How Brandon baseball flipped its season to reach its first MHSAA state final since 1967

BRANDON — There was a point early in the season when Brandon baseball coach Daniel Best was just hoping his team would make the playoffs while keeping his mind off thoughts about a state final appearance. Not because his team couldn't do that but because of Brandon's early struggles.

Best didn't fully know what roles certain players would take. He needed a stronger sense of familiarity on his team. Ten games into the season, Brandon was below a .500 record, a struggle Best said his programs were not familiar with.

The team chemistry wasn't all there, and as junior Jay McQueen said, many players were only focusing on themselves and personal stats.

"We had a rough start," junior Jay McQueen said. "Everybody was pulling in their own direction. And you know, we had a team meeting before district (play). 'If we want to get to where we want to be, we got to be there for each other and stay together and be a unit and do everything together.' That's what happened and that's what got us here."

Here is the MHSAA state finals — Brandon's first appearance since its last title in 1967.

Brandon (23-12) is set to face Hernando (26-6) in the Class 7A state final series, with Game 1 starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Trustmark Park.

"I just think it was their mindset," Best said. "I think that we we stay on them every day about 'just continue to do the things that we do and not try to play the game that other people play or not try to match what other teams are doing. Be us, do what we teach, and stay in the game.'"

Senior Walker Hooks said team bonding off the field impacted their play on the field, where the Bulldogs knew they had a chance to reach their desired goals.

MORE: How Brandon baseball defeated Northwest Rankin and advanced to MHSAA baseball state final

"We're out here every day working," Hooks said. "Off the field we did a lot of team-bonding stuff and just getting closer. I think (now) we're able to come out as one team and play together."

What Brandon's first state final trip since 1967 means to the Buldogs

McQueen was shocked when he first heard the number. Hooks thought it was unbelievable. Best had to double-check the date to confirm because he didn't even know it was that long ago that Brandon last reached the state finals. However, 1967 was correct. It was a drought that lasted 56 years.

"I wasn't aware to begin with there was even one that long ago," Best said. "I knew it hadn't been any time recently that they even made it to one."

Phillip O'Brien has assisted with baseball and football coaching at Brandon since 1986. He's seen Brandon reach the South State championship four times but never a state final. He expressed his praise for the team but more importantly for this fan base that has long waited to see its baseball program compete for a state title.

"We've played South State championship games, I think, four times since I've been here, and we never made it out," O'Brien said. "You know, so, the fact that to overcome that hump is always great. ... I'm just proud of these guys the way, as a team, they've come together to get to the point where they are now.

"The community, I think, deserves one. They've always been behind us through thick and thin. Anything we can do to pull it off, you know, is a plus, not only for the team but for all our supporters we've had throughout the years."

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How Brandon baseball reached its first MHSAA state final since 1967