MSU Opens Fall Baseball Practice Friday

STARKVILLE, Miss. - After nearly two months of small group work and off-season strength and conditioning training, Mississippi State launches its formal fall baseball drills Friday afternoon with a six-inning scrimmage game at Dudy Noble Field.

Friday's practice is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. with the practice game scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m.

"Fall practice is an evaluation period for our staff," said Bulldog skipper John Cohen, in his second season as head baseball coach at State. "We've been doing individual skill instruction since late August, so our kids are ready to compete against each other in a game. Fall practice gives us a chance to evaluate a lot of new players. We're really excited about seeing our arms. We've got a really talented group of pitchers that will be a lot of fun to watch. And our outfielders haven't seen a live ball off of a bat yet, so it will be important for them, too."

MSU will begin fall drills with 42 players, including 17 returning lettermen and 24 newcomers. Among the returnees are 11 position players and four pitchers that drew starting assignments for the Diamond Dogs in 2009.

A pair of right-handers, sophomore Devin Jones of Eupora, Miss., and junior college transfer Michael Dixon of Austin, Texas, are scheduled to lead split pitching staffs in Friday's scrimmage.

The start of fall drills was postponed a week to allow for the completion of the rebuilding of the field at Dudy Noble Field. The project included expanding the dugouts, the installation of a new drainage and irrigation system, and a complete re-sodding of the playing surface. The final sections of the sod were installed late Thursday.

"Our kids came here to play on Dudy Noble Field, and for a lot of guys this will be their first opportunity," Cohen said. "I'll never forget my first opportunity step out on that field, and I know these new guys will feel the same way."

Mississippi State's fall baseball practices are open to the public and will continue through the first weekend of November. The annual Maroon-White game is scheduled for Saturday, November 7 at 10 a.m.