University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Johnson Named Finalist For Boo Ferris Trophy
5/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 15, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss junior outfielder Toddric Johnson, along with Mississippi State senior shortstop Thomas Berkery and Mississippi Valley State sophomore shortstop Zach Penprase have been named the three finalists for the Boo Ferris Trophy, awarded annually to the top college baseball player in the state of Mississippi, today, as determined by major league scouts, college coaches and media.
Johnson is hitting .367 with 10 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. He has 56 runs scored, been walked 23 times and stole 8-of-10 bases. He leads Conference USA in hits (80), runs scored, total bases (126) and is fifth in batting average and on-base percentage.
Berkery leads the Southeastern Conference in hitting (.383) and is second in on-base percentage and sixth in hits. Penprase leads the nation in stolen bases (55), is tied for the SWAC lead in hits (64), second in triples (8) and is hitting .352 for the season.
Daniel Best, Southern Miss' all-time saves leader, and Marc Maddox, the school's all-time home run leader, both received votes as well.
Major League scouts working Mississippi, coaches at the state's four-year baseball programs and one media representative will serve as voters. Coaches are eligible to vote for their own players but coaches' votes are weighted and will count one-half as much as the scouts' and media representative's vote because the scouts and media have seen more schools play in the state.
The Cellular South Ferriss Trophy is named after Dave "Boo" Ferriss of Shaw, Miss.; a 1964 inductee in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. He was a three-time All-SEC player at Mississippi State, who won 46 games in his first two seasons as a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox including Game Four of the 1946 World Series versus St. Louis. He was the head coach at Delta State University for 28 years and the baseball field at the Cleveland, Miss., school bears his name. He was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2002.
All three finalists will be present when the winner is announced Monday May 22, 2006 at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum. For ticket information contact the Museum at 601-982-8264 or 1-800-280-FAME (3263). The award is named after former Delta State coach and Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Dave "Boo" Ferriss who will be in attendance at the event.
