Alex Nelms stepping up for Southern Miss baseball

For the first time since 2006, the Southern Miss baseball team only has one player from the Gulf Coast.

That one player just so happens to be Alex Nelms out of Gulfport, the same alma mater as recent USM baseball graduate Daniel Keating.

For the 12 years prior to this upcoming 2019 campaign, the Golden Eagles always had at least two Coast products on the roster, if not more.

Now it’s just the lone former Admiral stepping up for the 228. “I’ve got to step into Dan Keat’s shoes I guess. No more Coasties so maybe some will get up here in future years, but I’m going to do my best to make a good showing for the Coast. I’ve seen it since I’ve been here, freshman/sophomore, the older guys leading the team. I think I finally kind of stepped into more of a leadership role this year and it has flown by fast, but it’s good to finally be an upperclassman.”

The Black and Gold don’t return to MGM Park in Biloxi until the Conference USA Tournament in late May.

More USM baseball and Matt Wallner is the recipient of yet another pre-season All-American award. Baseball America being the most recent publication to give him that distinction as a first team selection.

Then on the hardwood, Leonard Harper Baker is the first Southern Miss men’s basketball player to earn C-USA Player of the Week designation this season.