Photo: Father Keith and mother Pam Jones watch as Northpoint Christian utility player Carson Jones signs a letter of intent to play at Mississippi Delta Community College next season. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Northpoint Christian School utility player Carson Jones got to the end of the 2024 season this spring not entirely sure where he might next be playing college baseball. But then Mississippi Delta Community College baseball coach Luke Stanley came along with an offer Jones couldn’t refuse: a chance to play his positions in the competitive Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC). Jones said he was ready to go.
That’s why it was Monday afternoon, June 17, when Jones was finally able to put ink to the paper and signed with the Mississippi Delta Trojans for the 2025 MACCC season. Jones had not committed to any program until the Northpoint Trojans’ season had ended, just short of another visit to the TSSAA Division 2-A state tournament in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Once Jones was able to talk to Stanley and see what was on the Moorhead campus and the school offered, the graduated senior was sold.
“I really enjoyed how good the coaches were to me and I really liked the facilities and what they stand for and everything,” Jones said Monday. “They have a bunch of opportunities for FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and I get to play with a bunch of similar dudes that I think will help my academic and athletic future.”
For Northpoint coach Stephen Kirkpatrick, Jones might have been an unknown commodity entering the 2024 campaign on how he would contribute. But Kirkpatrick said Carson impressively grew and improved as the year went along.
Keith, Carson, Pam and Chase JonesCarson Jones and NCS coaches
“Carson continued asking questions and continued to get better,” Kirkpatrick said. “Whenever he would ask for help from the coaches, he would take it, use it and then ask more questions. Carson really worked hard in the weight room, as well, and turned into one of the strongest guys on the team.”
The Olive Branch youngster hit .379 for Northpoint this spring, which was the second-highest batting average on the team. On the mound, Jones was 3-0 with 35 strikeouts in 30 innings and had a 1.50 earned run average. Jones earned all-district and all-West Region accolades at season’s end.
One of his 2024 highlights was tossing a complete game on the mound against FACS to secure a first round bye in the postseason playoffs. Jones expects to contribute in the same way wherever he’s positioned at Delta.
“I’m going to go down there and be a two-way player,” Jones said. “I’m going to be a pitcher, outfielder and third baseman.”
Being a utility player is something Jones has gotten to enjoy doing.
“I like being used in any way that I think I can be used,” he said. “I’d go out there and try any position really. I just enjoy being able to do multiple things.”
Mississippi Delta finished 16-26 this past season and was 10-18 in conference play.
