Colby Rushing watched as the fly ball sailed high toward the center field wall. As soon as he realized the center fielder had lost it against the darkening sky, he scooted around the bases to score a key run in a close game.

In the bottom of the inning Rushing jogged out to the same spot. He called over his two Porters Chapel outfield mates, eighth-grader Jonah Masterson and freshman Richie Bufkin, and explained how their opponent had misplayed the ball. It was a quick but invaluable lesson, and one Rushing felt obliged to teach.

As a young player, he had had similar moments when upperclassmen passed something along. Now, as a senior whose high school career was drawing to a close, it was his turn.

“He gets us in position. I’m new in the outfield and he coaches me. When that guy lost that fly ball, he got a ball and started throwing with us and telling us what he does so it didn’t happen to us,” Masterson said. “He told me how to hold my glove out in front. I guess he taught Richie the same stuff. I look up to him.”

Rushing’s teaching days are over, but he’ll have one last chance to shine on the diamond Saturday. Rushing will join teammate John Michael Harris in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A all-star game at 11 a.m. at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson. Tallulah Academy’s Wade Walker, Briarfield’s Jacob Hopkins and Tensas Academy’s Jon-Truman James and Austin Emfinger will also play in the game.

Harris hit .444 this season after transferring from Warren Central, helping PCA reach the Class A semifinals for a second straight season. He led the Eagles in home runs, RBIs, doubles and triples.

Rushing spent three seasons as PCA’s starting center fielder. He had more than 100 hits in his high school career and capped it off with a strong senior season in which he hit .451, scored 43 runs and stole a team-high 17 bases.

Rushing’s most valuable contributions, though, may have been of the intangible variety. As the longest-tenured PCA starter, he was a link to the past. He not only was the leadoff hitter for PCA’s 2009 Class A championship team, he was around long enough to play a limited role for the 2006 and 2007 teams, considered the best in school history.

“I soaked up everything. I warmed up Michael Busby one time and he threw a 90 mph fastball that about broke my thumb. I learned how to play center field from Spencer Pell,” Rushing said, adding with a laugh, “I am the old man. Nineteen years old. I am a grandpa. I definitely feel like the old veteran. I knew how it was back then, winning back then and winning like we do now.”

Beyond telling old war stories, PCA coach Jerry Bourne said Rushing showed his leadership in other ways this season. As the Eagles’ leadoff man, Rushing often set the table well for the big guns behind him, including Harris. With three home runs and eight doubles this season, Rushing also showed he could deliver a big hit himself when needed.

“He could very easily step in and be an RBI man. He has selflessly put himself in the leadoff man role. That’s been huge for us,” Bourne said.

Rushing didn’t get to celebrate a second state championship this season. Riverfield eliminated PCA in three games in the semifinals. But having a long career, winning one ring and coming agonizingly close to a second was more than he could have ever imagined, he said.

“It’s been a dream. It’s been magical, really. All I could hope for,” Rushing said. “To be in the playoffs all four years has been great. A lot of people never get in once.”