Two Relievers, Catcher are Finalists for 2008 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy Honoring Mississippi's Top Collegiate Baseball Player

Winner To Be Named At May 19 Sports Hall of Fame Program in Jackson

Jackson, MS - (May 12, 2008) – If baseball is primarily a game of pitch and catch, then the finalists for the 2008 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy certainly reflect the simplicity of the sport. For the first time in the award's history, two junior relief pitchers join a senior catcher as the three finalists for Mississippi's college baseball player of the year award.

Listed alphabetically, the three finalists are:

  • Scott Bittle, RHP, Ole Miss JR, Texarkana, TX
    SEC strikeouts runner-up (99K's in 54.2 innings); 5-1 record with 7 saves; opponents hitting .116 against him; second nationally in hits allowed (3.37) and strikeouts recorded per 9 innings (16.33).
  • Tyler Conn, LHP, USM JR, Ocean Springs, MS
    Reliever who has finished 22 games in 23 appearances; leads NCAA Division 1 with 15 saves; has allowed only 2 earned runs in 29.1 innings with an era of 0.61
  • Rickey Noland, C, DSU SR, Denham Springs, LA
    Leads the nationally #2 Ranked Gulf South Conference Champions with a .414 batting average; posted a .715 slugging percentage; struck out only 17 times in 186 at bats; threw out 16 of 21 runners trying to steal on him.

Other players receiving votes listed alphabetically are:

  • Greg Alexander, William Carey
  • Brett Basham, University of Mississippi
  • Brian Bennett, Belhaven College
  • Derrick Camper, Jackson State University
  • Lance Lynn, University of Mississippi
  • Hunter Owen, Millsaps College
  • Corey Overbeck, University of Mississippi
  • Enrique Quintero, Jackson State University
  • Clay Sartain, Delta State University
  • Jerome Tyes, Jackson State University
  • Enrique Quintero, Jackson State University
  • Aaron Weatherford, Mississippi State University

Former Yankees manager and Mississippi State All-American Buck Showalter will present the 2008 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy on Monday May 19, 2008 at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson, MS. A 5:30 p.m. reception will precede the formal program, which begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum, which is located at 1152 Lakeland Drive in Jackson.

The three finalists and their coaches will attend along with the award’s namesake, Boston Red Sox and Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer Dave "Boo" Ferriss. Retiring MSU head coach Ron Polk will also be recognized for his contributions to the game.

The finalists and eventual recipient of the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy are selected by a panel of 25 Major League scouts, college coaches and a media representative. Players at all of Mississippi's four-year baseball programs are eligible for the honor, which has been presented annually since 2004.

The award is named after Shaw, MS native Dave "Boo" Ferriss, a former Mississippi State All-American player and long-time Delta State head coach who is an inductee in the Boston Red Sox and Mississippi Sports Halls of Fame.

For ticket information, contact the Museum at 1-800-280-FAME (3263). All proceeds benefit the non-profit Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum.