NEWS RELEASE

( Jackson , Miss.) -- Hit a home run by watching Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) television on Monday, May 22 nd at 7:00 p.m. , to catch the excitement of the LIVE 2006 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy Presentation to learn who will be selected as this year's top collegiate baseball player in Mississippi .

 

Live from the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum in Jackson , viewers can experience the anticipation as MPB Deputy Director Gene Edwards and ESPN's Jeff Brantley host this year's Cellular South Ferriss Trophy Presentation .

 

Brantley, who played for Mississippi State University and was a Major League relief pitcher for 14 years, joined ESPN in 2002. He currently serves as both game analyst for afternoon games and studio analyst for Baseball Tonight.

 

MPB's Gene Edwards said, "Jeff's passion and knowledge of the game combined with his talent in sports reporting will be a distinct asset to the 2006 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy Presentation. I'm looking forward to a tremendous program."

 

According to Bob Pickett, MPB's producer of the show, "This is the first year the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy Presentation will be televised, and we have put together an exciting program that includes both the historical aspects of the award and highlights from the careers of the three finalists. Having both Jeff Brantley and Gene as hosts will make it a spectacular night for all."

 

Cellular South President Hu Meena said, "As a Mississippi-headquartered company, Cellular South is proud of our partnership with the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and 

Museum to present one of the most highly coveted sports honors in the state - the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy. This award recognizes Mississippi 's most outstanding collegiate athlete in baseball, an honor we will continue to present in the future. We are delighted that Mississippi Public Broadcasting is providing live coverage of the award presentation, as this will allow all Mississippians to share in the excitement of honoring our state's finest college baseball athletes."

 

Founded and organized exclusively by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum in 2004, the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy is given annually to Mississippi 's best male college baseball player from a four-year college. The recipient is selected by Major League scouts who cover Mississippi . Votes from these scouts and college coaches across Mississippi determine the three finalists and eventual winner of the Ferriss Trophy.

 

"It's going to be a very difficult choice for the voters because so many players are having such good seasons," said Michael Rubenstein, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Executive Director. "This should be a very interesting evening at the event and on TV."

The Cellular South Ferriss Trophy is named after Shaw , Mississippi native and Boston Red Sox Hall-of-Famer Dave "Boo" Ferriss, who was an All-American pitcher at Mississippi State University and, for almost 30 years, a highly successful head coach at Delta State University .

 

The trophy is part of Cellular South's Outstanding Player Awards, administered by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The awards also include the Cellular South Conerly Trophy, named after the late Charlie Conerly, honoring Mississippi 's best collegiate football player of the year and the Cellular South Howell Trophy, named after Bailey Howell, honoring Mississippi 's best collegiate basketball player - all announced through live broadcasts on Mississippi Public Broadcasting television.

 

For more information regarding this and other programs on MPB-TV, visit www.mpbonline.org .