.

 

Chaney, who has four home runs, hit the first of his two homers in the first inning to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Ridge Bass of Olive Branch hit his first home run of the spring with a solo shot in the third to put Northwest ahead 3-0.

 

Jackson State rallied with four unanswered runs to claim a 4-3 advantage in the top of the fifth.

 

The Rangers countered two runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a two-run blast by Rodgers for his third homer of the season. Northwest sophomore Kyle Hunt of Olive Branch cranked his fourth homer of the spring with a solo shot in the sixth.

 

The Rangers put the game away by pushing four across the plate in the seventh and three more in the eighth.

 

Chaney hit a three-run blast over the wall in right center for his fourth homer of the season. Two batters later, freshman Matt James of Horn Lake collected his third home run of the year with a solo job.

 

In the eighth frame, freshman pinch hitter Alan Mathis of Memphis hit his fifth home run with a two-run blast. Freshman Seth Walker of Eads, Tenn., added an RBI-single to score Heath Bolton of Batesville who led off the inning with a double.

 

Northwest sophomore pitcher Joshua Posey of Covington, Tenn., earned the win to improve to 4-3. Posey struck out three in two innings of work.