By Robert Wilson

      Jackson Academy senior pitcher-outfielder Foster Meacham doesn’t have any offers to play college or junior college baseball.

      That might change soon, especially after what Meacham did last week against seven-time defending MAIS Class 6A state champion Jackson Prep.

      Meacham hit two home runs for five runs batted in in the same inning – the top of the seventh – to highlight JA’s 10-run explosion as JA had a come-from-behind 15-7 victory over Prep in the third and deciding game in the first round of the 6A state playoffs to end Prep’s season and a chance at a eighth straight state championship.

      For his outstanding performance, Meacham has been named the BSN Sports/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week.

      Not only did Meacham hit his two home runs in the same inning, but the right-hander also threw 5 2/3 innings and allowed only one earned run before he gave up a grand slam home run to Prep’s senior outfielder and Meridian Community College signee Cole Gideon in the bottom of the sixth inning after not pitching for three weeks due a shoulder injury to help JA stay in the game.

      For the week, Meacham hit .500 (5 for 10 at bats) with three home runs and seven RBIs in the three games against Prep. 

      Meacham came into this week hitting .376 with 13 runs, 35 RBIs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs and 11 stolen bases this season. 

      “Foster is one of the best players in the state and hopefully he will continue to play after this year because he deserves it,” said first-year JA coach Corey Dickerson, who was a major league outfielder for 11 seasons. “He is the ultimate competitor and leader on the field. Last Thursday was his first game back on the mound since April 8th. He threw only one short bullpen before that start, and he wanted to pitch the entire game no matter what. He put us in an unbelievable position to move on. Then he went on to hit two homers that put the game away.”

      In addition to baseball, Meacham played football for the Raiders. As a sophomore, Meacham played wide receiver, then as a junior and senior played defense. He played outside linebacker this past year and made second team all-conference. 

      Meacham is the son of the Melissa Swayze Meacham and the late Jay Meacham. Melissa played tennis and basketball at Pillow Academy and was a MAIS All Star in basketball. She attended Ole Miss. Jay was a standout basketball player at Brookhaven High and attended Mississippi College. Meacham has two brothers. McNeil is a sophomore at JA and plays football and tennis. Webb is a fifth grader at JA and plays first base for the JAX travel ball team. Meacham’s grandfather, Charlie Swayze, was All Big Eight in basketball for Greenwood High the 1960s. Meacham’s great grandfather’s first cousin is Tom Swayze, a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Swayze played football and baseball at Ole Miss and coached baseball from 1951-1971 at Ole Miss and won four SEC championships and SEC Coach of the Year four times. The field is Ole Miss is named after him.

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

WEEK SEVEN: Stone Crain, Clinton