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Magnolia State’s top college baseball player will be named on May 14 at Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame luncheon

Jackson, Miss., (May 7, 2012) – Delta State pitcher Colton Mitchell, Mississippi State pitcher Chris Stratton and Ole Miss second baseman Alex Yarbrough have been selected as the three finalists for the C Spire Wireless Ferriss Trophy, which goes annually to Mississippi’s most outstanding collegiate baseball player.

The trophy is named in honor of the legendary Boo Ferriss, who played for Mississippi State and the Boston Red Soz and was the long-time baseball coach at Delta State. One of the three finalists will be presented the trophy at a C Spire Wireless-sponsored luncheon Monday, May 14, at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

The three finalists – and eventual winner – are selected by the state’s college baseball coaches, a panel of Major League scouts and by two media members.

Here’s what the three finalists have achieved this season:

• Mitchell, a junior left-hander from Lake, has won all eight of his decisions for the Statesmen. The 6-footer threw the first perfect game in school history against New Orleans on April 14. Opponents have hit just .216 against him.
• Stratton, a 6-foot, 3-inch junior from Tupelo, Ms., leads the SEC with a 9-0 record, a 2.19 earned run average and is second with 101 strikeouts. He is a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Week and only the 12th pitcher in MSU history to record 100 strikeouts in a season. Earlier this month, the Bulldog right hander was named by USA Baseball to the watch list for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award, which honors the nation’s top amateur baseball player.
• Yarbrough, a 5’11” junior from Allen, Texas, has hit .407, second best in the SEC, while scoring a team high 38 runs. His on-base percentage is a whopping .453 and he has committed only one error all season long. Earlier this season, Yarbrough posted a career-best 22 game hitting streak, the fourth longest in school history and third longest in a single season. He is also on the watch list for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award.

Tickets for the 11:30 a.m. luncheon are $35 for individuals. Sponsorship tables are also available for purchase. For more information, call the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum at 601.982.8264.

C Spire Wireless also sponsors college football’s Conerly Trophy and college basketball’s Howell and Gillom Trophies, which annually honor the state’s top football and male and female college basketball players.

About C Spire Wireless

C Spire Wireless is a diversified wireless communications company passionately committed to helping customers by personalizing wireless services designed just for them. The company is the first wireless provider in the U.S. to personalize customers’ experience by offering apps that fit who they are, services that anticipate their needs, and rewards for using their phone in new ways – all with seamless ease and at amazingly fast speeds. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire Wireless and its products and services, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.