By Robert Wilson
Jackson Prep senior right-hander Mason Nichols is one of six Division I signees or commitments on the Patriots’ three-time MAIS Class 5A state championship baseball team.
But last week Nichols outshined everyone, including the rest of Metro Jackson.
Nichols, an Ole Miss signee, threw a two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts and only walk in a 7-0 victory over Parklane Academy in a conference game in McComb.
For his outstanding performance, Nichols has been named the Two Men and a Truck/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week.
It is the second straight week a Jackson Prep pitcher has won the award. Junior Will Gibbs, a Mississippi State commitment, won it last week.
Nichols, who plays first base when doesn’t pitch, hit .333 (2 for 6) with two runs batted in two games last week.
Nichols has a 2-0 record with a 1.27 earned run average. He has allowed 15 hits with 58 strikeouts with 14 walks in 32 2/3 innings in seven appearances this season with Prep, who has a 20-2 record and is ranked No. 2 in Mississippi by MaxPreps entering this week.
“Mason is one of the best pitchers we’ve seen around Prep and we have seen some really good ones,” Prep coach Brent Heavener said. “He works really hard. It’s been fun to watch him grow and continue to see him improve each time he pitches. We are really excited about his future.”
Nichols was a member of the Two Men and a Truck/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball team last year.
