This year, The University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagle Baseball Team surprised all critics by making post-season play all the way to the College World Series. On that team was Stringer’s very own Seth Hester.

Hester began playing little league ball around the age of six with the West Jasper Recreation Association. He said that he always loved playing baseball and looked forward to going to the fields to play.

Hester encourages youngsters in Jasper County to participate in the West Jasper ball. He said, “Have fun while you’re little. Work hard but have fun.”

After little league, Hester donned the Stringer Red Devil uniform, where his promising pitching career took off. Scouts began to take notice. Pretty soon, he was signed to play Eagle ball.

His career so far at USM has been successful. This year he was named the C-USA Pitcher of the Week.

Of his World Series experiences, Hester said, “There wasn’t really that much pressure to be there. We weren’t supposed to be there in the first place. But it was the most amazing experience I’ve had playing ball. All of those games, the little league practices and games, the high school practice, those games-all of that experience paid of 110 percent getting to be a part of the College World Series.”

Hester is the son of Delayne and Tonya Hester of Stringer.