Decatur, MS - Former Diamond Warriors Dylan Snypes, Channing Wall, and former pitching coach Tyler Buckley will be the featured speakers at the annual East Central Community College Baseball First Pitch Dinner scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, February 2. The event will be held in the Mabry Memorial Cafeteria on the Decatur campus.
The public is invited to the event, which annually kicks off the ECCC baseball season. Tickets are $45 for adults and $20 for children aged 12 and under.
The Warriors will start their season the following day, February 3, with a doubleheader against Marion Military Institute at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex in Decatur. Fans can find a complete schedule of the season at www.ecccathletics.com/schedule.
Dylan Snypes
Dylan Snypes was drafted in the 15th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the New York Mets as the 457th overall selection. He Was named The Summit League Newcomer of the Year and an All-Summit League First Team honoree at shortstop, leading the conference with 81 hits and 19 doubles. Added a team-high three triples behind a .335 batting average with 25 multi-hit performances, including a pair of multi-hit efforts in the NCAA Fayetteville Regional against Arkansas and Oklahoma State ... He Tallied 43 runs and 39 RBI while he was one of three Golden Eagles to start all 59 games. He was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate against North Dakota State on March 19 and added a 4-for-5 effort with a season-high four RBI at Omaha on April 15. He was selected as The Summit League Player of the Week on March 13.
Before signing to Oral Roberts, Snypes played two seasons at East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi, under the guidance of head coach Neal Holliman ... Named to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges All-State Second Team as a sophomore playing 55 games with a .288 batting average ... Helped the Diamond Warriors to a state championship advancing to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament ... Hit five home runs, 13 doubles and three triples and added 38 RBI in 2016 ... Drew 34 walks and was hit by a pitch 12 times leading to a .415 on-base percentage ... Made 40 appearances as a freshman at ECCC posting a .267 average with 12 RBI and 20 runs scored ... Was an all-state selection for head coach Mike Gavin at Wayne County High School, where he graduated in 2014, and also named team MVP and most valuable defensive player.
Channing Wall
UNA's closer as a junior with 25 appearances, all in relief…3-1 record with four saves…2.45 ERA with 11 runs allowed, seven earned, in 25.2 innings of work. He walked 11 and struck out 14. Wins came against Alabama-Huntsville, Union, and West Florida in the GSC Tournament…The loss was against Shorter. He ranked sixth in the GSC in saves with four. As a Warrior, he was coached by Head Coach Neil Holliman. Awarded MVP honors in 2016 and received the Best Pitcher Award…First-team all-region, all-state and All-American in 2016. In high school, he pitched and played in the outfield for Louisville High School under head coach Charlie Smith. Named first-team all-state in 2014, team MVP in 2014, Best Leader in 2014, and Best Pitcher in 2013 and 2014.
Tyler Buckley
Before joining the East Central baseball coaching staff, Buckley was an assistant baseball coach at St. Patrick Catholic High School in Biloxi, where he managed and coordinated the pitching staff. From 2013 to 2014, Buckley played minor league baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He was selected as a New York Penn League All-Star in 2013. He also played college baseball for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. A native of Vancleave, Buckley received his associate degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and completed his bachelor's degree in social science at William Carey University.
Tickets
Tickets are now available, and interested parties should be quick as space for the event is limited. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Coach Neal Holliman at 601-635-6374 or nholliman@eccc.edu.