Northwest Mississippi Community College Men's Baseball

Now the all-time winningest coach in Northwest baseball history, Mark Carson enters his 21st season in command of the Rangers’ program. Just two seasons after earning his 500th career victory (April 4, 2023 vs. Coahoma), Carson surpassed his former coach and mentor, Jim Miles, as the all-time winningest coach on March 18, 2025 with a doubleheader sweep at Mississippi Delta. In 20 seasons, Carson has amassed a career record of 571-377-2, good for a .602 overall winning percentage. During that time, he has also collected a record of 299-172 against conference and division opponents, good for a .635 winning percentage. In 2025, Carson led the Rangers to a 32-19 overall record and a 14-14 mark in the MACCC, sending Northwest back to postseason for a second consecutive season. Prior to the 2023  season, he led Northwest to 12 straight postseason appearances, excluding a shortened COVID-19 season in 2020. Since taking over as the program’s head coach in 2006, Carson has guided the Rangers to 10 seasons with 30 or more victories. Despite a rare miss on the postseason in 2023, Carson and Northwest bounced back in a big way during the 2024 campaign, fielding a 37-17 overall record and a 21-7 mark in the MACCC. The program’s 37-win total was the most victories in a single season since 2007, and the Rangers also made it through the entire conference slate without being swept in a single doubleheader. The 2024 season saw the Rangers make a return to the postseason, but the stay was cut short by a red-hot Hinds team in the first round playoff series. Despite the early exit, several players left their names in the record books for both single-season and career categories, highlighted by Jacob Hill’s career record of 62 stolen bases. NJCAA/ABCA Gold Glove winner Cade Greer also finished his two-year stint with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, joining Chad Wardlaw and Peyton Martin as the only three Northwest players to finish with a perfect fielding percentage with a minimum of 140 chances. Additionally, six members of the 2024 squad signed to four-year programs, led by Greer (Memphis), James Smith (Memphis), Matthew Roncalli (UAB) and Mason Shropshire (UT-Martin). Additionally, Hill and Cade Leatherwood both inked with Delta State University. In 2023, Northwest fielded a 23-26 overall record and were still in play for the final postseason spot going into the regular season finale against Pearl River. Six members of the 2023 team signed to the four-year level, led by pitchers Brayden Sanders (Memphis) and Brooks Rice (Samford). The other signees included pitcher Logan Eldridge (Delta State), pitcher C.J. Lofton (Mississippi College), infielder/catcher Eli Selby (Rhodes College) and infielder Dawson Griffin (Freed-Hardeman University). Northwest finished the 2022 season with a 26-24 overall record and rebounded from a slow start to go 10-6 in conference games during the month of April. That turnaround took the Rangers from the outside looking in to the ninth and final slot in the NJCAA Region 23 Playoffs, where Northwest took a three-game series from No. 7 Meridian to stun the Eagles and advance to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament. Carson’s club produced six All-MACCC honorees, including MACCC Player of the Year Ryan Lee. A native of Cleveland, Tenn., Lee lit up opposing pitchers for a .402 batting average with 12 doubles, 16 home runs, 52 RBIs and a .902 slugging percentage, leading the team in each of those categories. The Little Rock signee left Senatobia with a multitude of awards, including MACCC Player of the Year and NJCAA Division II Second Team All-American honors. Lee concluded his time at Northwest ranking fourth in single-season home runs, third in slugging percentage, tied for fourth in runs scored (58), sixth in walks (35) and tied for ninth in both RBIs (52) and total bases (119). Additionally, he fielded .975 with 245 putouts and six runners caught stealing. Additionally, five other players signed or committed to four-year programs, including John Luke Marlin (UAB), Caleb Hobson (UT Martin), Connor Spencer (Southeastern Louisiana/Ole Miss), Zach Willingham (South Alabama) and Colton Presley (Delta State). Carson and his staff have also been instrumental in developing players and helping them get to the next level, both collegiately and professionally, with 146 moving onto four-year schools and 17 being drafted by Major League Baseball during his tenure. Northwest had a record four players drafted in 2013, including All-American LHP Cody Reed by the Kansas City Royals at 46th overall, the highest selection in program history.   