Over the next few weeks Prep Baseball Report Mississippi will take a look at in-state recruiting classes across the Magnolia State. The 2019 class has showcased its depth with over 100 prospects having already made their verbal pledges, including 25 division 1 commitments while 10 of those being to SEC schools.

We begin our coverage this week exploring several junior college programs around the state. Today we look into the recruiting class of Hinds Community College. Lead by veteran head coach Sam Temple and assistants Nick Ammirati, Andrew Gunn and Caleb Upton, the Hinds Eagle baseball program was able to land seven talented prospects in their 2019 signing class.

 

Vantrel Reed, SS/RHP, Warren Central HS
Vantrel Reed is an outstanding shortstop and pitcher for his Warren Central High School Vikings baseball team. Not only will Reed provide a superb glove, great range, and uncanny instincts to the Hinds Community College baseball program, but he will also add a strong bat to head coach Sam Temple’s lineup.  His last two season combined at WCHS, Reed has hit .354 with three home runs, six triples, 25 doubles, 45 runs batted in and has stolen 24 bases. On the mound Reed’s fastball can reach upwards of 90+ mph with a sharp breaking slider.  He has posted a 1.88 earned run average in 56 innings pitched and tallied 66 strikeouts. His talent and excellent athleticism will make him a sure-fire two-way player for the Hinds Eagles.

Caleb Sterling, C/RHP, Warren Central HS
Caleb Sterling gives the Hinds program a multi-faceted addition. Sterling is one of the best overall catchers in the state featuring an above average arm with a quick release. His pop time has been clocked as low as 1.79. Sterling is also a skilled receiver and blocker who displays great athleticism behind the dish. Sterling also adds a solid left-handed bat to the Eagle lineup with power potential following his junior where connected for three homeruns, six doubles while tallying 28 runs batted in. His strong arm will also move from behind the dish to give the Eagles some quality innings from the mound. Sterling has great pitch-ability with a fastball ranging in the upper 80’s.  This one-man battery will look to give the Eagles an edge over the competition in the coming future.

Matthew Corder, UTL, Germantown HS
Matthew Corder will give the Hinds program yet another dual threat. Corder displays great athleticism and instincts to go along with a strong arm and solid bat. Corder has started 60 games for the Germantown Mavericks the past two seasons playing all over the field including shortstop, second base, third base, and centerfield. Last season, Corder hit at the top of the lineup for a talented Germantown team and batted .325 with six doubles, two triples while driving in 21 runs. The Germantown Maverick’s talents do not stop as a position player, Corder also adds another quality arm that could eat up innings in the Hinds baseball pitching rotation. Corder displays a mid to upper 80’s fastball with a tight breaking ball and devastating changeup. 

Patrick Little, RHP/1B, Northeast Jones HS
Patrick Little will surely be an immediate impact for the Eagles on the mound as his solid fastball velocity has steadily increased in the past two years reaching upwards of 90+ mph, which adds to his already-present pitching intangibles. For Northeast Jones, Little went 7-2 with a 1.81 earned run average in 38.2 innings pitched, and finished the year with 58 strikeouts to just 14 walks. Little is not “all arm” as he swings a quality left-handed stick. Little batted .442 last season with three homeruns, five doubles and 20 runs batted in which could find him time at first base for the Eagles in the coming future.

Canon Harvey, RHP/OF, Brandon HS
Canon Harvey adds another quality arm to a deep Hinds pitching staff. Harvey features an upper 80’s to low 90’s fastball with a power breaking ball. Harvey finished his junior year at Brandon high school with a 1.68 earned run average in 16.2 innings pitched. His electric arm racked up 25 strikeouts and after the departure of 1^st round draft pick, JT Ginn, Harvey will look to be the top starter for Brandon High School in 2019. Harvey’s strong athletic frame also has the chance to be used in the outfield.

Noah Magee, RHP/3B, Simpson Academy
Noah Magee brings Hinds a power right-handed arm and power left-handed bat. Magee has dominated throughout his tenure at Simpson both on the mound and at the plate. His last two seasons on the mound, Magee has racked up 116 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched displaying an upper 80’s to low 90’s fastball with a devastating breaking ball. Last season, Magee also had a breakout year at the plate as he batted .405 with five homeruns, nine doubles, and drove in 22 runs. Magee will look to have a dominate Senior year before joining the Eagles in the fall of 2019.

Walker Ladner, LHP/1B, Florence HS
Walker Ladner adds a quality left-handed arm and power threat at the plate. Ladner has gone 15-6 with a 2.67 earned run average his last three seasons at Florence. In the past three season, Ladner has pitched 107.2 innings and has struck out 157 batters. Ladner features three quality pitches including a mid to upper 80’s fastball with sweeping curveball and great change-up. Throughout his career at the plate, Ladner has hit .412 crushing 11 home runs, 17 doubles and has tallied 60 runs batted in.