MSU Inks Louisiana Lefty Paul Faulkenberry
April 20, 2004 | Baseball
Faulkenberry is a 6-5, 210-pound left-handed pitcher at Prairie View Academy in Bastrop, La., where he is in his fifth season of varsity competition for coaches Don King and Michael Hinton. Faulkenberry compiled an 8-1 record with a team-leading 1.21 earned run average as a junior in helping lead the PVA Spartans to the 2003 MPSA class 2A state championship. A four-year all-district performer, he registered 125 strikeouts in 86 innings. He also led his team with six home runs and 36 RBI and was ranked by Baseball America as the top junior prospect in Louisiana.
With his senior campaign under way, the MSU signee has established school records for career wins and strikeouts in five varsity seasons.
"We are all certainly pleased to have Paul Faulkenberry joining our baseball program this coming fall after such a great career as a pitcher for his Prairie View Academy baseball team," said Polk. "He is an outstanding student-athlete and will make a great addition to our baseball program."
Faulkenberry fashioned a 9-1 record with 102 strikeouts and a 1.31 earned run average en route to earning district and team MVP honors his sophomore season.
"I am honored to be a Mississippi State Bulldog, and I am looking forward to playing baseball for Coach Polk and the MSU staff," said Faulkenberry. "The opportunity to play for a great team and a great school is a dream come true for me. I could not be more proud."
Faulkenberry also lettered four seasons in basketball, earning all-district honors in 2001 and 2004 and starting on three district championship teams. He is also a four-time member of the National Honor Society.
The MSU signee is the son of Dennis and Cheryl Faulkenberry of Bastrop, La.
