courting uncle mo

If momentum means anything in baseball — and surely it does — then watch out for good things this weekend from Delta State, Mississippi College, Itawamba Community College and Jones County JC. DSU, ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II, rolls into the Gulf South Conference Tournament with a nine-game win streak. The Statesmen (35-11) won the regular season title and are the top seed; they’ll take on their traditional punching bag, Christian Brothers, in the first round Friday at 4:30 in Rome, Ga. The Statesmen are seeking a 12th GSC title but more importantly a long-awaited return to the NCAAs. DSU is led offensively by Michael Vinson (.347, four homers, 36 RBIs) and Jon Carnahan (.347, 4, 35). Aaron Newcomb (8-2, 2.66 ERA) and Mr. Perfect Game Colton Mitchell (7-0, 3.03) head a staff that posted a 3.08 ERA. Mississippi College is just 20-22 overall but has shown some true grit of late. The D-III Choctaws won four of their last six American Southwest Conference games just to make the postseason and then went on the road to take two of three from Texas Lutheran to reach the double-elimination tournament. MC faces McMurry on Friday at 3 in Austin, Texas. Mike Kerdock batted .416, and Brett Hightower has five homers and 46 RBIs. The team ERA is an unsightly 5.68, but Scott Trousdale carries a 3.58 and Austin Trehern came up huge in last weekend’s rubber game against Texas Lutheran. In the state junior college postseason, which starts with four best-of-3 series, watch out for eighth-ranked Itawamba (35-9), which has won eight of 10 and claimed the MACJC North title. The Indians will host East Central on Friday. Jones County (29-17), ranked No. 2 at the start of the year, rallied late to win its last six games, including three over Hinds, and took the South title. The Bobcats welcome Mississippi Delta to Ellisville on Friday. Hinds (29-16) was ranked 17th in the April 25 NJCAA Division II poll but limps into the postseason having lost its last five South Division games. The Eagles slipped to the No. 3 seed and must travel to North No. 2 Northwest on Friday. Uncle Mo won't be on that bus.