By Robert Wilson
Jackson Prep’s Ford McDaniel and Tri-County Academy’s Connor Hillman were Metro Jackson players who received MVP awards for their respective teams in the first MAIS futures all-star games played Monday at Mississippi College in Clinton.
McDaniel, a junior outfielder-pitcher, was the MVP for the Red team, which defeated the White team 8-6 in the Class 5A-6A Futures Game. He had two hits with two runs batted in, scored one run, and had one stolen base and pitched one inning of relief without giving up a hit.
Hillman, a sophomore first baseman-outfielder, was the MVP for the Red team, which defeated the White team 7-6 in the Class 2A-4A Futures Game. He had two hits, including a double, with three RBIs and scored one run.
McDaniel hit .444 with one double and one triple in 26 games and had a 2-1 record and a 1.52 earned run average with four saves and 25 strikeouts in 23 innings this season for Prep, which finished 31-7, won its fifth consecutive MAIS state championship and ranked No. 19 nationally by Perfect Game.
Hillman hit .290 with four doubles and one triple this season for Tri-County, which finished with a 20-8 record and reached the Class 4A quarterfinals.
