Four PCA players to suit up in all-star game|Prep baseball
Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 23, 2009
Porters Chapel Academy already dominated the Mississippi Private School Association’s postseason. Now, it seems the Eagles are ready to take over the organization’s all-star game as well.
If you go
MPSA Class A
All-Star Game
Saturday, 2 p.m.
At Trustmark Park
Admission: $8
The late addition of infielder Clayton Holmes has given PCA four players in today’s MPSA Class A All-Star Game at Trustmark Park. Holmes, who was an alternate, was added to the all-star roster when another player dropped out of the game. He’ll join teammates Josh Perry, an outfielder, catcher Josh Hill and first baseman Joe Borrello on the South squad.
Tallulah Academy catcher Owen Clark will also suit up for the South.
“It’s going to feel like a regular practice,” said Holmes, who also played two seasons with Clark at Tallulah before transferring to St. Aloyius and then PCA. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. A bunch of my buddies are on the team.”
The four all-stars comprise the bulk of the Eagles’ senior class. Only one senior starter, right fielder Gabby Hays, did not make the all-star team. Together, the five seniors led PCA to a perfect 8-0 march through the playoffs and the Class A championship.
All four Porters Chapel all-stars had batting averages over .370 and at least 36 hits apiece. Borrello, who hit .371 with 13 doubles and 27 RBIs, joked that the stats and title should translate into a romp at Trustmark Park.
“It’s basically going to be half of a state championship team, so it ought to be an easy victory for the South,” Borrello said with a laugh.
Perry may have had the best season of the four. The left fielder was a junior varsity player at Warren Central in 2007, didn’t play baseball at all in 2008, transferred to PCA last summer, and only joined the team this year because a lot of his friends were on it. He ended up leading the team in batting average (.469), hits (45), and RBIs (35). He also stole 23 bases and clubbed 10 doubles.
Perry also played a key role in PCA’s championship run, getting hits that started winning rallies in three of the Eagles’ five come-from-behind victories in the postseason.
“I’m happy I came over here. It was the best move. It was a hard road, but it was worth it,” Perry said.
Hill is continuing a family tradition with his all-star selection. His older brother Dean, also a catcher, represented PCA in the 2005 game. Josh Hill earned his nod with a .404 batting average, 17 doubles and 33 RBIs this season.
“I can’t wait to go. My brother was in it and I want to fill in his shoes,” Josh Hill said.
The younger Hill is also helping continue PCA’s all-star tradition.
The school has had at least one player in every game all-star since 1999, and in 12 of the last 13 seasons. This was to be the third time the Eagles had the maximum three players participating, but Holmes’ nod as an alternate gave them four for the first time.
“To get everybody on the team and experience it all together is kind of awesome,” Hill said. “It’s going to be fun. I can’t wait.”
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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com