11/25/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State University has signed right-handed pitcher Todd Doolittle of Meridian, Miss., to a national letter of intent in baseball, MSU head baseball coach Ron Polk announced.

Doolittle is a 5-10, 170-pound pitcher at Meridian Community College, where he plays for coach Michael Federico. As a freshman in 2002 Todd compiled a 6-2 record with 74 strikeouts and a 3.17 earned run average in 71 innings, earning All-Miss-Lou Conference honors.

"This fine pitcher is a product of two great baseball programs in Mississippi at West Lauderdale High School and Meridian Community College," said MSU head coach Ron Polk. "Both of these programs have prepared this young man for taking his game to the next level. He is a proven winner on the mound and we are looking forward to Todd's becoming a Bulldog student-athlete."

Doolittle was an all-state performer and four-year starter playing for coach Jerry Boatner at West Lauderdale High School. He capped his prep career with a remarkable senior season, posting a 13-0 record with a miniscule 0.97 earned run average and 126 strikeouts in 74 innings. Doolittle earned all-district honors and was MVP of the WLHS Chargers baseball team in 2001. A principal's list scholar, he also starred in soccer, earning all-state honors and team MVP designation as a senior.

"I'm excited about having the opportunity to play at Mississippi State and becoming a part of the great baseball tradition there," said Doolittle. "I'm also looking forward to playing under the MSU coaching staff and especially under the legendary Ron Polk."

The MSU signee is the son of Jimmy Doolittle and Debbie Bresnahan of Meridian, Miss.

Source: MSU Media Relations

11/20/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University has signed right-handed pitcher Josh Johnson of Caledonia, Miss., to a national letter of intent in baseball, MSU head baseball coach Ron Polk announced.

Johnson is a 6-0, 170-pound pitcher at Caledonia High School, where has been a four-year regular playing for coach Kent Farris' CHS Confederates. As a junior he posted an 8-3 record with 126 strikeouts and a 1.18 earned run average, earning all-district and Columbus Commercial Dispatch All-Area Team honors.

"We at Mississippi State are so fortunate to have such a tremendous student-athlete so close to our campus," said MSU head coach Ron Polk. "We are all excited about Josh Johnson joining our university and baseball program. He has shown throughout his career at Caledonia High School that he is one of the state's top high school pitchers. What he accomplished in the American Legion World Series this past summer just confirms our thinking about Josh."

Johnson starred for the Bryan Packers last summer, helping lead coach Frank Portera's team to the championship of the 2002 American League World Series in Danville, Va. He was named MVP of the ALWS, earning all-tournament designation and receiving the Bob Feller Pitching Award. He notched an 8-3 pitching record and earned all-area honors as a sophomore in 2001 and was a member of the 2000 North State championship CHS team that took runner-up honors in the state playoffs.

"I look at this as an opportunity to play baseball at the next level," said Johnson. "It has always been a dream of mine to play at Mississippi State, one of the best baseball programs in the country. I am going to try my best to take advantage of this opportunity."

The MSU signee is a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, the Art Club, and is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He the son of Gayden and June Johnson of Caledonia, Miss.

Source: MSU Media Relations

11/19/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University has signed all-state infielder Michael Rutledge of Cullman, Ala., to a national letter of intent in baseball, MSU head baseball coach Ron Polk announced.

Rutledge is a 6-3, 197-pound, right-handed hitting infielder at Cullman High School. As a junior he earned Alabama Sportswriters Association All-State honors after helping lead coach Bryan Bowen's CHS Bearcats to a 39-10 record and the 2002 Alabama 5-A state championship. An All-Cullman County and All-Area 15 selection, he hit .451 in 2002, driving in 51 runs with 66 hits, including 12 doubles, three triples and four home runs. Rutledge was also named to the Birmingham News Scholar-Athlete All-State honor squad.

"This young man comes from one of the top high school baseball programs in the state of Alabama, and he is one of the reasons why the program has enjoyed so much success recently," said MSU head coach Ron Polk. "Michael is a true student-athlete with quality baseball skills and we are so pleased that he has signed with our university and baseball program here at Mississippi State."

Rutledge lettered the past three seasons at CHS, earning all-county honors and selection as the team's top defensive infielder and top offensive player overall as a sophomore.

"Playing in the Southeastern Conference will fulfill one of my childhood dreams," said Rutldege. "I look forward to the athletic and academic challenges at Mississippi State and being a part of its rich baseball tradition."

Rutledge is also a four-year veteran of the Cullman High School basketball team, earning all-county and all-area designation as a junior as well as co-MVP honors.

A member of the National Honor Society member and active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Youth for Christ, the MSU signee is the son of Tony and Cheryl Rutledge of Cullman, Ala.

Wilson is a 6-1, 175-pound pitcher at Columbus High School, where he was a mainstay on the mound staff for CHS coach Bobby Howard. He compiled a 7-0 record with three saves and a splendid 1.14 earned run average with the Blue Devils in 2002. He registered 51 strikeouts and allowed but eight earned runs in 50-2/3 innings.

"What a tremendous addition to our university and baseball program Andy Wilson will be following his career at Columbus High School," said MSU head coach Ron Polk. "He is a super student and an outstanding left-handed pitcher. Andy comes from one of the nationšs top high school baseball program at Columbus High School."

