PriorityOne Bank Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week 3-30-24

By Robert Wilson

Ridgeland High’s Parker Ishee had arm issues last fall, but he didn’t show any effects of it last week for the Titans.

The senior right-hander pitcher-infielder and Copiah-Lincoln Community College signee had two wins, including a five-inning no-hitter, and had a .857 batting average (6 for 7) with 3 doubles and 3 runs scored in three victories.

For his outstanding performance, Ishee has been named the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week.

Ishee – a member of the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite 11 Team – allowed no hits and no runs with seven strikeouts and went 1 for 1 with a run batted in in a 16-0 victory over Vicksburg in a MHSAA Class 6A, Region 2 game Tuesday, went 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored, 2 doubles and 1 stolen base in a 13-2 victory over Vicksburg Friday and went 2 for 3 with 1 double and was the winning pitcher in relief with no hits, no runs in 1 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win over Class 7A and Madison County rival Madison Central.

“Parker had a phenomenal week last week,” Ridgeland coach Eddie Easley said. “He has dealt with an arm injury in the fall, and we have worked on bringing him back slowly. We also as coaches made an adjustment with the lineup against Vicksburg to allow him to focus more on pitching. Parker responded and had his best game of the season so far. He also came in against Madison Central at the end in a tight spot and threw the fastball past the toughest out in the lineup to get us out of a jam. Parker had great at bats all week. He’s been working on going the other way and not pulling off the ball as much. It’s awesome to see a player put the work in and make adjustments and have success. Parker will be an important part in our success the rest of the season and when the playoffs begin.”

Ishee has a .348 batting average with 16 runs scored, 6 RBIs, 6 doubles, 1 triple and 7 stolen bases this season. He has a 1-1 record, a 2.82 earned run average with 29 strikeouts and only 9 walks in 22 1/3 innings.

Ishee had a 4-1 record, 1 save and a 0.78 ERA with 62 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 44 innings and helped Ridgeland to a 28-7 record and the MHSAA Class 5A semifinals last year as a junior. He also had a .302 batting average with 34 runs, 26 RBIs, 2 doubles, 1 triple and 1 home run. Ishee was a first-team All-Metro selection as the relief pitcher.

Ishee is the son of Gabe and Katie Ishee. Gabe played baseball at West Monroe High, Pearl River CC and Louisiana Tech and minor leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He is an professional pitching instructor at Pro Pitching in Flowood. Katie played basketball, tennis and track and field at Woodland Hills Baptist Academy and played basketball and softball at Judson, Ala., College. Parker has two older siblings. Ryan played baseball for Ridgeland and Holmes CC. Allie was a cheerleader at Ridgeland for three years.

Ridgeland, 13-6, plays at West Jones Saturday in Soso.

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.