NATCHEZ — Brandon Ross is an Adams County Christian School senior who ruminates over goals and ponders them every day.

Before the season, Ross created a goal for himself — make the MPSA/MAIS Baseball All-Star Game. By achieving his goal, he became one of a select few ACCS players in school history to attain all-star honors in both baseball and football his senior year.

Now that he’s accomplished his biggest goal to date, there isn’t a passing day the senior catcher doesn’t think about it.

“It feels great to know that I set a goal and I accomplished it,” Ross said. “To join one of the few groups that’s made baseball and football all-stars is an honor.”

On May 23, Ross gets to see his goal come to fruition when he joins the South All-Star seniors for the showdown in Jackson. He’s hoping to make new friends like he did in December’s football all-star game, and hopefully, the baseball game will provide a little more offense than the 3-2 showcase on the gridiron last December.

“Usually the all-star games are pitcher duels, so who knows?” Ross said.

What Richy Spears has become an expert on is Ross’ grit behind the plate. That same trait resembles the hard-nosed mentality Ross possessed at middle linebacker for the Rebels. Spears should know better than anyone, as he coached Ross as defensive coordinator for David King’s Rebel football team and was Ross’ head coach for baseball.

“Defensively, behind the plate, he’s one of the best I’ve coached,” Spears said. “There’s no question. He’s up there, no doubt.”

Just when Ross reached his goal of playing in the baseball all-stars game, he immediately focused his attention on his next goal — playing baseball at the next level.

Connections and hard work combined to make Ross’ next goal attainable, as a tryout opportunity with the Hinds Community College baseball team materialized. Caleb Upton, who is one of the main contributors on Hinds’ 2014 squad, put in a good word for Ross, along with several coaches around the area.

“He’s one of the main ones that was talking to his coach about me, to get his coach interested in me,” Ross said. “I really have to thank him and the other coaches who have called and helped me.”

After Ross worked out with the team, he was granted a spot, but along with that spot came a possibility that Ross would get cut in the fall should he not perform up to expectations.

That’s all the motivation Ross needed as his high school journey nears an end. Now, a couple of times a week, Ross spends time on ACCS’ baseball field hitting balls with junior teammate Wade Simpson.

“It motivates me even more to work harder,” Ross said. “That’s why I’ve been coming out here two or three times a week to keep my arm strong and get my bat speed right.”

For Spears, that sums up Ross in a nutshell, always working hard to conquer the task at hand.

“He’s always played hard,” Spears said. “He’s just a natural athlete. You could always count on him to make plays because he’s always giving 110 percent. You can tell that he’s all in to whatever he’s doing.”

With one goal down and another on its way to completion, Ross will finish his high school career the same way he started 2014 — swinging for greatness.