By Robert Wilson
Madison Central’s Reed Sandberg had a day last week that high school baseball players dream about.
The junior outfielder and Pearl River Community College commitment hit 2 home runs and 2 doubles, scored 4 runs, had 3 runs batted in and 1 stolen base and led Madison Central to a 9-3 victory over Clinton in a MHSAA Class 7A, Region 2 game.
And Sandberg did it with a broken nose.
For his outstanding performance, Sandberg has been named the Box Sports Academy/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week.
In addition to the four hit game, Sandberg had a double, scored two runs and had a stolen base in a 10-3 victory over Clinton at Madison Central last week.
Sandberg had a .625 batting average (5 for 8) with a 1.750 slugging percentage, with all five hits being extra bases, two home runs and three doubles in the two wins against Clinton.
“It was pretty cool watching Reed perform with a broken nose,” first-year Madison Central coach Jake Mills said. “He broke it in the second game against Oxford and was trying to play that night as blood was pouring from his nose. A lot of kids would be out and not think about playing. It was never a question with him or his parents. That tells you a lot about them. After the first game against Clinton, I asked him you sure you want to get if fixed? (He had surgery last Wednesday). We just laughed. I was very proud of our team last week.”
Sandberg has a team high .483 batting average with 28 runs scored, 25 RbIs, 12 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 10 stolen bases for Madison Central, which has a 12-8 record and is ranked No. 14 in Mississippi by MaxPreps entering this week.
Sandberg is the son of Carl and Emily Sandberg. Carl played baseball and football at Chapel Trafton High (now called Durham School) in Baton Rouge, La., and played baseball at Mississippi College. He is a home builder/developer in the Metro Jackson area. Emily graduated from West Lauderdale High and Mississippi State. She is a realtor with Front Gate Realty. Sandberg has a twin brother, Ryan, who plays football and baseball at Madison Central. He has been recovering from a shoulder injury this spring. Sandberg’s brother, Drew, is sophomore at Mississippi State. Sandberg is the grandson of Ricky and Wilma Smith of Collinsville and Ken and Janice Sandberg of Lumberton, Texas.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a baseball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by sending a text to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
WEEK ONE: Deuce Jenkins, Jackson Academy
WEEK TWO: Henry Abt, Hartfield Academy
WEEK THREE; Justin Word, Jackson Academy
