Can Gary Henderson Get Mississippi State Baseball To The College World Series?
By Ethan Lee
Will Gary Henderson and the Mississippi State baseball team make it to Omaha this season?
There’s not much in the realm of college baseball that Gary Henderson hasn’t experienced. Since 1980, Henderson has been continuously involved in college baseball in some capacity. He’s played it at two different schools, been an assistant coach at eight different schools, and has been a head coach at three different schools. As we all know, he’s coaching the 2018 Mississippi State baseball team.
But, we’ve gotten into something new right now. We’re now entering into uncharted territory for Gary Henderson. As a head coach, Henderson has never been in a Super Regional. Taking the Mississippi State baseball team to the Nashville is as far as he’s ever gotten as a head coach.
At his first head coaching gig, Henderson led the Chapman Panthers to a 22-32 season. That’s not that great and, as such, he was only their head coach for one season back in 1993. Henderson wouldn’t become a head coach again until 2009.
That’s when the Kentucky Wildcats gave Henderson his shot.
But, from 2009 to 2016, the Wildcats never made it past a regional. They had six winning seasons in eight years, but only two regional appearances and nothing beyond that. As such, he moved on back to the assistant coaching ranks.
But now, Henderson is as far as he’s ever been.
Right now, Gary Henderson is trying to win a Super Regional
To actually do so, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are going to have to beat the Vanderbilt Commodores in a three game series. That means that MSU only needs two wins against the Commodores. But, the Bulldogs couldn’t even get one win against Vanderbilt earlier this year.
In Mississippi State’s first SEC series of the season, the Bulldogs were swept by the Vanderbilt Commodores. In those three games, MSU lost by a combined score of 19-4. And that was at home in front of a friendly crowd at Dudy Noble Field.
Henderson and his team have to go into Vanderbilt’s stadium, deal with the Vandy Whistler, and then come away with two wins in three games.
That won’t be easy.
It’s been noted several times here at Maroon and White Nation that Gary Henderson has never been in a Super Regional before. But that’s all in the past. In this exact moment in time, Henderson has found a way to get into a Super Regional. And now, he’s aiming at winning it.
And that’s what matters most right now.
Next: MSU To Play In Nashville Super Regional
Right now, Henderson and his Mississippi State baseball team are gearing up to win two games in Nashville and advance on to Omaha. Right now, the Mississippi State Bulldogs have a very real shot at getting past Vanderbilt and into the College World Series. Right now, Gary Henderson is trying to find a way to win a Super Regional. Can he do that?