By Robert Wilson
Canton Academy lost its first seven of its eight baseball games this season.
But Sawyer Bates is turning around the Panthers’ season, especially last week.
The senior first baseman-outfielder-pitcher and East Central Community College signee hit .750 (9 of 12) with 4 home runs, 1 double, 6 runs scored, 11 runs batted in and 4 stolen bases in four games last week at the Battle of the Beach on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
For his outstanding performances, Bates has been named the first BSN Sports/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Player of the Week.
Sawyer went 3 for 3 with 1 home run, 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases in a 8-6 loss to MAIS Class 4A North Delta School, 2 for 2 with 2 home runs, 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored in a 12-10 win over MHSAA Class 3A Nettleton, 2 for 3 with 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored and 1 stolen base in a 12-11 loss to MHSAA Class 7A St. Martin and 2 for 4 with 1 double, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base in a 9-1 win over MHSAA Class 2A Hatley. All four of those schools have bigger enrollment than Canton Academy.
Bates is hitting .471 with a .572 on base percentage and 5 doubles, 4 home runs and 18 RBIs and has a 1-1 pitching record this season going into this week for 5-10 Canton Academy, which has played a tough schedule with games against seven-time defending MAIS Class 6A state champion Jackson Prep, 6A Hartfield Academy and Madison St. Joseph, defending MAIS Class 4A state champion Tri-County Academy, and defending MHSAA Class 2A state champion St. Andrew’s.
“Sawyer is a tremendous grinder and leader,” said first-year Canton Academy coach Jonathan Bates, Sawyer’s father. “He has put many years of hard work into his game. Sawyer is a very balanced hitter that can spray the ball to all fields. He is also a very good defensive player for us, whether it’s on the mound, first base or in the outfield. Sawyer has been a very good leader for us whether it’s helping our young guys or being that encouraging teammate for the other guys.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Bates also played football and was an All-MAIS Class 3A wide receiver and participates in track (long jump, triple jump, 300 meter hurdles, 200 meter run, 400 meter relay and 800 meter relay).
Bates is the son of Jonathan and Kristin Bates. Jonathan played football, basketball, baseball and ran track at Tri-County, played baseball at Holmes Community College and was a manager for Coach Ron Polk and the Mississippi State baseball team. Kristin graduated from Tri-County and Hinds CC and is now working in the insurance field. Bates has two brothers, Keaton and Madden. Keaton is a Tri-County graduate who now works for the Clinton Police Department. Madden is a sophomore at Canton Academy. Bates’ grandparents are Flora (Mimi) and Tommy (Papaw) Hancock and Sarah (Honey) and Brad Holcomb.
Canton Academy plays host to Prep Thursday at 6 p.m. at Canton.
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.
