North Pike senior outfielder LD Coney capped off his high school career by being named to the Mississippi 4A Coaches All-State second-team earlier this week, less than one week removed from his high school graduation ceremony.
Coney said the announcement was unexpected and its meaning did not truly sink in until after speaking with North Pike coach George Lott about the honor.
“It means a lot,” Coney said. “I didn’t know I’d been named until coach (Lott) texted me and told me I made it. He told me it’s a great honor.”
Coney will remain in Summit to continue his baseball career at Southwest Mississippi Community College beginning this fall.
As the Jaguars’ leadoff hitter, Coney helped pace the team to the second round of the Class 4A South State playoffs, where it eventually lost a best-of-three series to Richland High School.
He led the team in walks with 26 and posted a .596 on base percentage to help ignite the Jags’ offense night after night.
For the season, Coney registered a .365 and a .587 slugging percentage boosted by nine extra base hits, including two home runs. He drove in just 10 runs on the year, but scored a team-high 35 times from his leadoff position.
“My job as a leadoff hitter was just to get on base, and most of the time I did,” Coney said, proudly adding he was hit by a pitch 12 times this season to improve his on base percentage further.
“When I got on base most of the time, it was good for us,” Coney continued. “Probably 75-to-85 percent of the time I got on base we scored.”
Coney’s success extended to his play in the field as well. As an everyday outfielder for North Pike this season, Coney made just three errors all year and registered two outfield assists along with a .936 fielding percentage, one of the highest on the squad.
Coney admitted he felt confident heading into his senior campaign, but never envisioned having a season like he did in 2014.
“I didn’t think I could (have the season I had), but it worked out for me,” Coney said. “I just tried to contribute a lot (to the team).”
His strong play and the team’s success-laden season has given the future Southwest Bear a confidence boost as he prepares to transition his game to the junior college level next year.
“It gives me confidence that I might be able to play and keep up with the competition and contribute to the team at Southwest,” Coney said of his All-State nomination.
