Bulldogs win big on Sophomore Day

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast celebrated its Sophomore Day in style Friday, beating Florida Post-Grad 18-3 at Ken "Curly" Farris Field.

Brandon Coakley (So., Covington, La./Covington) had a spectacular day, slugging two home runs while going 3-for-4 with a double and five RBI. Garrett Gardner (Fr., Madison/Madison-Ridgeland Academy) also homered, and Brady Saxton (Fr., Brandon/Northwest Rankin) had a double among his two hits.

Alex Love (Fr., Hernando/Northpoint Christian) struck out four in two hitless innings for the win. Wade Barr (So., Collins/Seminary), DJ Walls (So., Hattiesburg/Hattiesburg) and Walker Seaman (So., Grand Bay, Ala./Mobile Christian) threw a shutout inning with two strikeouts each, along a combined one hit.

Jordan Davis (So., Neshoba/Neshoba Central) and Collin Smith (Fr., McComb/Parklane Academy) also doubled for Gulf Coast (25-19).

Sophomore Day ceremonies were held before the game to honor 12 players: Jordan Davis (So., Neshoba/Neshoba Central), Griffin Wells (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula), Naji Cain (So., Columbia/Columbia), Brandon Coakley (So., Covington, La./Covington), Erimel Rosado (So., Dorado, Puerto Rico/Centennial), Asher Henley (So., Vancleave/Vancleave), Landen Wallace (So., Gulfport/West Harrison), Walker Seaman (So., Grand Bay, Ala./Mobile Christian), Layton Eder (So., Vancleave/Vancleave), Wade Barr (So., Collins/Seminary), and DJ Walls (So., Hattiesburg/Hattiesburg). Manager Jerry Gautreaux was also honored.

Henley was announced as the winner of the Randy Rouse Award. It's given in honor of a former Gulf Coast baseball player who died of leukemia in 1992. The award is voted on by the team and is given to the sophomore who best exemplifies sportsmanship, unselfishness, and loyalty.

"This is a special group," Gulf Coast coach Zach Allen said. "These guys have won a lot of baseball games for this program, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for them. I know they are winners on the field, but I also know that they are going to grow up to be great fathers and husbands, and that's what I'm most proud of."

The Bulldogs return to MACCC play Wednesday in their first conference game at Ken "Curly" Farris Field in more than two weeks. Meridian will be in town, and first pitch will be at 3 p.m. The games will be streamed https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.