McWhorter, Henderson named All-MACCC

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast's baseball squad put two players on the All-MACCC First Team, the league announced this week. Third baseman Alex McWhorter and pitcher Drake Henderson, both freshmen, capped outstanding seasons with those honors.

McWhorter, who is from Mobile, Ala., was one of four infielders to make the team. He finished fifth in the conference with a .412 batting average and 49 RBI. McWhorter led the Bulldogs with 10 home runs 

He arrived at Perk less than 10 months after having Tommy John surgery, which hampered one half of his combination game.

"We weren't sure what to expect on the mound, but he always was advanced at the plate with his discipline and identifying pitches," Gulf Coast coach Wes Thigpen said. "He really put it together and had a great season for us."

Henderson, who is from Sand Hill, had a 7-2 record with a 3.32 ERA, sixth-best in the MACCC. He tied for third with seven wins and ranked fifth in the league with 67 strikeouts and 62.1 innings pitched.

He arrived as a highly-touted recruit, and he lived up to that billing and more. Even on nights when he didn't have his best stuff, found ways to win

"He's a hard worker who gets after it every day, and that showed on the field in his results," Thigpen said. "He's an ultra-competitor, and you couldn't ask for anything more than that."

Three Bulldogs also earned honorable mention honors: right-handed pitcher Dawson Flowers (Fr., Brookhaven/Brookhaven Academy), right-handed pitcher Hayden Robb (Fr., Vancleave/Vancleave) and shortstop Dawson Walters (Fr., Flora/Tri-County Academy).

Flowers went 4-4 with a 4.21 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 68.1 innings. Robb posted a 3-4 record with a 3.81 ERA and 52 strikeouts in as many innings, and Walters batted .391 with two home runs and 24 RBI.

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