MSU's Berkery wins Ferriss Award

[Greenhead22]

Berkery wins Ferriss Trophy as top college baseball player in Mississippi

05/22/2006

By JOEDY McCREARY
AP Sports Writer

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi State's Thomas Berkery won the Boo Ferriss Trophy on Monday night as the top college baseball player in the state.

The first Bulldogs player to win the trophy, Berkery joined Southern Mississippi's Toddric Johnson and Mississippi Valley State's Zach Penprase as the three finalists named last week.

The winner was picked by a panel of major league scouts, college coaches and one media representative.

``It's just an honor, and I've got to leave it at that,'' Berkery said upon receiving the trophy. ``I've got great teammates back in Starkville.''

Berkery, a senior shortstop from Sarasota, Fla., played his fourth position in four seasons. He led the Southeastern Conference with a .393 batting average and was second with a .473 on-base percentage, and finished the regular season with seven home runs and 43 RBIs.

He previously was a catcher, second baseman and third baseman, and coach Ron Polk has said he'll play behind the plate in the pros.

``It's been a joy for me to be around him for five years,'' Polk said. ``It's not easy (to change positions), but he's really an adaptable guy and he's intelligent and got baseball sense. ... He's been the type of guy that you can call on at any time in the game and say `Would you like to play another position?'''

Johnson, a junior centerfielder from Jackson, led Conference USA with 85 hits and 61 runs, was tied for second with 131 total bases, and is fifth in the league with a .366 batting average. The former Jackson Provine High and Meridian Community College standout also had 10 home runs and 47 RBIs.

Penprase, a sophomore shortstop from Moorpark, Calif., led the nation with 56 stolen bases in 63 attempts, and shared the Southwestern Athletic Conference lead with 64 hits. He hit .352 with one home run and 32 RBIs.

The award is sponsored by Cellular South, and is named for former Delta State coach and Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Dave ``Boo'' Ferriss. University of Mississippi players won the first two Ferriss trophies - Stephen Head in 2004 and Brian Pettway last year.

[rebelduckaholic]

At least this is not the typical Jeannie Pooh crap you have been posting

[camlock]

Be glad Cozart, Coughlan, Presley all got screwed outta recognition...

[Greenhead22]

I see where an arguement could be made for Cozart and Maddox from USM, but not Pressley or Coghlan.

[camlock]

yeah, maybe not Presley...but Chris Coglan is a better baseball player than Thomas Berkery.

That is not to say the Berkery isn't a heckuva player, but Coglan is a helluva player. Berkery has had a great season and put up some good numbers, and he has earned it, no doubt. But Chris Coglan has been a top player in the SEC for 3 straight years! And could be for a 4th if he wanted to...

Zack Cozart and Chris Coglan are, despite their "stats" on the season, the two best baseball players in the state of Mississippi.

[Greenhead22]

I would have to say that Thomas Berkery and Jeffrey Rea are the two best players in the state.

[camlock]

I would have to say that Thomas Berkery and Jeffrey Rea are the two best players in the state.

well, I would have to disagree with you...I will agree that maybe from a stats perspective, they may have had better seasons than others. But I you can have Jefferey Rea and Thomas Berkery and I'll keep Zack Cozart and Justin Henry, as far position by position. Not even taking Chris Coglan into account...

[Hooded Merganzer]

Who's winning this pissing contest?

[camlock]

ME ME ME

I'll end it with this, I'll take mine all the way to Hoover and beyond, GH22 can take his award winners the local sports bar for a beer and watch the rest of the season on TV

[Greenhead22]

I've got no probs hanging out with Rea, Berk and Jana to watch UM go 2 and out the rest of the way.

[camlock]

I've got no probs hanging out with Rea, Berk and Jana to watch UM go 2 and out the rest of the way.

Exactly, to see Ole Miss lose is as enjoyable or better than your own teams success! If the situation was reversed, I would choose to see the Rebels making the postseason and not worried about whether State went 2 and Q or not, they are there and we ain't. However, not surprising as this is just another way of showing your obession for the greatest university in the state of MS