For the Gentry High School baseball program, a new season brings a new, but familiar, coach.
It will be Eddie Ivory, Jr. who will take over guiding the Rams on the diamond, and the Gentry High School alumnus is ready to see his team face live action on the field.
While the weather has been uncooperative to date, the Rams are hoping to open their 2022 season this Friday with a trip to Leland High School.
This opener will be followed by the Rams’ first home date next Monday when the Cubs return the favor by traveling to Indianola.
The first pitch of both games is scheduled to be thrown at 4 p.m. each day.
With his team working hard to improve on last season’s 1-7 record, Coach Ivory brings eight years of coaching experience to the field, four of which have been as an assistant coach at Gentry High School.
Coach Ivory’s history includes playing football and some baseball at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena.
An All-State football, baseball, and basketball player while a student at Gentry High School, Coach Ivory has also tested the coaching waters while at M.S. Palmer High in Marks.
Aiding Coach Ivory guide his baseball team through its 16 game schedule will be Robert Earvin and Everett McDaniel.
As for those players who will make success happen on the field, Coach Ivory expects five position players to make an impact this spring.
Three of that group are seniors in the form of Jeremiah Jefferson (OF/3B), Jeremiah Ross (Catcher), and Jakevius White (OF/P).
Representing the junior class and bringing much experience to the field is a pair of infielders.
Those infielders are Troy Griffin and Elijah Powers who will be tasked with leading by making plays.
Expected to hold down first base will be sophomore Jordan Davis.
It is defense which Coach Ivory feels may be a strength of this year’s team as he noted, “We have to make the routine plays in the infield and outfield.”
On the all-important pitcher’s mound, Powers and White will join junior Charles Jennings to throw strikes and keep opponents’ bats at bay.
Meanwhile, Coach Ivory’s concern about the early part of the season is “hitting the baseball and understanding to turn the page after a mistake is made.”
The Rams’ Region 3-4A competition will be Clarksdale High, Greenwood High, Senatobia High, and Yazoo City High School.
Of the five members in this season’s region, Senatobia was the only team to advance past the first round of last year’s playoffs.
The Warriors made it to the second round of the 3A playoffs before seeing their season come to a halt.
