STARKVILLE — Talent never was the question for Elijah MacNamee.
The only unknown was when he would realize his potential.
MacNamee finally found that confidence in April after talking to Mississippi State baseball coach Andy Cannizaro.
“(He told) me to relax, have fun, and do what I do,” MacNamee said. “I’m here for a reason. Once I found a rhythm and relaxed at the plate, I started seeing pitches better.”
The conversation has worked wonders for MacNamee, who split time in the outfield well into the Southeastern Conference schedule. Now he’s an important, every-day fixture in left field as No. 20 MSU (40-25) continues preparations for its showdown against No. 4 LSU (46-17) in the NCAA tournament’s Baton Rouge Super Regional. Game 1 of the best-of-three series will be at 8 p.m.. Saturday (ESPN2) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
MacNamee will carry a four-game hitting streak into the event and has hit safely in eight of his last nine games. Since SEC play started March 17, MacNamee has raised his batting average from .212 to .267. He had a double and three RBIs in the Hattiesburg Regional.
“The way (MacNamee’s) been swinging the bat continues to elongate the lineup and gives us more weapons,” Cannizaro said. “It gives us more guys that can get a hit to drive somebody in.”
MacNamee, a native of Cypress, Texas, came to MSU after one year at Blinn Community College. MacNamee’s native Cypress is less than 70 miles south of Texas A&M’s campus, which is where MSU played a weekend series that began May 4.
MacNamee went 4-for-13 with two RBIs and a double in the series. He had two hits and a double in the series-clinching finale. He has had at least one plate appearance in every game since then, and started all but two of those 16 games.
MacNamee attributes his growth to confidence, but Cannizaro saw a mechanical tweak that accelerated the curve.
“He simplified his approach at the plate,” Cannizaro said. “He kind of calmed down his leg kick. He’s calmed down his bat in terms of the waggle he had and he’s picked up some really big hits. I think the emergence of MacNamee and (right fielder Hunter) Vansau down the stretch have really helped.”
When MacNamee’s numbers started to improve, Cannizaro sounded anything but surprised. He pointed to the fact MacNamee was a sophomore and that he needed experience.
“This league is so difficult, it’s hard for young kids to step in and make immediate impacts,” he said.
MacNamee is slated to play for the Matsu Miners of the Alaska Baseball League after MSU’s season. He hopes to delay that departure as long as he can.
“I told myself I was here for a reason and to go to the plate with confidence,” he said, “and everything got better from there.”
Pilkington will play with USA Baseball
Konnor Pilkington has accepted an invitation to join USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team.
Pilkington leads MSU with an 8-5 record in 16 starts. He has struck out 107 in 102 innings. Opponents are hitting .198 against him.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to represent Mississippi State and USA Baseball on the Collegiate National Team,” Pilkington said. “The chance to compete for Team USA is an honor and a privilege. It will be a great opportunity to compete against the best during the summer, which will only help in my development as a pitcher under coach Cannizaro and coach (Gary) Henderson. I can’t wait to represent our program and all of Bulldog Nation as a member of Team USA.”
The sophomore left-hander is the first Bulldog on the team since Adam Frazier played on the national team in 2012. He is also the first pitcher on the team since Matt Ginter in 1998. Eight Diamond Dawgs have been named to the national team in program history. Pilkington joins Will Clark (1984), Brad Hildreth (1986), B.J. Wallace (1992), Carlton Loewer (1993), Eric DuBose (1995), Ginter, and Frazier as national team selections.
The 2017 team will train at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, and compete in a series of games against teams from the Coastal Plains League from June 22-26. Then, the U.S. will host an international friendship series against Chinese Taipei and Cuba from June 27 – July 7, in Cary, Charlotte, and Durham, North Carolina. Both series will be streamed live on USABaseball.com.
Self honored
Freshman relief pitcher Riley Self was named Wednesday to Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman All-America team.
The Coldwater native currently is tied for the team lead in appearances with 30. He holds a 5-1 record with eight saves and a 3.59 earned run average. In 47 2/3 innings, Self has struck out 60, which is good enough for second on the pitching staff.
Self becomes the 34th Diamond Dawg to be selected as a Freshman All-American, and the first pitcher since Jonathan Holder in 2012. The Bulldogs have had back-to-back Freshman All-Americans. Jake Mangum took the honor in 2016.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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