2005 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy Finalists Announced

JACKSON, Miss. - (May 16, 2005) – A first ever tie in the voting has produced four finalists for the 2005 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy, which is awarded annually to Mississippi’s top college baseball player.

In alphabetical order, the finalists are:

STEPHEN HEAD: (Statistics through May 15, 2005) Ole Miss: Junior pitcher/infielder from Raymond, MS; two-way player; tied for third in the SEC with 58 rbi’s and tied for eighth in wins with a 7-2 mark and tenth in league with a 2.89 e.r.a.; the recipient of the 2004 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy;
CRAIG NEWTON: (Statistics through May 11, 2005) Delta State; Senior catcher from Vicksburg, MS who’s hitting .358; his 66 hits is second best in the Gulf South Conference while his 13 home runs is fourth best in the GSC; graduated from Warren Central High School along with Brian Pettway.
BRIAN PETTWAY: (Statistics through May 15, 2005) Ole Miss; Junior infielder/pitcher from Vicksburg, MS who is in the running for the SEC player of the year honors, currently leading the league in batting (.415) and hits (83) while ranking third in home runs (17) and second in total bases (152).
GARNER WETZEL: (Statistics through April 24, 2005): Millsaps; Junior infielder from Gulfport, MS; led the Majors or was second in almost every offensive category including average (.422); hr’s (12); slugging percentage (.773); on base percentage (.531) and walks (34).
Other players receiving votes are (listed alphabetically): Rickey Brezeale, Belhaven; Brad Corley, MSU; Beau Griffin, USM; Carl Lipsey, JSU; Matt Maloney, Ole Miss; Garner Wetzel, Millsaps; Brad Willcut, USM; Rod Williams, MVSU; and, Corey Wimberly, Alcorn.

Major League scouts covering Mississippi schools, coaches of the four-year college programs in the state and one media representative comprise the 25 voters who determine the finalists and the eventual winner of the Ferriss Trophy.

After a final round of voting, the winner will be announced at a dinner with the finalists present at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum in Jackson, MS on Monday May 23, 2005. Former Yankees’ infielder and American League President Dr. Bobby Brown will be the keynote speaker following remarks from Dave “Boo” Ferriss, the award’s namesake. Ferriss is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, the Mississippi State University Sports Hall of Fame and the Delta State University Sports Hall of Fame.

For ticket information, contact the Museum at 1-800-280-FAME (3263) or 601-982-8264. Proceeds from the event benefit the private non-profit Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum.

About Cellular South

The company is the largest privately held wireless provider in the U.S. and is licensed to provide wireless service - to a total population of more than five million people - on its network stretching from the Memphis Metropolitan Area, throughout all of Mississippi, along Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through Destin/Seaside. For more information, contact Cellular South at 1-877-CSOUTH1 or visit cellularsouth.com.

Contact:
Tanya Rankin, Cellular South (601) 974-7134 trankin@cellularsouth.com