EMCC'S Forrester honored
SCOOBA – For the third time in his career and second time this baseball season, East Mississippi Community College's Jaxen Forrester has earned MACJC Pitcher of the Week honors.
During EMCC'S regular-season finale at fifth-ranked Jones College, Forrester limited the Bobcats to just two singles, while striking out eight and walking three, during the Lions' 12-2 run-rule, nightcap victory last Friday at Ellisville.
Forrester previously collected MACJC Pitcher of the Week honors during Week 8 of the current season after throwing a no-hitter in EMCC'S 10-1 road win over East Central back on March 29. The sophomore righthander initially received state-wide and national acclaim a year ago as a freshman by being picked the NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Week after earning his first collegiate victory with a three-hit, complete-game 2-0 shutout over the University of West Alabama's junior varsity team.
Forrester completed the 2019 season with a 4-4 record and 3.74 ERA. While striking out 76 batters and walking just 32 in 53 innings pitched, he currently ranks 19th nationally with an Macjc-leading 12.91 strikeouts per nine innings on the year. In addition, opposing hitters batted just .191 against the Mississippi State commit this past season.
In 30 career pitching appearances (22 starts) for head coach Brett Kimbrel's EMCC Lions, Forrester struck out 146 batters in 111.1 innings pitched for a career average of 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The native of Spanish Fort, Alabama posted a hard-luck career pitching record of 7-10 at EMCC with five complete games, two shutouts and two saves.
Including Forrester's pair of weekly MACJC honors this year along with freshman shortstop Tyler Miller's Week 10 MACJC Player of the Week recognition, East Mississippi's three state-wide weekly baseball honors this season trail only Pearl River (five), Northwest Mississippi (five) and Jones (four). Individually, Forrester joins NWCC pitcher Parker Stinnett as the only two conference players to nab multiple MACJC weekly baseball honors during the current campaign.