Booneville, Miss. - The switch-hitting leadoff man for the Northeast Mississippi Community College baseball team is advancing his career to the suburbs of the state capital.
Sophomore standout Parker Haberstroh has signed his National Letter of Intent (NLI) to join the quickly rising program at Mississippi College.
"I'm very excited for Parker," said Tigers head coach Richy Harrelson. "He's such a tremendous blessing for our program. He's an anchor out there. He understands his role so well about getting on base and moving runners.
"He's grown up and turned into a great young man. I can't say enough about him. He's going to do well in the classroom and help (Mississippi College) win some baseball games too."
The Choctaws are in their fourth season since transitioning back to NCAA Division II and to the Gulf South Conference (GSC). Mississippi College, which is located just off Interstate 20 in Clinton, is under the direction of third-year headman Jeremy Haworth.
"I'm ready to get down there and try to make some noise," Haberstroh said. "I really like the coaching staff, the facilities and the opportunity to get a great education. They think I can come in and help them win and I really like that."
Haberstroh has improved all facets of his game between his freshman and sophomore campaigns at Northeast. His fielding percentage is up around 20 points and his batting average has improved by nearly 40 points as well.
The Center Hill High School graduate has already surpassed his hits, runs scored, RBIs and stolen base totals from one year ago with still 10 regular season contests remaining on the docket.
His .468 on-base percentage is second highest on the squad. Haberstroh has scored 45 times, which leads the Tigers and is second most in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC).
Haberstroh has 10 multiple hit performances this season, including three-hit outings in both games of a doubleheader against Meridian Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College.
The 5-8, 170-pounder connected on his first career home run during the Tigers' road victory over then-No. 9 Jones County Junior College. His seven stolen bases are also tops for Northeast.
He is one of only two Tigers to appear in all 33 games so far this year. Haberstroh guides Northeast with a team-high 21 walks and has assisted in 13 double plays defensively as well.
"When I first came here, I didn't really know what to expect," said Haberstroh. "Coach Harrelson and coach (Jon Andy) Scott really helped me grow as a player and as a man. From groundballs to hitting, everything they did pushed me daily."
The Olive Branch native is a career .326 hitter with a stellar on-base percentage of .449. Haberstroh has 77 hits, including eight doubles, with 81 runs scored, 54 free passes, 36 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
He shows off the leather frequently from the shortstop position. Haberstroh has been part of 31 double plays during his two-year tenure in the City of Hospitality with 150 assists and 80 putouts in 258 total chances.
Haberstroh is the first Tiger to ink with the Choctaws in nearly a decade. Nick Mentel was the last Northeast product to join Mississippi College following the conclusion of the 2009 campaign.
He is the third member of this sophomore class to announce their future plans on the diamond. Pitcher Matthew Sneed will become Haberstroh's rival at Delta State University while slugger Tucker Childers heads to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Mississippi State University.