CLINTON – Nearly a year and a half after his Northwest career ended, former Ranger right-hander Daniel Shelton is stepping back on the mound after signing with Mississippi College on Friday morning.

Shelton played the 2018-19 seasons with Northwest and made 17 appearances over his two-year career, mostly out of the bullpen. The Coldwater native struck out 20 batters in 21.2 innings of work. 

Shelton earned his only victory in a 9-8 decision against Mississippi Gulf Coast on April 13, 2018, holding the Bulldogs to one run on two hits in two innings of relief.

Prior to Northwest, Shelton starred for coach Chris McMinn at local powerhouse Magnolia Heights, where he posted a 5-2 record and a 3.40 ERA during his senior campaign. In addition to delivering 57 strikeouts on the mound, Shelton also batted .281 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs and 20 RBIs.

Shelton retroactively becomes the seventh signee from the 2019 Northwest squad that finished 33-14 overall and 20-8 in the MACJC. The Rangers took the first round play-in series against Northeast before being eliminated in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament by top-ranked LSU Eunice and No. 6 Pearl River.

Aside from Shelton, the 2019 team also produced six more signees - Hayden Leatherwood, Ben Van Cleve (Ole Miss), Tanner Leggett (Mississippi State), Reed Harding, Carson Stinnett (Memphis) and Tanner Booth (Murray State). 

Shelton will also join former bullpen colleague Jackson Smith, who signed with Mississippi College last spring.

Mississippi College competes at the NCAA Division II level in the Gulf South Conference. The Choctaws posted an 11-9 overall record and a 6-3 conference mark before suspending the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 outbreak.