EVAN
MITCHELL
RHP ● 6-1 ● 160 ● R/R ● Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler High School)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year member of the Wheeler High School baseball
program in Marietta, Ga ... Compiled a .306 batting average with 26 hits
and 11 RBI and a 1-2 pitching mark with a 4.02 earned run average during
an injury-curtailed junior campaign ... Coached by Dave McDonald ...
Second-team All-Region 6 selection in 2009 ... Also tabbed team co-MVP
and honored as his team's outstanding defensive player ... Set school
mark with 10 putouts in one game ... Also played basketball for two
seasons at Wheeler HS ... A member of the WHS Leadership Club and the
Future Business Leaders of America ... Played summer league baseball for
the Georgia Knights, coached by Bob McDaniel.
PERSONAL: Born Evan Renick Mitchell on March 18, 1992 in Marietta, Ga...
Son of Sally and Lynn Mitchell of Marietta, Ga.
MITCHELL ON SIGNING WITH MSU: "I'm really excited about the
opportunity to play baseball at such a high level as Mississippi State.
I'm looking forward to being challenged as an athlete in the best
conference in the nation and as a student."
COACH BUTCH THOMPSON ON MITCHELL: "Evan is young to pitching but
caught our eye this summer at a few tournaments in Atlanta, Georgia. He
probably falls into the "sleeper" category as a pitcher due to his
missing a large portion of his junior season (2009) on the mound with a
back strain. Evan possesses a great athletic frame and showed great life
and sink to his fastball. His has the ability to consistently throw
strikes and command movement. Evan is also slated to be the starting
short stop for Wheeler this spring which further demonstrates his
athletic potential."
ROSS
MITCHELL
LHP ● 6-0 ● 160 ● L/L ● Smyrna, Tenn. (Blackman High School)
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year pitching standout at Smyrna's Blackman High
School ... Starred on the mound as a junior, posting a 9-1 record with
two saves and a 2.48 earned run average ... Registered 87 strikeouts in
77.1 innings ... Coached by Chris Parker ... Set school mark for wins in
a season (nine) ... Tabbed as the Daily News Journal Pitcher of the Year
Recipient of BHS's David Price Pitcher of the Year Award, named after
Blackman HS alum and current major leaguer David Price ... Earned
second-team All Mid-State honors as a utility player in 2009 ... Hit
.386 with 34 hits and 19 RBI ... Named to the Sunbelt team in 2009 ...
Honor student with a 3.8 grade point average ... Played summer league
baseball in 2009 with the Middle Tennessee Mudcats, coached by his high
school coach, Chris Parker.
PERSONAL: Born Ross carter Mitchell on April 27, 1992 in Nashville,
Tenn. ... Son of Gina and Charlie Mitchell of Smyrna, Tenn.
MITCHELL ON SIGNING WITH MSU: "It is a big honor to be asked to play
with an SEC team. It is an even bigger honor to play with a team with as
much history as MSU. I can't wait to play in front of one of the
craziest crowds in the nation ... more cowbell!"
COACH BUTCH THOMPSON ON MITCHELL: "Ross has impressive arm-side
action and a deceptive arm stroke. He showed a solid breaking pitch and
glimpses of a dominant changeup. Ross is already a proven winner at the
high school level. A commitment to hard work in the weight room is going
to make a significant impact on his further development."
DARYL
NORRIS
RHP/3B ● 6-1 ● 210 ● R/R ● Fairhope, Ala. (Fairhope High School)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity letterman and standout
pitcher/infielder at Fairhope (Ala.) High School ... Earned Alabama
Class 6A All-State and Louisville Slugger High School All-American
honors in 2009 after compiling an 8-3 record with a save and a 1.25
earned run average ... Coached by Stu Fuller ... Registered 90
strikeouts in 61 innings ... Alabama Sports Writers and Birmingham News
All-State pick and Mobile Press Register Deadly Diamond All-Metro Team
and Player of the Year selection ... Hit a team-leading .487 with 57
hits, 50 RBI and 13 home runs ... Earned second-team all-state honors as
a sophomore after posting a team-best .410 batting average with 27 RBI
and seven home runs ... On the mound recorded a 3-3 worksheet with two
saves, an 0.94 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched ... Varsity
starter in the eighth and ninth grades ... Participant in the 2009 East
Coast Professional Showcase in Lakeland, Fla. ... Four-time all-county
selection after leading the Pirates in hitting each season ... Also a
four-year regular in football ... Selected to play in the
Alabama-Mississippi High School All-Star Football game ... Member of the
National Honor Society.
PERSONAL: Born Daryl Gordon Norris on June 12, 1991 in Mobile, Ala.
... Son of Charlotte and Ronnie Norris of Fairhope, Ala.
NORRIS ON SIGNING WITH MSU: "I am very excited about playing baseball
at MSU. I think I an going to be getting there at the right time. Coach
Cohen and his assistants are recruiting the best players to get the job
done right, and I can't wait to be surrounded with all the talent coming
to Mississippi State."
COACH LANE BURROUGHS ON NORRIS: "Daryl is one of the nation's top
two-way guys. He has tremendous skill set at the plate and on the mound
and has a chance to make an immediate impact in the SEC on the mound and
with his bat. Daryl has great body control and exceptional makeup and
brings with him outstanding maturity and work ethic."