Carson was named the Region XXIII Coach of the Year in 2007 after leading the Rangers to a third NJCAA World Series appearance. Northwest ended the 2007 campaign with a 40-17 (14-2 MACJC) record and fourth place overall finish in NJCAA Division II.Before taking over as head coach in 2006, Carson served as assistant coach for the Rangers for eight seasons from 1998-2005. During that span, Carson helped lead Northwest to a 271-120-4 record alongside head coach Donny Castle, capturing four north division championships (‘99, ‘00, ‘02, ‘05) and a state championship in 2000. Prior to Northwest, Carson spent six seasons as head baseball coach and defensive coordinator at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis. In 1997, Carson led the baseball team to a 23-8 mark and claimed the District-15AA Championship. He ended his tenure with a career mark of 93-52 and was twice named district Coach of the Year. Carson was inducted into the Briarcrest Hall of Fame in 2013.  A 1989 graduate of Northwest, Carson saw action on the mound and at third base for the Rangers during his career. A two-time all-state selection, Carson hit .323 for his career with seven home runs and also went 7-3 on the mound with a 3.03 ERA. He was voted team captain his sophomore season, playing in the JUCO All-Star Game and being selected as an NJCAA Academic All-American. Carson went on to play his final two seasons at Southern Mississippi, where he recorded an 18-5 record on the mound over two years, including an 11-2 record as a senior – the second most wins in USM single-season history. He was named to the All-Metro Conference Commissioner’s List in 1991 as well as team captain and an Academic All-American. He went on to sign a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds in 1991, playing one season for its minor league affiliate. Carson was inducted into the inaugural 2016 class of the Independence High School Athletic Hall of Fame where he was a four-year letterman in baseball and three-year letter-winner in football and basketball. He was named team MVP in all three sports his senior year and was also president of the senior class and elected Mr. IHS. Carson is married to the former Shelia Lusher of Independence and the two have a 20-year-old daughter, Hadley. THE CARSON FILE: PERSONAL   Hometown: Independence, Miss.  Colleges: Northwest Mississippi Community College (1989), University of Southern Mississippi (1991) Family: Shelia (Wife), Hadley (Daughter) PLAYING EXPERIENCE:   1988-89 | Northwest Mississippi Community College - NJCAA All-Academic honors 1990-91 | Southern Miss - All-Metro Conference Commissioner's List; team captain; NCAA Academic All-American   1991 | Cincinnati Reds organization   COACHING EXPERIENCE: 1992-97 | Briarcrest Christian School (Head Baseball Coach; Assistant Football Coach) 1998-2005 | Northwest Mississippi Community College (Assistant Baseball Coach) 2006-present | Northwest Mississippi Community College (Head Coach)

Longtime assistant and 2017 MACJC Sports Hall of Fame inductee Bill Selby enters his 21st season with the Northwest baseball program in 2025. Selby helps in all aspects of NWCC baseball, including serving as the Rangers’ hitting instructor and third base coach. Since joining Carson’s staff in 2006, Selby has helped develop 150 four-year players and 18 Major League Baseball draft picks. Northwest has seen great success at the plate under his watch, ranking among the nation’s best in batting average. In 2024, the Rangers hit .314 as a team and totaled 506 base hits, the most in a season since totaling 599 in 2007 - his second season as the Northwest assistant coach. Selby and the Rangers were also productive in several other categories, including runs batted in (RBI), totaling 321 for the season. Northwest was also walked 286 times, a new program record, while also setting a new team record with 143 stolen bases. One of the main leaders in the stolen base category was Jacob Hill, who broke the Rangers’ stolen bases record with 62 career steals. Hill, who later signed with Delta State, finished with 42 steals last season alone, coming up four shy of breaking Dalton Dulin’s single-season record