It’s a dream for every young slugger to play college baseball with the same guys he grew up playing with at Dean Griner.
For five ball players from Marion County that dream became a reality this season at Pearl River Community College and took the dream to another level by winning a state championship together.
Columbia High School’s Bryson Medious and West Marion’s Colby White were the first to arrive on the Poplarville campus as the duo spent the past two seasons playing together after Medious arrived as a transfer after redshirting at Jones County Junior College in 2016. Columbia Academy’s Wiley Cleland and Cam Havard signed on following the Cougars state championship last year, and former Columbia High graduate Scooter Ginn transferred to Pearl River after a season at Southwest Mississippi Community College.
While many of their paths have been quite different, the opportunity to play on the same collegiate team has been an unbelievable experience.
Ginn said the decision to transfer to Pearl River was the best decision he ever made in his life by far.
“It’s night and day. I love it. My teammates are awesome,” he said. “The best part about it has been we’re all on the same mission, and everybody bought in. It’s just been awesome.”
Medious, who has signed to play at William Carey next year, said he never expected the quintet to have the opportunity.
“It’s kind of crazy because back when we were playing in high school I never thought we’d be playing on the same team,” he said. “It’s fun getting to know each other after always playing each other.”
Cleland compared the experience to something you’d see on the big screen.
“It’s very cool going from sitting on the couch and thinking about playing with guys I’ve played against my whole life and being on a team with them. Then it comes true, and it’s like something out of a movie,” he said.
The word that was synonymous with all five players talking about playing together was “fun,” and White took it a step further.
“To see these guys you’ve played against all throughout your life and were always at rival schools and to be on the same team as them now it’s pretty special winning games with them,” he said.
Havard said already being familiar with one another enhanced their friendships.
“When you play together for a full year with anybody you grow close, but having a few guys from Marion County has been pretty cool,” he said. “We kept up with each other in high school because we knew we were going to play together in college, and it makes you a little closer. It’s been a cool experience.”
Winning a state title together was icing on the cake, but the Wildcats were on pins and needles May 6 after sweeping Coahoma Community College and needing Meridian Community College to do the same to Jones.
“We were keeping up with the Jones and Meridian (doubleheader series) on the bus, and Meridian won the first game by a lot. It was a close game in the second (game of the doubleheader), but we knew with Meridian’s offense it didn’t really matter who (Jones) threw,” White said. “I kind of had a feeling (Meridian) was going to win it, and they walked it off on a wild pitch. It was unbelievable. It feels like it was yesterday, and it was a couple weeks ago. It’s crazy how stuff happens.”
Ginn said it was even more special for him and Medious after the pair came close time and time again as high school teammates at Columbia.
“I didn’t go to school with Wiley, Cam or Colby, but when we won the state championship, me and Bryson, that was a huge moment for us because in high school we almost won a state championship but never got there,” he said. “To finally get there it was like a weight lifted off our shoulders. With all the work we put in it finally paid off. It was an awesome experience and something I’ll never forget, for sure.”
Havard only made five appearances out of the bullpen this season as he made the transition to a full-time sidearm reliever after only dropping his arm slot periodically in high school but expects to have a bigger role next season.
“Opportunity comes with time. I’ve just continued to work hard, and next year I’ll have my shot,” he said. “I’ve got my velocity up a little bit (to 85 miles per hour, up from 81 in high school), and I’ve worked on commanding the strike zone better. I’ve noticed a big difference from my high school days.”
White went into the season expecting to be in the starting rotation but found his way back into the closer’s role, which he said he believes he’s built for because of the way he competes on the mound as a power pitcher trying to throw his upper 90s fastball past hitters. White signed with Mississippi State before the season and said it’s going to be an “unreal” experience.
“I can’t wait to be in those all-black unis at home,” he added.
Ginn is unsure at this point if his baseball career is going to continue, but he said there is a school who has shown interest and he is waiting to find out.
Although White, Ginn and Medious will be moving on from the Wildcats, there are more Marion County reinforcements on the way with Columbia High School’s Trey Hobgood and West Marion’s Trace McNabb heading to play at Pearl River next season to join Cleland and Havard.
Pictured Above: Pearl River Community College outfielder Bryson Medious, batting, lays down a bunt during an intrasquad scrimmage last week. Medious was one of five players from Marion County to win state at PRCC. | Photo Submitted
