Gilbert will play at McPherson

PERKINSTON — Darby Gilbert will be the second player from the 2020 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College headed to NAIA McPherson College in Kansas to continue his college career.

The sophomore right-hander from Pascagoula signed with McPherson, also nicknamed the Bulldogs.

"It was the dedication they showed to try to get me there," Gilbert said. "They showed a lot of effort and just seemed to want me more than other schools."

Gilbert made 16 appearances for Gulf Coast in 2019, going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 26 innings. His most impressive outing came in Gulf Coast's Region 23 qualifying series opener. He struck out 11 batters in 4.1 innings of relief to get the win in a 10-8 comeback at Meridian.

He had a minor injury over the Christmas break and hadn't pitched in 2020.

"He was set to come back right when the season ended," Gulf Coast coach Wes Thigpen said. "Just watching him in the fall, he's got a fastball that really gets on hitters and then a really exceptional breaking ball. When he throws strikes, he's pretty special."

McPherson finished the abbreviated 2020 season 18-7. In 2019, the Bulldogs finished third in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference with a 36-15 overall record, best in program history.

Gilbert has only been able to take a virtual tour of the campus and baseball facilities, but he'll be joining Justin Lockey, who did get to visit McPherson.

"Gulf Coast set me up to succeed," Gilbert said. "They took me in and over the two years, they made me bigger, stronger, and harder-throwing pitcher. They taught me how to get in the zone consistently and control my pitches. They turned me into a more dominant and consistent pitcher."

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.