By Robert Wilson
James Crain is one of the most successful and well-known boys basketball coaches in Mississippi history. The Central Hinds Academy coach has 1,066 career wins, second most in Mississippi history, in 40 seasons and has won 10 state championships and one MAIS Overall Tournament championship and won this year’s MAIS Class 4A state title, the first one at Central Hinds since 1996.
His grandson, Clinton High junior catcher Stone Crain, has been making a name for himself as well and if he continues to play like he did last week, Coach Crain might be known as Stone’s grandfather more than as one of Mississippi’s best coaches.
Stone Crain hit .600 (3 of 5 at bats), a 1.800 slugging percentage, with 3 home runs, 8 runs batted in, 3 runs scored and 3 walks to lead Clinton to a two-game sweep over Hernando in the first round of the MHSAA Class 7A state playoffs last week.
For his outstanding performance, Crain has been named the BSN Sports/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week.
Crain hit two home runs in a 9-7 win over Hernando in Game 1 last Wednesday and one home run in a 11-5 win over Hernando in Game 2 Saturday at Clinton.
Crain – a member of the Performance Therapy/ Mississippi Scoreboard Preseason Metro Jackson Elite 11 Team – is hitting .459 with 9 runs scored, 41 RBIs, 9 doubles, 1 triple and 6 home runs this season going into this week for 21-7 Clinton, ranked No. 12 in Mississippi, according to MaxPreps.
“Stone has had a good year for us. Great players show up in big games and he did last week,” Clinton coach Sam Temple said. “We look forward to playing in the next round.”
Crain hit .408 with 6 runs scored, 19 RBIs, 9 doubles, and 3 home runs last season as a sophomore. He was the second team catcher on the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson team, one of only four sophomores on the 28 player team.
Crain is the son of Curt and Jennifer Crain. Curt played basketball and baseball at Mendenhall High and Mississippi College. Jennifer played soccer and softball at Ripley High. Crain has two brothers, Bailey and Brady, and one sister, Sara. Crain’s uncle, Carey, played basketball at Mendenhall High, Ole Miss and Mississippi College. Crain’s grandfather, James Crain, in addition to being a successful basketball coach, played football and basketball at Puckett High and Hinds Community College. He graduated from Southern Miss. Both Curt and Carey played basketball for their father at Mendenhall. Crain’s other grandfather, Gary Rayburn, played quarterback for Southern Miss from 1965-1970.
Clinton plays at Tupelo Friday in Game 1 of the best of three series in the 7A quarterfinals. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at Clinton. Game 3, if necessary, is scheduled for Monday at Tupelo.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a baseball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
WEEK ONE: Sawyer Bates, Canton Academy
WEEK TWO: JP Abt, Hartfield Academy
WEEK THREE: Garrett Gardner, MRA
WEEK FOUR: Gavin Parrow, Madison Central
WEEK FIVE: Tre McQueen, Brandon
WEEK SIX: Alex Lambert, MRA
