By By Austin Bishop/Special to The Star
FEB. 22, 2001
Meridian Community College's Scaggs Field will have a new look this week, and it is one that appeals to MCC president Dr. Scott Elliott.
MCC is playing host to the Rush Classic on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which features the baseball teams from Meridian, East Mississippi, East Central and Jones County.
EMCC, ECCC and JCJC have not played MCC in a regular season baseball game in several seasons, with East Mississippi being the most recent.
There will be two games each day in the four-team, three-day round-robin event.
EMCC and Jones kick things off at noon on Friday, followed by East Central and Meridian at 3 p.m.
Saturday's action has ECCC and Jones playing at noon and East Mississippi and MCC playing at 3 p.m., while Sunday has East Central and East Mississippi playing at noon and MCC closing the tournament against Jones at 3 p.m.
MCC goes into the event with a 5-4 record, while Jones is 2-4, EMCC is 1-3 and East Central 1-4.
East Central, East Mississippi and MCC have all been regular participants in the Region 23 Tournament at Scaggs Field each season, and have occasionally played each other.
Some weather reports predict rain on Saturday.
The Eagles have hosted the Rush Invitational since 1994, which features teams from around the country. This year is the first time for the Rush Classic to be held.
Meridian first-year head coach Russ McNickle is hoping a lot of local baseball fans come out and enjoy the tournament.
The Eagles are set to send Martin LaRocca (2-0) to the mound against the Warriors of ECCC on Friday, while Brian Reed (0-0) is scheduled to face EMCC on Saturday and freshman Jason Wimberly (0-0) will go to the hill against Jones on Sunday.