Pierson Waring is occupying some rare air as his high school career winds down.

The St. Aloysius senior shortstop is just four hits shy of 200 for his career, a mark only one other Warren County player has reached in the last decade and few have even approached.

“I guess that’s great,” Waring said, adding he was unaware he was approaching the milestone until recently. “I didn’t even know it until it was in the newspaper last week.”

Waring has 196 career hits. Former Porters Chapel and current Hinds Community College star Michael Busby had 204 from 2004-07.

The only other players in the past decade to get within shouting distance of 200 hits were Waring’s teammate Ryno Martin-Nez (175 heading into this week’s Class 1A championship series against Myrtle) and former Warren Central and Ole Miss star Brian Pettway (188 hits between 1999 and 2002).

Busby reached the 200 mark in four seasons, while Waring has had six. Waring started his high school career in 2005 as a seventh-grader. Even so, he’s averaged a remarkable 33 hits per season and has 87 total over the past two years.

“That’s a lot of hits in a high school baseball career. I think that’s unbelievable,” St. Al coach Clint Wilkerson said. “It’s a stat that says what he is — he gets a lot of hits and sets the tone for our program. He’s just a great player. One of the best to come through here. He’s got a lot left in his tank.”