MA's Gage Todd plays in State Games

A busy baseball summer for Gage Todd also carried him to the State Games of Mississippi.

The rising junior, for Marshall Academy, attended tryouts locally at Northwest Community College and then advanced to Meridian to play alongside and against some of the best high school players in the state.

“They only take the best,” said Dustin Skelton, head baseball coach at MA. “You have to be on your game.”

Top players are selected from eight districts across Mississippi. Multiple sports are featured at the State Games, but the big event is particularly known for its baseball competition.

“It's a really good deal as far as exposure,” Skelton said. “I was told there were like 32 scouts at one of the games, several from junior colleges and also some from Division I and Division II schools. It's a really, really good exposure event for the kids.”

Todd, an infielder and pitcher for the Patriots, also plays summer baseball for Coach Skelton on a talented 18-and-under squad. He was a major contributor in leading Marshall to the Class 4A state semi-finals this past season.

“Every year he performs at a high level,” Skelton said. “You have to have him in the lineup.” Baseball teams converged in Meridian June 9-13 for the baseball portion of the State Games of Mississippi. “It was good to have Marshall Academy represented,” Coach Skelton said, “and Gage (Todd) represented us well.”