Hinds plans Pitch Banquet
Special to The Clinton Courier
The Hinds Community College baseball program will host its inaugural First Pitch Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, January 28, at the Muse Center at Hinds’ Rankin Campus.
Christian Ostrander, well-renowned associate head coach and pitching coach at the University of Southern Mississippi, will serve as the program’s guest speaker.
“The respect that Coach Ostrander has around the baseball community is second to none, and it is an honor to have him come to our college and share his experiences with us,” Hinds Head Coach Dan Rives said.
Hinds Community College Foundation Executive Director Matt Jones will open the evening with an introduction and later serve as emcee for the event.
Hinds Director of Athletics Nathan Werremeyer will offer his remarks, followed by a season preview and introduction of the team by Rives.
A meet-and-greet is at 6 p.m. that includes a silent auction. Dinner will be served at approximately 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children twelve years old and under.
Ostrander has been with the Golden Eagles for five seasons, where he has helped USM to four regional berths and has coached one National Pitcher of the Year, four All-Americans, one Freshman All-American and three Conference USA Pitchers of the Year. In 2021, he was named Conference USA Assistant Coach of the Year for his efforts.
He came to Southern Miss after spending the last two seasons at Louisiana Team as their associate head coach and pitching coach, in which the Bulldogs posted a 78-40 record.
Ostrander also spent seven years as the head coach at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville before going to Ruston. He finished with a 255-109 overall record with the Bobcats, good for a .701 winning percentage.
Prior to his stint at Jones County, Ostrander served as recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at Arkansas State from 2002-2006 and also led Gulfport High School to the Class 5A playoffs in two seasons as the head coach for the Admirals.
Ostrander also served the pitching coach, recruiting coordinator and camp coordinator at Delta State from 1999-2002.
DSU posted a 189-43 record during his four seasons, winning the Gulf South Conference West Division championship all four years and the South Regional championship in 2001 and 2002. In his final two seasons at Delta State, the Statesmen competed in the Division II College World Series in both 2001 and 2002.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Delta State in 1996 and his master of education in administration from DSU in 1998.
To RSVP and purchase tickets, visit sports.hindscc.edu and click on “Tickets” at the top of the page.
