USM's McMahon wins C Spire Ferriss Trophy
Posted on: May 18,2015
James McMahon, a finalist for NCAA Division I Pitcher of the Year, today was presented the C Spire Ferriss Trophy at a luncheon at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
For McMahon, a senior from Oak Grove, it was another highlight in a magical season. Heading into this week’s Conference USA Tournament, McMahon has compiled an 11-1 record with a 1.72 earned run average. He started 14 games for the Golden Eagles, and USM won 13 of those.
The other finalists were Mississippi State slugger Wes Rea, Jackson State slugger Melvin
![4.1.1](https://msfame.liquidcreative.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/MEDALLION-2015-300x294.jpg)
Rodriguez, Millsaps pitcher/infielder Keith Shumaker and Ole Miss pitcher Scott Weathersby. McMahon and Weathersby were teammates at Oak Grove High.
McMahon becomes the second USM player to win the C Spire Ferriss in the award’s history. Outfielder Tyler Koelling was the first in 2011.
McMahon’s previous three seasons at USM were no predictor of what he has achieved as a senior. Pitching in relief, McMahon had a 3-2 record and a 6.04 earned run average entering his senior season. At the end of his junior season McMahon told USM coach Scott Berry he believed he could pitch better as a starter. Berry suggested he go learn how to be a starting pitcher in a summer league.
McMahon did just that and the results have been phenomenal.
The C Spire Ferriss Trophy is named for Mississippi 93-year-old baseball legend Boo Ferriss, who pitched for Mississippi State and the Boston Red Sox before becoming a highly successful college coach at Delta State.
Professional baseball scouts and Mississippi’s college coaches account for 90 percent of the Ferriss Trophy voting. A weighted 10 percent of the final results comes from Internet fan voting conducted by C Spire. McMahon also finished first in the fan voting.
Leave a Reply