Nick Sandlin from Southern Miss was the big winner. He won the Ferriss Trophy for the state’s best college baseball player. His performance is sure to have Boo Ferriss gushing. Sandlin ended the regular season with an 8-0 record, a 1.25 earned run rate, and a perfect record. He struck out 122 batters and walked only 14. He was only hit by.156 opponents. Sandlin pitched two complete games shutouts. These are numbers Ferriss would love to have, as he is one of the most respected pitchers in the history of the game. Sandlin, accepting the award, said that it was a “great season”. He’s not the only one. Sandlin, along with fellow Ferriss finalist Luke Reynolds, will lead Conference USA regular-season champion Southern Miss into Wednesday’s league tournament. Ryan Olenek, the Southeastern Conference’s hitting leader, will be leading Ole Miss, the SEC West winner, into Wednesday’s SEC Tournament. Jake Mangum of Mississippi State, the 2016 Ferriss Trophy recipient, has helped the Bulldogs overcome their poor start and have been playing its best baseball going into the SEC tourney. Tuesday’s game is for the Bulldogs. Zack Shannon of Delta State, who was at the Division II Regional in Tampa Monday, had one of the most impressive offensive seasons in Mississippi college baseball history. As a senior, Shannon was the defending Division II National Player-of-the Year. He hit a Mississippi record 31 home runs. Sandlin stated that he didn’t expect to win Monday’s award. Sandlin stated, “Everybody had incredible seasons.” “All the finalists could have won.” There was plenty to be proud of Monday in Mississippi college baseball. Southern Miss was awarded the second consecutive CUSA title. Ole Miss won SEC West. State won three consecutive games against the SEC Champion, previously No. No. 1 in Florida. The regular season of the Gulf South Conference was won by Delta State. Mississippi College won this year’s Gulf South Tournament. William Carey is currently participating in the NAIA World Series. Jay Powell, a former Mississippi State and Major League pitching legend, said Monday that “In college baseball,” Shannon was the only senior to be selected for the Ferriss. Olenek, Reynolds, Mangum, Sandlin and Reynolds are all expected to be taken fairly high in the Major League Baseball draft. None of them are expected to be returned for their senior years of college baseball. Reynolds, a Mississippi State transfer, led USM’s batting average of.403, 15 home runs, and 58 runs batted-in. Reynolds stated that Sandlin’s mentality at the plate is unmatched. He is the ultimate competitor and competes his tail off every pitch. Reynolds stated that Sandlin was only faced twice during pre-season scrimmages. Reynolds stated, “He struck me out first and then I squared up the ball but it hit right at someone.” Reynolds said, “So he got him out both times.”