By Robert Wilson
First-year Ridgeland baseball coach Eddie Easley knew his new team had talent, including Montravious Winn.
The senior shortstop-pitcher and Louisiana-Lafayette commitment has been a pleasure to watch for Easley, especially last week.
Winn hit .500 (3 for 6) with 2 triples, 4 runs batted in and 1 stolen base and got a pitching victory and allowed only 2 hits, 0 earned runs with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts in 4 innings in victories over Mendenhall and Richland in the Florence Tournament during Spring Break.
For his outstanding performance, Winn has been named the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week.
Winn is hitting .344 with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 9 runs, 9 RBIs and 5 stolen bases and has a 2-1 pitching record with 33 strikeouts in 16 innings and has helped Ridgeland to a 11-4 record entering this week.
“I knew Ridgeland had a talented roster when I took the job,” said Easley, who came to Ridgeland from Meridian where he was head coach since 2019 and was an assistant at Hattiesburg High for 11 seasons (MHSAA Class 6A state champions in 2018) and an assistant at Stone County for one season. “My plan coming in was to just elevate the talent and to get kids to buy in and play hard. Montravious is a talented young man and a hard worker who is very coachable and leads by example. In the preseason, we felt as a staff his stuff was electric on the mound when he is on. When he gets his slider going, he is very tough on the mound. Montravious is athletic and a smart baseball player. He is a silent leader and can make special plays at shortstop. When he is on, he is elite at the high school level on the mound. We have a chance to win every game Montravious pitches.”
Winn hit .306 with 5 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 38 runs scored, 19 RBIs and 15 stolen bases and helped Ridgeland to a 22-13 record and a MHSAA Class 5A quarterfinal appearance last year as a junior. He also had a 3-5 record and a 3.00 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings.
Winn hit .333 with 5 doubles, 4 triples, 29 runs scored, 17 RBIs and 15 stolen bases and helped Ridgeland to a 21-14 record and the 5A quarterfinal appearance two years ago as a sophomore. He also had a 5-3 pitching record and a 3.38 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 56 innings.
Ridgeland’s next game is against Neshoba Central Thursday at 7 p.m. at Ridgeland.
Coaches can nominate their players by calling or texting Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276. Only players who play for teams in Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties are eligible.
