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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball held its usual pre-game meeting in left field, conducted approximately 15 minutes before first pitch.
Seventh-year coach Chris Lemonis typically leads it. He jogs out from the dugout to meet the players in left field. They huddle, Lemonis gives a speech, he breaks it down and then leaves. The players then take a knee for a pre-game prayer.
Lemonis didn’t lead it on April 29. He was fired one day prior after the Bulldogs lost an SEC series at Auburn. The players led the meeting instead, just before MSU (26-19) dismantled Memphis 18-5 in a run-rule win in seven innings at Dudy Noble Field.
“I kind of was in the dugout just watching and got goosebumps,” interim coach Justin Parker said. “When they broke that huddle, watching our fanbase come to its feet, that's the kind of passion that we need.”
It was an impressive first game for Parker, who was hired by Lemonis as the pitching coach last season. Mississippi State led 17-0 after four innings, tied its most runs scored in a game this season and achieved its eighth run-rule win. Memphis (16-28) gave MSU a challenge in the last game on April 1, leading 3-1 in the sixth inning before MSU won 5-3.
Parker and MSU players met with reporters following the game for the first press conference since Lemonis’ firing.
“It's super important, especially in a time like this, you really have to lean on each other that much more,” senior outfielder Bryce Chance said after batting 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs. “Not that we didn't before, but it's been a weird 24 hours or 36 hours I guess. It's super important to lean on each other even more.”
Parker said he was informed of Lemonis’ firing shortly after lunchtime on April 28. Players were informed in a team meeting. MSU made the official announcement at 2:24 p.m.
“The last 24 hours obviously have been a whirlwind and very emotional for our guys,” Parker said. “But with that being said, it just was back to business when the game started. That piece of it was nice.”
Parker, who’s never been a head coach before, said rebuilding confidence is key. The Bulldogs began SEC play 1-9, it’s worst 10-game start to conference play in program history. It then won consecutive series against South Carolina and Alabama before losing two more series to Florida and Auburn.
“They weren't going to cancel any games, and we're not going to cancel the rest of the season,” he said. “Our mission is still ahead of us, and we have full control of our destiny. That was our message to the guys today.”
Parker and MSU players said they still believe it has what it takes to make the NCAA tournament. Thirteen or 14 SEC wins has been the target. Reaching 13 wins requires MSU to go 6-3 against Kentucky, Ole Miss and Missouri.
“We just got to play good baseball,” Parker said. “The bottom line is we're in the position that we're in because of a lot of what we've done. We got to play good baseball in all three phases.”
“We just have to show and play baseball every day,” said designated hitter and pitcher Noah Sullivan after throwing three scoreless innings and reaching base four times. “Whatever leadership changes happen, we show up, we lean on each other, we play the game and we move forward.”
“It's definitely different, but we still have the same goal in mind,” Chance said. “We're working to try and get into the postseason right now.”
MORE: Mississippi State baseball coaching candidates: 8 options to replace Chris Lemonis
Parker didn’t give a direct answer as to whether he’d like to be hired as the full-time MSU coach.
“It's obviously a destination job here,” he said. “I mean, this is the best ballpark and the best fanbase in college baseball. All my thoughts have mostly been on our guys and in our families. It certainly is quite the honor and quite the opportunity.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball: What Justin Parker said after Chris Lemonis fired
Continue reading...
Seventh-year coach Chris Lemonis typically leads it. He jogs out from the dugout to meet the players in left field. They huddle, Lemonis gives a speech, he breaks it down and then leaves. The players then take a knee for a pre-game prayer.
Lemonis didn’t lead it on April 29. He was fired one day prior after the Bulldogs lost an SEC series at Auburn. The players led the meeting instead, just before MSU (26-19) dismantled Memphis 18-5 in a run-rule win in seven innings at Dudy Noble Field.
“I kind of was in the dugout just watching and got goosebumps,” interim coach Justin Parker said. “When they broke that huddle, watching our fanbase come to its feet, that's the kind of passion that we need.”
It was an impressive first game for Parker, who was hired by Lemonis as the pitching coach last season. Mississippi State led 17-0 after four innings, tied its most runs scored in a game this season and achieved its eighth run-rule win. Memphis (16-28) gave MSU a challenge in the last game on April 1, leading 3-1 in the sixth inning before MSU won 5-3.
Parker and MSU players met with reporters following the game for the first press conference since Lemonis’ firing.
“It's super important, especially in a time like this, you really have to lean on each other that much more,” senior outfielder Bryce Chance said after batting 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs. “Not that we didn't before, but it's been a weird 24 hours or 36 hours I guess. It's super important to lean on each other even more.”
How Mississippi State reacted to Chris Lemonis’ firing
Parker said he was informed of Lemonis’ firing shortly after lunchtime on April 28. Players were informed in a team meeting. MSU made the official announcement at 2:24 p.m.
“The last 24 hours obviously have been a whirlwind and very emotional for our guys,” Parker said. “But with that being said, it just was back to business when the game started. That piece of it was nice.”
Parker, who’s never been a head coach before, said rebuilding confidence is key. The Bulldogs began SEC play 1-9, it’s worst 10-game start to conference play in program history. It then won consecutive series against South Carolina and Alabama before losing two more series to Florida and Auburn.
“They weren't going to cancel any games, and we're not going to cancel the rest of the season,” he said. “Our mission is still ahead of us, and we have full control of our destiny. That was our message to the guys today.”
Parker and MSU players said they still believe it has what it takes to make the NCAA tournament. Thirteen or 14 SEC wins has been the target. Reaching 13 wins requires MSU to go 6-3 against Kentucky, Ole Miss and Missouri.
“We just got to play good baseball,” Parker said. “The bottom line is we're in the position that we're in because of a lot of what we've done. We got to play good baseball in all three phases.”
“We just have to show and play baseball every day,” said designated hitter and pitcher Noah Sullivan after throwing three scoreless innings and reaching base four times. “Whatever leadership changes happen, we show up, we lean on each other, we play the game and we move forward.”
“It's definitely different, but we still have the same goal in mind,” Chance said. “We're working to try and get into the postseason right now.”
MORE: Mississippi State baseball coaching candidates: 8 options to replace Chris Lemonis
What Justin Parker said of being considered for Mississippi State coaching position
Parker didn’t give a direct answer as to whether he’d like to be hired as the full-time MSU coach.
“It's obviously a destination job here,” he said. “I mean, this is the best ballpark and the best fanbase in college baseball. All my thoughts have mostly been on our guys and in our families. It certainly is quite the honor and quite the opportunity.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball: What Justin Parker said after Chris Lemonis fired
Continue reading...
