JACKSON, Miss.- Five of Mississippi’s best baseball players will come together Monday in hopes of receiving the C-Spire Ferriss Trophy.
The Ferriss Trophy was named after Mississippi native, Red Sox coach and former player and longtime Delta State University coach, Dave “Boo” Ferris. He will be giving out the trophy to one of the five finalists Monday.
This year’s Ferriss Trophy nominees are from Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Belhaven.
Belhaven’s Tyler Akins, who carried a double-duty role on the field and on the mound for the Blazers, joins fellow pitchers Ross Mitchell and Jacob Lindgren of Mississippi State, as well as Ole Miss’ Chris Ellis as finalists. Rebels’ outfielder Auston Bousfield rounded out the nominees.
The Ferriss Trophy, which is sponsored by C-Spire, will be presented during a May 19 luncheon at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson at 11:30 a.m.
Ferris said on SuperTalk’s Head to Head radio show, “This was a tremendous honor, one of the nicest honors I’ve ever had to have the trophy named after me. I appreciate that it bares my name and I think it’s a great boost for college baseball in the state.”
For the first time, fan voting will count for 10 percent of the selection process. A 24-member panel of the state’s college baseball coaches and MLB scouts, whose territory includes Mississippi, will comprise the remaining 90 percent of the voting.
The first trophy was awarded to Ole Miss player, Stephen Head, in 2004.
Ferris said, “I’ve been there every year to give out the award. We have so many outstanding players and outstanding programs. College baseball has come a long way and made great progress. It’s great to see our players get recognized; we have so many good ones. A whole lot of them have gone on to play pro ball and to the major leagues. We’re just so proud of all of them.”
Tickets can be purchased for $35 by calling (601) 982-8264 or visiting msfame.com.