Wilson earned letters in baseball the past three seasons at Columbus High School and was a member of the Blue Devils' team that posted a 36-3 record and captured the 2000 Georgia 3A state title.

"The baseball tradition at Mississippi State is something special and sets the program apart from the programs at other schools," said Wilson. "I'm very excited about being part of such an awesome program and looking forward to being in Starkville next year."

The MSU signee is a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, the Spanish Honor Society and is a three-time recipient of the Alpha Scholar Award at CHS. He the son of Olin and Debbie Wilson of Columbus, Ga.

Source: MSU Media Relations

11/15/02
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University has signed infielder Jeffrey Rea of Nettleton, Miss., to a national letter of intent in baseball, MSU head baseball coach Ron Polk announced.

Rea is a 5-9, 160-pound middle infielder and three-year starter at Nettleton High School, where he is coached by Brian Sutton. Rea earned Jackson Clarion-Ledger "Dandy Dozen" and second-team all-state honors as a junior, hitting at a remarkable .613 clip while helping lead the Tigers to a 21-9 record and their first Division 2-3A title.

"What a great addition Jeffrey will be to our University and baseball program," said MSU coach Ron Polk. "This is a super student-athlete that we have been following at Nettleton High School for the past couple of years. We consider Jeffrey to be the top infield prospect in the state of Mississippi, and we are pleased that very soon he will be enrolling at Mississippi State."

Rea led his team with 57 hits, 41 RBI, 23 doubles, and five triples and was 26-for-26 in stolen bases in 30 games as a junior, earning Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal All-Area Team and all-division honors for the second consecutive year. He was honored as the most valuable player in Division 2-3A in 2002.

The MSU signee also hit .494 as a sophomore and will enter his senior campaign at NHS in 2003 with 137 career hits (47 doubles) and 53 stolen bases in 83 career games, all starts.

"It's a dream come true to be a part of Mississippi State Baseball," said Rea. "It feels like home. The atmosphere is unreal on weekends, and everything is first-class."

Rea is a member of the Beta Club, the NHS Student Council and the National Society of High School Scholars. He is the son of Charles and Sandra Rea of Nettleton, Miss.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Hill is a 6-2, 195-pound middle infielder/right-handed pitcher and three-year letter-winner at Walker High School, coached by Thad Burgess and John Sasser. Hill paced WHS with a .421 batting average and a 6-2 pitching mark as a junior, helping guide the Vikings to a 32-8 and earning all-state honors.

"We are pleased that Trent has chosen to continue his educational and athletic careers at Mississippi State University," said MSU head coach Ron Polk. "He's a highly-skilled dual-position athlete from a strong high school program who has an opportunity to contribute early in his career."

Hill was named to the Birmingham News 5A All-State and All-Metro teams and was a second-team Alabama Sportswriters Association All-State selection last spring. At the plate he drove in 30 runs and laced a team-high 17 doubles, and on the mound he compiled a 1.49 earned run average with six wins and three saves, averaging a strikeout per inning. In September he was rated by Baseball America/Prospect Plus as the No. 4 prospect for 2003 in Alabama.

"Signing with Mississippi State has been a great experience," said Hill. "The coaches, the program and the University are top of the class. I am so excited to have this opportunity to fulfill my dream of playing baseball in the Southeastern Conference."

An all-metro and honorable mention all-state selection as a sophomore, Hill hit .448 and compiled a 7-2 pitching record with three saves and a 2.38 ERA, helping WHS capture the area championship and climb to a No. 3 ranking in Alabama. He enters his senior season with a three-year 19-6 record, 8 saves and 150 strikeouts in 153 innings.

Hill, also a three-year letter-winner in football, is a member of the Key Club and was voted "Mr. Walker High". He is the son of Roger and Vicki Hill of Jasper, Ala.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Pigott is a 6-0, 175-pound left-handed pitcher from Picayune Memorial High School, where as a junior he helped lead coach Kent Kirkland's PMHS team to a 35-3 record, the 2002 state championship and a No. 13 national ranking. He was accorded first-team all-state and Biloxi Sun Herald Gulf Coast Player of the Year honors after compiling a 13-0 record with one save, a 1.60 earned run average and 89 strikeouts. He set school single-season records with 13 wins and 90 innings pitched.

"What a tremendous student-athlete Justin Pigott has been at Picayune Memorial High School," said MSU head coach Ron Polk. "We expect him also to be a fine student-athlete here at Mississippi State University. He has enjoyed a super career in high school for one of the best programs in the state of Mississippi. We expect he will have another great year as a senior before he enrolls at Mississippi State."

Pigott also starred on the mound for the Maroon Tide as a sophomore, posting a 7-3 record with a 3.77 ERA and 71 strikeouts en route to second-team all-state honors. His PMHS team captured the 2001 South State title. He played summer league baseball with the Jackson 96ers and participated in the 2001 and 2002 State Games of Mississippi held in Meridian, Miss.

"It has been my dream to play for Coach Ron Polk," said Pigott. "I have been raised in the Mississippi State environment and love the baseball tradition there."

A member of the National Honor Society member and a four-time Superintendent's Scholar at Picayune Memorial HS, the MSU signee is the son of John and Dot Pigott of Picayune, Miss.

Source: MSU Media Relations