of 46 (2015). Hill was also reliable at the plate as well, accounting for 66 hits last season, entering the program record books in a tie for 10th-most single season hits. His teammate, Cade Greer, led the way with 71 base hits and 17 doubles, which joined six other former Rangers for the most doubles in a single season. Though Northwest finished under .300 at the plate over the last three seasons, catcher Ryan Lee provided a bright spot in 2022, hitting .402 on the season and earning NJCAA All-American accolades. Lee was also named Player of the Year for NJCAA Region 23 and signed with Little Rock following his one-year stint in Senatobia. Another bright spot over the 2021-22 seasons was Caleb Hobson. The outfielder and Pontotoc native batted well over .300 for his career and signed with UT-Martin following his time at Northwest, and was later drafted to the Colorado Rockies organization in the summer of 2023. In a shortened 2020 campaign, the Rangers hit 13 home runs and batted .321 in 15 games. Prior to that, Northwest pounded out 55 home runs in 2019, 13th-most in the country, and slugged .490. Northwest has finished in the Top 30 in the NJCAA five times in average, including 18th in 2014 with a .327 average – second best in the state.  Selby also plays a big role in the Rangers’ aggressive play on the basepaths. The signal caller has seen Northwest steal 100 bases in five of the last nine seasons, including 126 in 2015, tying the school-record set in 2013. Northwest swiped 117 bags in 2014, 108 in 2012 and 104 in 2011.   Since his arrival in 2006, the Rangers have amassed an overall record of 539-358-2 (.601) and 285-158 (.643) mark against conference and former division opponents. Northwest has missed the postseason only twice in his 19 seasons, captured the 2007 and 2011 MACJC North Division Championship and has played for the MACJC Championship three times. Prior to joining Northwest in 2006, Selby put the wraps on his 14-year professional baseball career that spanned from 1992-2005 and included stops with the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the 13th Round (366th overall) of the 1992 MLB Draft, spending five seasons with the organization. Selby played in 198 total MLB games, with a .223 career batting average. Mostly used off the bench, Selby hit a career high six home runs in 2002 with the Indians. The most dramatic of those home runs came on July 14, when he hit a walk-off grand slam against 13-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion Mariano Rivera to defeat the New York Yankees, 10-7, in the bottom of the 9th inning. It was the first walk-off home run that Rivera had allowed in his career. Selby became the sixth player in Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A) club history to be inducted into the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame on August 25, 2007. In the Bisons’ modern era, Selby ranks first in hits (378), doubles (90), RBI (245) and runs (217). He’s second in games played (370) and third in home runs (60). Selby was the team’s MVP in 1999 (.295, 20  homers, 85 RBI) and played in the 2000 Triple-A All-Star Game in Rochester, New York. Selby closed his career by being named to the Mexican League All-Star Team while playing for the Campeche Pirates, batting .318 with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs. Before joining the Pirates, he played minor league ball with the Memphis Redbirds and Iowa Cubs. Other career highlights include being named a Carolina League All-Star in 1994 and International League All-Star in 2000. A 2008 inductee into the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame, Selby was the Rangers’ MVP in his only season in 1990, hitting a single-season school record .477 from the plate with 14 home runs, 13 doubles and 43 RBIs. He was named an All-State and All-Region 23 selection at season’s end. Selby played his final two seasons for Southern Mississippi, where he was a teammate of current head coach Mark Carson. His name is still scattered in the Golden Eagles’ record books, owning single-season school records for home runs (23), doubles (31) and slugging percentage (.824) and ranking in the top 10 in numerous career categories despite playing just two years. He was inducted into the USM M-Club Hall of Fame in 2011. Selby is married to the former Teri Capers of Walls, a former Northwest cheerleader. The couple have two children, Erica and Eli (22).

