MSU's Berkery wins Ferriss Award
Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 7:24 pm
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.
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.