GARRETT
PITTS
SS/C ● 5-11 ● 175 ● R/R ● Fairhope, Ala. (Fairhope High School)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year starting middle infielder at Fairhope (Ala.)
High School ... Leadoff hitter who hit .405 with 42 RBI and 25
extra-base hits ... Set the FHS single-season mark with 62 hits in 2009
... Coached by Stu Fuller ... Earned his second all-county designation
... Compiled a .964 fielding percentage ... Hit .302 with nine stolen
bases and was honored as his team's best defensive player as a sophomore
in 2008 ... Hit .357 as a freshman in 2007, becoming one of only two
freshmen to ever start at shortstop at FHS ... Played summer league
baseball with the Bama Bombers ... Member of the National Honor Society,
Mu Alpha Theta, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Future
Business Leaders of America ... Began his baseball career in Starkville
youth leagues before his family moved to Fairhope.
PERSONAL: Born Michael Garrett Pitts on October 9, 1991 in Florence,
Ala. ... Son of Stephanie and Mike Pitts of Fairhope, Ala. ... Grandson
of former Bulldog basketball great Jim Ashmore.
PITTS ON SIGNING WITH MSU: "I've been a Bulldog all my life and after
my first recruiting visit I knew MSU is where I wanted to play. It's
like a dream come true and I'm looking forward to coming back to
Starkville."
COACH LANE BURROUGHS ON PITTS: "Garrett is a blue-collar player with
a motor that never stops. He has a great knowledge of the game and
sincere passion for the game and for Mississippi State. Garrett is a
team guy that loves to compete and the potential to excel at many
different spots on the field. He brings a tough, hard-nosed approach to
the field everyday."
WES
REA
RHP/1B ● 6-5 ● 275 ● R/R ● Gulfport, Miss. (Harrison Central High
School)
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport all-state standout at Gulfport's Harrison
Central High School ... Led the HCHS Rebels with a .512 batting average,
36 RBI and six home runs en route to second-team all-state plaudits as a
junior in 2009 ... Also took the hill and compiled a 6-2 record with two
saves and a 1.30 earned run average ... Team MVP for '09 ... Named to
the all-coast and all-district team as a junior ... Coached by former
Bulldog assistant Pat Olmi ... Paced the Rebels with a .410 batting
average, 42 RBI and nine home runs and notched a 5-1 pitching record en
route to earning all-district, all-south Mississippi and team offensive
MVP honors as a sophomore in 2007 ... All-state honoree and rated among
the nation's top offensive line prospects in football ... Starred at
offensive guard ... Selected to play in the Mississippi/Alabama High
School All-Star football game ... Member of the National Honor Society
and recipient of the HCHS football academic award.
PERSONAL: Born Wesley John Rea on October 3, 1991 in Gulfport, Miss.
... Son of Theresa and John Rea of Gulfport, Miss.
REA ON SIGNING WITH MSU: "I feel welcome in Starkville already. It
feels like home. And it feels great to finally ink and officially become
a Bulldog!"
COACH BUTCH THOMPSON ON REA: "Wes had the opportunity to play
multiple sports at the SEC level and decided early in the process that
he wanted to play baseball at Mississippi State. He is as physical as
you will see at the plate and on the mound and has a power arm and
competitive slider. His frame definitely offers deception and a
different look for our pitching staff. Wes also possesses an infectious
personality that will have a positive influence on the team."
TAYLOR
STARK
SS ● 6-0 ● 180 ● R/R ● Flowood, Miss. (Northwest Rankin High School)
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year baseball standout as a middle infielder at
Northwest Rankin High School ... Earned all-district and district MVP
honors in 2009 after posting a .348 batting average with 23 RBI and 11
extra-base hits ... Also pilfered 11 bases in 13 attempts ... Earned the
NRHS best pitcher award after compiling a 6-2 record with eight saves
and a 2.71 earned run average ... Recorded 57 strikeouts in 49 innings
... Coached by Jeff McClaskey ... Hit .385 and was voted team's most
improved player as a sophomore in 2008 ... Hit a career-best .480,
posted a 4-0 pitching record with three saves and a 1.33 ERA, and stole
12 bases as a freshman in 2007 ... Elected team captain as a freshman
... Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Future Business
Leaders of America and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) ...
MVP of Junior Olympics Baseball Tournament in Millington, Tenn., where
he tossed a one-hitter in the title game.
PERSONAL: Born Taylor Blythe Stark on October 7, 1991 in Jackson,
Miss. ... Son of Michele and Paul Stark of Flowood, Miss.
REA ON SIGNING WITH MSU: "It's a lifelong dream for me. My family
originated form Starkville, and my brother and grandmother are graduates
of Mississippi State. I'm excited about the opportunity to work with
State's great coaching staff."
COACH LANE BURROUGHS ON STARK: "Taylor came on to the scene late last
spring with obvious tools and tremendous athleticism. He possesses great
speed and outstanding arm strength, loves to compete and attacks the
game. He's a very confident young man with a desire to excel and be the
best he can be, and he's versatile enough to play numerous positions."
