Madison-Ridgeland Academy duo signs to play baseball with the Indians
We’re looking forward to these guys coming in next season. We are losing a lot of sophomore arms and we are trying to fill up the roster with a lot of arms that will give us a chance to compete and do well next season. -- Coach Rick Collier
Madison-Ridgeland Academy duo signs to play baseball with the Indians
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS -- Itawamba Community College head baseball coach Rick Collier announced the signing of Madison-Ridgeland Academy standouts Matt Porter and Tucker Akin to the Indians' 2013-14 baseball team.
"We're looking forward to these guys coming in next season," Collier said of the newest addition to his baseball program. "We are losing a lot of sophomore arms and we are trying to fill up the roster with a lot of arms that will give us a chance to compete and do well next season."
Porter, a right-handed pitcher and middle infielder, batted .330 to help lead Coach Allen Pavatte and the Patriots to back-to-back Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MSIAS) AAA State Championship games.
"It feels great knowing that I'll be at ICC next season," Porter commented. "I look forward to working hard to improve my game to try and help ICC be better."
As a junior, he earned MSIAS AAA Most Valuable Player honors in baseball. He also doubled as starting quarterback and helped the Patriots' football team advance to back-to-back MSIAS AAA State semifinal games passing for passed 1,440 yards as a junior and 1,136 yards as a senior.
Akin, a left-handed pitcher, finished his final season at MRA with an 8-2 record and an 1.12 ERA that was ranked amongst the state's Top 30. He earn the All-Conference Defensive Award and was selected first-team All-Conference and second-team All-State.
"It feels good knowing that I'll be able to continue my career with Matt and Drew (Carter)," said Akin, who lettered at Tupelo Christian Prep school before transferring to MRA. "I've moved around a lot in high school and I think I've found a home in ICC."
The duo led MRA to a runner-up finish in the 2013 MSAIS AAA Baseball Championship series before falling to former ICC baseball coach Chuck Box and Jackson Prep after winning the 2012 championship by sweeping Parklane Academy.
For more information on ICC baseball and the nine other intercollegiate athletic programs, follow ICC Athletics on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).