The Oxford Eagle | Rebels remaining busy during summer

While summer is usually a slow time around these parts with regards to sports, that hasn’t exactly been the case with current, former and future Ole Miss Rebels.

Former center fielder Tim Ferguson, who was a ninth round selection, is making the most of his start in the Kansas City Royals’ minor league system.

In 12 games with the Idaho City Chukars of the Rookie Pioneer League, Ferguson is hitting .333 (16-for-48) with one triple, five RBIs, four runs scored and a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 3-to-11.

Kevin Mort is also getting after it. The former Rebel shortstop, who was an undrafted free agent signee by the Pittsburgh Pirates is hitting .292 in 12 games with the Gulf Coast League Pirates.

In 48 at-bats, Mort has eight hits, seven RBIs, one double, one stolen base and a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 2-to-1.

According to the team’s “site,” he does already have two errors, however.

For a complete listing of Diamond Rebels in the minors click HERE.

SUMMER CATCH: Several current Diamond Rebels are keeping busy this offseason by playing in summer leagues across the country. Alex Yarbrough, Jordan Cooper and Tanner Mathis are all teammates on the Coastal Plains League’s Thomasville HiToms, while Matt Crouse is playing for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Crouse is 2-0 after three starts with a 2.57 ERA in the wood bat league. In 7.0 innings, he’s allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four. Opponents are also hitting .259 off the southpaw.

Both Mathis and Yarbrough, rising sophomores with Ole Miss, are doing well for the HiToms. Mathis is hitting .264 in 18 games with 19 hits, three doubles, two RBIs five stolen bases (in six attempts) and a BB-to-K ratio of 8-to-5.

Yarbrough is hitting .298 after 16 games with 17 hits, six doubles, one triple, 11 RBIs, two stolen bases and a BB-to-K ratio of 3-to-4. He also has seven errors and is fielding .885.

On the mound, Cooper is 0-0 after two appearances. In 2.2 innings, Cooper has an ERA of 6.75 after allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while also striking out four. Opponents are hitting .200 off the rising spohomore.

Kyle Barbeck, who will not be returning to the Rebels next season, is pulling double-duty for the HiToms. At the plate, Barbeck is hitting .243 with nine hits in 37 at-bats. On the mound, Barbeck is 1-1 in four starts with an ERA of 5.89. In 18.1 innings of work, Barbeck has allowed 12 earned runs on 13 hits and 26 walks (yikes), while striking out just seven. Opponents are hitting .206 off the former Rebel.

WNBA AND OLE MISS: In 18 games for the Atlanta Dream, Armintie Price is averaging 5.1 points in just over 16 minutes per game. The former Ole Miss All-American is also averaging 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steal per contest. Former Ole Miss head coach Carol Ross is an assistant on the Dream.

While doing some research this morning I also learned that former Lady Rebel Bianca Thomas is no longer in the WNBA. After being drafted with the 12th overall selection in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, Thomas was cut prior to the beginning of the season. Interestingly enough, the Sparks are coached by the Ole Miss legend Jennifer Gillom.

RECROOTIN’: The Girdiron Rebels had a busy 4th of July weekend. Over the weekend the Rebels picked up three big commitments to help bolster the defensive side of the ball in DBs Andrew Johnson (5’10″, 170 pounds) and Gerrod Holliman (6″, 180 pounds) from Southridge (Miami, Fla.) High and LB Sederius Bryant (5’10″, 202 pounds) from Seminole (Sanford, Fla.) High.

In today’s EAGLE, John Davis compiled a roundup of the Rebels’ recent recruiting efforts, focusing on the three latest Rebel commits.

The trio join RB Chelarez “Chief” Brown, OL Mitch Hall, C Ethan Hutson and ATH Cody Prewitt on the Rebels’ commitment list.

Below are videos of the Rebels’ three latest commits:
DB — Andrew Johnson