You can”t rest on what you did last season. You can”t rely on your Division 1 ability to help continue your dominance at the high school level.
Hamilton High School baseball player Chase Reeves never faltered during his senior season, earning all-state honors and the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A Player of the Year award after playing every role possible for the Lions.
On the mound, the University of Mississippi signee posted a 7-1 record and a 0.56 ERA. He struck out 13 batters a game.
He was just as dangerous at the plate, finishing the season with a .430 batting average, seven home runs and 26 RBIs.
Reeves, the 2011 Dispatch All-Area Small Schools Player of the Year, rarely felt he had a target on his back.
“What helped was getting the commitment out of the way,” Reeves said. “It helped me kind of narrow my focus on preparing for this season because I knew the things I had to improve before I got to Ole Miss. It also allowed
me to have fun.”
Players who are talented enough to play in the Southeastern Conference usually are the backbone of their high school team, contributing in multiple ways and typically having the impact of two players.
Reeves filled the role perfectly, avoiding any lapses in preparation after committing to Ole Miss, Hamilton coach Lewis Earnest said.
“He”s a perfectionist by nature, so you never had to stay on him,” Earnest said. “That”s why I believe he”ll have a lot of success at Ole Miss. He works on his swing constantly. He stays out here on his own and shows up on his own. He”s the type of kid who will get it done wherever you put him.”
Ole Miss coaches wanted Reeves to get stronger and faster, which he did. But his biggest gains came on the mound, where he worked to master his pitches and rely less on his power. He added a changeup and a curveball to his arsenal and worked to become a more cerebral pitcher.
“In the past, I just always threw the ball up there and hoped nobody hits it,” Reeves said. “This past year, I worked more on location and setting my pitches up better. Hitting-wise, I”ve always liked it but I”ve grown to like pitching so it”s going to be fun to do both at Ole Miss.”
Reeves was faced with an unfamiliar test as a Hamilton player when the Lions lost three of four games in a preseason jamboree. Hamilton lost key players from year before, and according to Reeves, there was a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the perennial playoff contenders.
But, much like every season at Hamilton, the Lions made the playoffs and got hot at the right time. They made it to the 2A North State title game against Mantachie, where they lost in two games.
“Honestly, I don”t think anybody expected us to get to where we got,” Reeves said. “Based on how we started, I think we overachieved. We kind of underachieved there at the end, but you can”t get too down about it.”
Still, his toughest test of the year came when senior teammate and starting shortstop Graham Pritchett was thinking about quitting the team.
“He was a good buddy of mine, so me and the guys got together and talked him into staying on the team,” Reeves said. “He worked really hard to get back to where he wanted to be. He ended up getting a walk-off hit in the semifinals against Eupora and we won the game. I”ll never forget that.”
Reeves, like many of his teammates, graduated this season without a state title ring after playing in three title games.
Following an award-winning senior season, Reeves admits he”ll always think about coming up empty in Jackson.
“I wish I could say I won one,” Reeves said. “Having been there, I knew what it took to get back there. As a Hamilton player, championship teams are something you grow up around. In 2001, I was there watching Hamilton win the state championship. That”s something you always dreams about. Just to get close so many times is hard, but at the same time I”m so thankful to be going somewhere and playing after this.”
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