February 2 , 2009

NORTHEAST CATCHER NAMED PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN

BOONEVILLE, Miss. – Northeast Mississippi Community College baseball program announces that catcher Phillip Chapman joins only two other fellow Mississippians as a second-team pre-season All-American for the National Junior College Athletic Association’s 2009 Division II Baseball team.

Chapman, a sophomore catcher from Clinton, was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) 2009 baseball division II pre-season All-American list when it was released on January 29.

Chapman joins infielder Ethan Burt (Pearl River Community College) and outfielder Dustin Gilmore (Jones County Junior College) on the second team All-American list.

The trio is the highest-ranking Mississippians to obtain All-American honors as no Mississippians were chosen for the 12-person first team.

Thirty-six players from the NJCAA’s Division II baseball program were chosen as pre-season All-Americans overall.

“Phillip is so valuable to us both offensively and defensively. He needs to be more consistent in both areas this spring. Phillip has an excellent understanding on the game and handles our pitching staff well,” said NEMCC Baseball Coach Kent Farris.

Chapman, a 5’11”, 185-pound sophomore from Clinton, was a second team All-State selection for the Tigers in 2008 after hitting .370 with seven home runs and 23 RBI with a .984 fielding average. 

“The great thing about Phillip is how well he handles our pitchers and his defense,” Farris said. “He just needs to know his capabilities and not try to do too much.”

Chapman, a member of the Iota Zeta chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society was also named as the top returning catcher for the South District (Region 23) by the NJCAA.

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