07/22/01 - Mississippi State University baseball coach Ron Polk has completed his new MSU baseball coaching staff with the addition of Russ McNickle as Coordinator of Baseball Camps. The hiring is pending the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

McNickle, 36, is a native of Mobile, Ala., and for the past season has served as the head baseball coach at Meridian (Miss.) Community College.

"We're happy to have Russ McNickle back at Mississippi State," said MSU head coach Ron Polk. "Russ started his coaching career here in 1989 and has enjoyed great success everywhere he has coached. He is an outstanding addition to our coaching staff."

He has coached 13 seasons in a variety of capacities on the collegiate level, beginning with a two-year stint as a graduate assistant coach at Mississippi State in 1989 and 1990. He later served two seasons as an assistant coach at Central Florida Community College (1991 and 1992) and six seasons at Florida Southern College (1993 to 1998), helping guide the Lakeland, Fla., school to NCAA postseason play five times. He then served two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of South Florida (1999 to 2000) prior to his return to Mississippi as head coach at Meridian Community College for the 2001 campaign.

McNickle was a member of the MSU coaching staff for teams that advanced to NCAA postseason play in 1989 and 1990. The 1990 club claimed a share of the SEC Tournament title en route to a regional tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA College World Series in Omaha. During a successful six-year term as an assistant coach at Florida Southern, his teams posted a 265-84 record, captured three conference titles, earned NCAA Division II regional tournament berths five times, and won the 1995 national championship after taking runner-up honors in the College World Series in 1994.

His resume also includes summer collegiate baseball league coaching stints in the Cape Cod League and the Valley Baseball League.

McNickle, who has served as an instructor at past MSU baseball camps, will coordinate the popular summer and winter baseball camps as well as other duties within the MSU baseball program.

He is married to the former Robin Elliott of Houma, La., and they have a son, Trey, 8, and a daughter Jordan 4.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

07/20/01
Corey Carter, a 6-3, 205-pound senior outfielder from West Point (MS) High School who is ranked as one of the top 100 senior baseball players in the nation according to Baseball America, has MSU, Ole Miss and New Orleans on his list of schools that he is considering signing with in the fall. His coach, Frank Portera, compared him favorably to former West Point HS outfielder Derry Hammond. Derry is currently in the minor leagues. The interview that I did with Corey is presently on my premium site.

07/16/01 - I finally got to put my new Stalker radar gun on MSU signee Jamie Gant, Jr. yesterday. My gun clocked his fastball at 88-91 consistently. He was a little wild but it turned out he was suffering muscle spasms. The Jackson 96ers coach took him out after one inning. I talked to his Dad, James Gant, during the games. He said he has clocked him at 96 mph a couple of times and at 92 to 94 quite a few other times.

I also learned that Major League Baseball can still sign a player during the summer even if he wasn't drafted. James said that Jamie would attend school and not go pro.

I also got to see MSU signee Brian Johnson play. He also plays on the same team. He has excellent footspeed.

07/06/01 - Former Diamond Dog Jeremy Jackson has been hired as an assistant coach at Jackson Prep. He will also assist junior high football, while teaching chemistry and advanced biology.

07/04/01 - Mississippi State University has signed Texas prep standout JoJo Haney of Baytown, Texas, to a national letter of intent in baseball.

The 6-2, 177-pound shortstop was a two-time all-district infielder during his prep career at Ross S. Sterling High School, where he was a three-year regular for coach Paul Tadlock. The right-handed hitting infielder hit .375 as a senior, ranking among team leaders in runs scored and RBI, registering 11 stolen bases and setting a single-season school record with 13 doubles. He served as team captain, helping guide the SHS Rangers to the state playoffs as a senior and earning a berth on the Houston Area Class 5A All-Star team.

"JoJo is an excellent athlete who possesses great speed and a strong arm," said Mississippi State assistant coach Tommy Raffo. "He has the potential to be an outstanding infielder during his career at Mississippi State."

Haney hit .455 as a junior, earned the team's Golden Glove Award pacing the team with nine stolen bases and leading SHS to the Bi-District championship. He was a Boys State Representative, earned the Sterling HS Citizen Award and the U.S. Army National Reserve Scholar-Athlete Award.

He also excelled in football at Baytown HS, earning varsity letters as a receiver his junior season and as an all-district quarterback as a senior when he passed for 1,234 yards and nine touchdowns.

"I am honored to be joining a program with such great tradition," he said. "I lived in Mississippi until I was five and my father graduated from Mississippi State, so to get this opportunity is a dream come true. I've always been impressed with the talent and character of the team, the coaching staff and the overwhelming support of the fans."

The Bulldog signee is the son of Joe and Debra Haney of Baytown, Texas. Joe Haney is a graduate of Mississippi State University and was a member of the Mississippi State track team.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

07/03/01 - Mississippi State University's summer baseball camps shift into "high school" gear this weekend with the return of the Pitcher/Catcher Camp at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium.

The three-day event will be held July 6-8 and provides specialized instruction for pitchers and catchers ages 14 to high school. Delivery mechanics and drills for pitchers and catchers are featured in this, the fourth session of Mississippi State University's summer baseball camps.

On deck at MSU are the first High School Camp (July 8-12), the Hitter's Camp (July 13-15) and the second High School Camp (July 15-19). Both High School camp sessions feature a Showcase Day, simulating a professional baseball tryout and including an evaluation by members of the MSU staff, other college coaches and professional scouts.

Registration is still being accepted for all four remaining sessions of the Mississippi State University Baseball Camp. For additional information, contact the MSU Baseball Office (662-325-3597).

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

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