While the high school baseball season may have ended weeks ago in Marion County, several area ball players were recognized for their prowess by the state’s coaches.
Between Columbia High School and West Marion, five players received All-State honors, voted on by 3A coaches throughout the state.
Columbia’s Trey Hobgood and Landon Sanders and West Marion’s Shelby Terrell were voted First-Team All-State, and Columbia’s Cole Pearson and West Marion’s Trace McNabb were both voted to the second team.
Hobgood slashed an otherworldly .525/.652/1.049 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) in a breakout senior campaign. The power-hitting righty added nine home runs, 30 RBI and 29 runs scored and signed to play at Pearl River Community College next year.
In his first year as an everyday starter as a sophomore, Sanders had a slash line of .407/.515/.629 to go along with two homers, 21 RBI and six doubles. He filled an enormous role in 2018 for the Wildcats as another power hitter in the middle of the order and will likely only have his power numbers increase the next two seasons. He also flashed ace potential on the mound in seven appearances, five starts, with a 2.71 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 31 innings.
Terrell had already proved his worth on the mound as a sophomore in 2017 with a 2.06 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 68 innings but became a two-way star for the Trojans this season. The junior righty was once again dominant as the ace of the Trojans rotation with a 1.75 ERA, three complete-game shutouts and 86 strikeouts in 60 innings and batted .400 with three home runs, 21 RBI, 24 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.
Pearson made major strides from his junior to his senior season and became the ace of the Wildcats pitching staff, as well as a catalyst at the top of the lineup. His shining moment came March 27 in a 10-0 win over Tylertown as he no-hit the Chiefs while striking out 11. For the season Pearson had a 2.31 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings and batted .338 with 11 doubles, 18 RBI, 22 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and a .500 on-base percentage.
McNabb, who will be joining Hobgood at Pearl River next season, continued his ascension as a potential collegiate starting pitcher as a senior, tossing two complete-game shutouts and a no-hitter in a run-rule shortened, four-inning win over Wesson. McNabb had a 2.49 ERA and struck out 68 batters in 56 1/3 innings toeing the rubber and batted .270 with seven extra-base hits (four triples), 22 RBI, 23 runs scored and 16 stolen bases.
Pictured Above: Columbia High School’s Cole Pearson, left, second-team, and Trey Hobgood and Landon Sanders, first team, earned All-State honors in 3A. West Marion’s Shelby Terrell (first team) and Trace McNabb (second team) were also recognized. | Photo Submitted