Former Ranger and professional baseball player Domenick Carlini enters his ninth season on the Northwest baseball staff, where he primarily works with pitchers. Since joining the Rangers’ coaching staff in 2018, Carlini has helped develop 27 pitchers that have continued their careers at the four-year level. Additionally, two of his pitchers have been selected in the Major League Baseball draft - Dalton Fowler (drafted twice in 2019 and 2023) and Connor Spencer (drafted twice in 2024 and 2025). Carlini’s pitching staffs have struck out 300 or more batters throughout the season since 2019, and his 2022 staff set the Rangers’ record for 428 strikeouts. His 2019 squad ranks second (379), followed by his 2023 pitching staff in third (375) and his 2025 staff in fourth with 365 strikeouts. In 2024, Carlini’s pitching unit also allowed just 27 home runs, the fewest since 2019. His group also pitched a record 402.1 innings, led by 73.2 frames from Scott Sharp. The 2024 pitching staff combined for 5.71 ERA but held opposing batters to a batting average of .271. Over the previous two seasons, three of Carlini’s pitchers have signed with NCAA Division I programs: Connor McCaslin and Mason Shropshire (both to UT-Martin), and James Smith (Memphis). Though the Rangers struggled in 2023 both at the plate and on the mound, six of Carlini’s pitchers advanced to the four-year level, led by Brayden Sanders (Memphis), Brooks Rice (Samford) and Logan Eldridge (Delta State). Carlini’s 2022 pitching staff was led by the aforementioned Sanders, South Alabama signee Zach Willingham and UAB signee John Luke Marlin. In 2021, the Rangers posted a 5.46 ERA and held opposing batters to a .275 batting average. Despite a shortened 2020 campaign due to COVID-19, Carlini’s pitching staff posted solid numbers through the first 15 games of the season. Collectively, the Rangers posted a 2.27 ERA with 148 strikeouts as part of a Top 10 national ranking and a 14-1 overall record, the best start in program history. Carlini’s pitchers accounted for five of the Rangers’ six four-year signees, including Dalton Fowler (Oklahoma), Parker Stinnett (Mississippi State), Landon Zizmann (Delta State), Jackson Smith (Mississippi College) and Trent Bunting (Arkansas-Monticello).  In 2019, Northwest’s pitching staff posted a 4.05 ERA, the 19th-best in the NJCAA, with the most strikeouts (379) and lowest opponent batting average (.241) in program history. Four pitchers earned all-conference honors, with Fowler and Parker Stinnett earning First Team All-MACJC recognition and Carson Stinnett and Colton Peel being named to the second team. Fowler was also drafted by the New York Mets in the 27th round and former Ranger Peyton Plumlee was taken in the 31st round by the Houston Astros.  The Nesbit native and DeSoto Central product spent two seasons in minor league baseball after being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 21st round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Southeastern Louisiana. Carlini was originally assigned to the Elizabethton Twins (Rookie) in 2016 and spent the 2017 season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Single-A). Carlini was 8-2 with a 2.03 ERA and two complete games in 16 appearances for the SELU Lions as a senior en route to Second Team All-Southland Conference honors and an NCAA Regional berth. In 97.1 innings of work, Carlini held opposing hitters to a .206 batting average while striking out 63 against 36 walks. He was 1-0 with three saves as a junior.  His lone summer ball stint was with the St. Cloud Rox after his junior year at SELU, going 5-2 with a 2.68 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. Carlini pitched the 2013-14 seasons for Northwest, helping the Rangers to back-to-back 30-win seasons and posting a 7-8 career record with five complete games, two saves and a 3.04 ERA. He struck out 119 batters (fourth-most in school history) against 35 walks in 119.2 career innings pitched.  He was named “Mr. Ranger” after his sophomore season in addition to earning Second Team All-MACJC honors. Carlini was also selected the MACJC Pitcher of the Week on April 8, 2014, to kick off his sophomore campaign. Carlini is married to the former Lauren Carson of Independence, a Northwest graduate and former Ranger cheerleader. The couple has two daughters, Ridley Anne (7) and Adeline (4).