Newton County Academy’s Kemp Alderman took his first steps toward playing college baseball this week.
Alderman reported to Ole Miss on Sunday along with the other baseball players.
Alderman said he would be tested for COVID-19 on Monday and then begin summer classes.
“I’m not playing anywhere this summer,” Alderman said. “They like for the freshmen to come in and get started. We work out with the team and practice with the other players on campus. We will go home at the end of July and come back in a few weeks to start the fall semester.”
Alderman said he was ready to get started.
“I’m not nervous, I’m really excited about it,” Alderman said. “We were originally supposed to report on Monday to everything is going as planning. I’m looking forward to meeting the team and the baseball side of being here. I’m not that excited about the school side of it.”
Alderman was bypassed in the MLB draft, which was shortened to five rounds this year.
“I was thinking I was going to get a call,” Alderman said of the draft. “But it didn’t turn out that way so it looks like I will be playing at Ole Miss in the fall and for the next three years.”
Through 12 games this season, Alderman was hitting .586 with 12 RBIs. Alderman had four home runs and three doubles with 15 runs scored. Alderman had also been walked 15 times on the season. On the mound, Alderman was 2-1 with a 1.34 ERA in 15 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 29 batters and walked 15, giving up just nine hits in 75 batters faced.
Alderman, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior, hit .569 last year with 36 runs scored, 41 RBIs, eight doubles and 12 home runs. Alderman was 8-3 on the mound with a 2.83 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched.
Alderman was also named to the Clarion-Ledger All-State baseball team and was the MAIS Class AA Player of the year. Alderman was also named the Meridian Star’s Premier Preps of East Mississippi Player of the Year for the second straight year. He was also named to the Premier Preps of East Mississippi football team as well. Alderman was also named an MAIS all-star in football as well.
