St. Aloysius baseball coach Clint Wilkerson has a simple name for his centerfielder, Blake Haygood.

“He’s Mr. Consistent,” Wilkerson said.

Haygood will display that consistency Tuesday when the Flashes (20-7) take on Myrtle for the Class 1A state baseball championship at Trustmark Park. Haygood was a consistent force in the Flashes drive to their 1A state title in 2009. The senior hopes to go out with another one this week.

“No doubt about it, it would take our senior class to another level. We want to make the most of it,” Haygood said.

This week, however, will not be the last time Haygood plays competitive baseball. He expects to sign a baseball scholarship to Southwest Community College after the season ends.

“I’m looking forward to playing junior college baseball. Southwest has talked to me a good bit and have given me their orientation days,” Haygood said.

Wilkerson says Haygood’s every day consistency will pay off for him at the next level.

“He is the most consistent player we’ve got. He’s not had an error in centerfield all year and he made none last year. He’s consistently hit near .420,” Wilkerson said.

Statiscally, there have been few better.

Haygood goes into the championship series hitting .427. That ranks fourth in Warren County and first for St. Al. He has scored 43 runs, tied for second in the county and is four behind team and county leader Pierson Waring at 47. He has also driven in 25 runs and stolen 13 bases while hitting behind Waring in St. Al’s lineup.

“I’ve been pretty satisfied with how I’ve hit this year,” Haygood said. “I’ve been able to get the pitches I can handle and get out front. I’ve been able to get ball to the holes.”

Defensively, he’s been a gem, but he didn’t get much work in the South State series with Cathedral. Only one fly ball out was made in the two-game set.

“Our pitchers did a good job of keeping the ball down in the zone,” Haygood said.

As for memorable catches, Haygood says a play he made against top-ranked Sumrall stands out.

“One of the Sumrall guys just smashed one and it was two outs, so I knew I had to get to it to end the inning. I got to it and I felt it may have given us some momentum at that point in the game,” he said.