Monday sports page: Skinner, Booker first Mud Monster signees, Jags, Quistors in basketball “Rumble”
The new Mississippi Mud Monsters of the Frontier League has signed a former Lake Cormorant, Northwest Mississippi Community College, and Mississippi State baseball player as its first player. The Mud Monsters are an expansion team of the league and will play its home games at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
Brayland Skinner was announced as the team’s first new addition to the roster on Monday, Jan. 20. Also announced as a signee was former DeSoto Central baseball signout Kyle Booker.
The Mud Monsters said Skinner is entering his second season of professional baseball after spending 2024 with the Pioneer League Champion Yolo (CA) High Wheelers, where he hit .298 with 8 home runs and 41 stolen bases in 90 games. Known for his speed and versatility, Skinner was a member of the 2021 National Champion Mississippi State University Bulldogs. The Lake Cormorant native scored the winning run as the Bulldogs defeated Texas for a spot in the College World Series.
At Northwest Mississippi Community College,he led the league in stolen bases and on-base percentage. Skinner also spent one season at the University of Memphis in 2023, where he hit .270 with 22 stolen bases.
“Brayland Skinner is the sort of player that the Mississippi Mud Monsters can build around,” said Mud Monsters Manager Jay Pecci. “Fast and versatile, he brings a ton of excitement to the diamond.”
Booker is entering his first full season in professional baseball after spending 2024 playing collegiate baseball with Oral Roberts University before signing with the Billings (Montana) Mustangs of the Pioneer League.
At Oral Roberts, Booker hit .317 with 7 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 60 games. He stole 7 bases in 27 games with the Mustangs. In high school at DeSoto Central, Booker led his team to a pair of state titles at Trustmark Park. Ranked as the No. 7 player in Mississippi and the No. 28 outfielder in the nation by Perfect Game, Booker spent three seasons at the University of Tennessee.
Monday, Jan. 20
Prep boys basketball
Rumble in the South- Mississippi College
- Madison Ridgeland Academy 57, DeSoto Central 48
- Olive Branch 64, Canton 61
NBA G League basketball
DeSoto County soccer players were named to play in the annual North Mississippi All-Star Soccer Games Feb. 20 in Tupelo. CLICK HERE for details.
