By Robert Wilson
Richey Hines is considered one of the best left-handed hitters to ever play in the Metro Jackson area when he played at Jim Hill High and Mississippi College in the 1980s.
His son, Hunter, will be remembered as one of the best as well.
The Madison Central senior first baseman and Mississippi State signee is off to an incredible start this season, especially last week.
Hines hit .727 (8 of 11 at bats) with two home runs, two doubles with 11 runs batted in in four victories.
For his outstanding performances, Hines has been named the first Two Men and a Truck/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week.
Hines had a home run and RBI in a 20-2 win over Northwest Rankin, a double, three singles and five RBIs in a 16-0 win over Germantown, a double and single and two RBIs in a 6-0 win over Neshoba Central and a home run and two RBIs in an 8-1 win over Ridgeland.
Hines has a .733 batting average and 1.267 slugging average with 4 homers, 4 doubles, 13 runs, 22 RBIs with only one strikeout in 30 at bats for Madison Central, which is 10-0 entering this week and ranked No. 8 in the nation by MaxPreps.
Hines was named to the Two Men and a Truck/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Team last season as a junior.
“Hunter is an extremely talented hitter who has been very patient to take what pitchers give him,” Madison Central coach Patrick Robey said. “He doesn’t try to do too much and that is one thing that makes him successful. Along with having great zone awareness allows him to really do damage when he gets a mistake pitch. Hunter is really good about helping educate younger guys on our club about what it takes to hit at a high level.”
