Warnock still looking for a home next season
Published 12:00 am Friday, June 7, 2002
Blake Warnock of St. Aloysius slides safely into home during a game earlier this year. Warnock and teammate Aaron George will be playing in the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A All-Star game Saturday in Jackson at 6 p.m.(The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)
[06/07/02]As his high school career comes to an end, St. Aloysius center fielder Blake Warnock is still a player in search of a home for next season.
He hasn’t signed with any colleges or junior colleges yet, but has narrowed his choices to Mississippi College and Hinds Community College. He’ll have one last chance to make a good impression on Saturday night when he takes the field for the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A All-Star Game at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson.
He’ll be joined on the South squad by teammate Aaron George, who could see time as both a pitcher and catcher.
“I’m just going to go out there and try not to make too many mistakes. I trust myself not to make me look bad,” Warnock said with a laugh.
Despite the pressure coaches from both Hinds and MC will be in attendance Saturday Warnock wasn’t feeling it. He said he was approaching the game as a last blast of high school ball.
“I’m just going to go have fun. Me and Aaron have been trying to get back into the baseball swing of things,” said Warnock, who hit .359 with two home runs and 26 RBIs this season.
Warnock and George were both selected to the Class 1A All-State team, but this will be their last game as teammates. George has signed with Meridian Community College, and Warnock said he was looking forward to possibly playing against his friend next spring.
“We’ve always grown up playing together and more than likely we’ll be playing against each other next year,” Warnock said, adding with a laugh, “He better hope he doesn’t take the mound against me.”
George wasn’t certain whether he would get the chance to take the mound on Saturday. He led St. Al to the Class 1A championship series by posting an 11-2 record, with 87 strikeouts and a 1.15 ERA.
He also played catcher and was one of the best hitters in the state with a .460 average, five home runs and 43 RBIs, and showed surprising speed with four triples.
George said he would be “fine” playing catcher, and was just going to try to have fun.
“If I hadn’t signed with Meridian, it’d be more about playing hard and doing my best,” George said. “I’m just going to go out and play hard and have fun.”