HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

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Starkville eliminated by Madison Central

STARKVILLE — After his team lost by the mercy rule in its postseason opener, Starkville coach Danny Carlisle thought the Yellow Jackets would respond with elimination staring them in the face. Instead the Jackets managed just two hits Friday in an 11-1 loss to Madison Central to be eliminated from the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state playoffs. The scrappiness that saw Starkville make a fourth-inning rally on Thursday wasn’t there Friday as the Jackets were baffled by Madisson Central pitcher L.J. Hollins.

Hamilton wins playing small ball

HAMILTON –– Good coaches aren’t afraid to adjust their strategy when things aren’t going according to plan. So it wasn’t surprising to see Hamilton High School coach Jason Cobb try something different Friday afternoon in the second game of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A fast-pitch softball playoffs. Leading one game in a best-of-three series with East Union and locked in a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth, Cobb elected to play small ball en route to a 7-3 win.

New Hope advances by sweeping Clarksdale

The New Hope High School fast-pitch softball team cruised into the second round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A playoffs with a sweep of Clarksdale. The Lady Trojans earned a 15-0 victory in three innings and then won by the same score in game two Friday at Lady Trojans Field to advance to the next round. “I am just looking forward to the next round,” New Hope coach Tabitha Beard said.

Heritage finishes as runner-up at North State

JACKSON –– The Heritage Academy golf team participated in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Association Class AAA North State golf tournament at Deerfield Country Club and finished second to Pillow Academy. Heritage Academy tied for first place with Pillow Academy at the end of 18 holes and was edged ty two strokes in a sudden death playoff to finish second. Caleb Westmoreland, of Heritage, tied for medalist in regulation play with a 79, but lost in the playoff to Lou Adams, of Pillow Academy.

Taylor helps Caledonia win district

CALEDONIA — One bad shot or hole can spell disaster for a golfer. After parring the first hole at the Class 4A Division 3, District 4 Tournament at River Birch Golf Club on April 19 in Amory, Zac Taylor found himself at a turning point early in the day. The Caledonia High School senior hooked his tee shot on No. 2 left out of bounds. He hit his next shot in the woods in a hazard. He went on to shoot a triple bogy eight while the rest of the competitors birdied the hole.

Blanch gives NEMCC versatility

CALEDONIA — Ricky Ford covets versatility. Ford’s Northeast Mississippi Community College women’s basketball program loves to use a full-court pressing style of play. To do that, the veteran coach needs players who can play a variety of roles and are equally comfortable facing and with their backs to the basket. Suriah Blanch fits that mold, which is why she will take her game to Booneville in the fall. On Friday, the Caledonia High School senior forward celebrated her decision to sign a national letter of intent to play basketball at NEMCC.

Hamilton's Earnest pitches perfect game

HAMILTON –– Hamilton High School senior pitcher Dylan Earnest may not have been as sharp as usual and the opponent may not have been as rugged as those found in Northeast Mississippi. But as Hamilton coach Lewis Earnest said, “It doesn’t matter who it’s against, a perfect game is a perfect game.” Earnest (9-0), who had a perfect game this past summer in Senior American Legion play and then another flawless outing earlier this month against Class 2A, Division 2 foe Calhoun City, was perfect again here Thursday evening as the Lions rolled to a 17-0, five-inning win against Shelby Broad Street in the first game of the Class 2A state baseball playoffs.

Starkville loses to have back to the wall

MADISON — The Madison Central baseball team scored 11 runs in two innings and had a mammoth day at the plate Thursday to beat Starkville 16-6 to open the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state playoffs. Madison Central leadoff hitter Josh Crowder ended the game with a two-run, walk-off homer in the fifth inning to give the Jaguars a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Starkville used four pitchers, walking nine batters against one of the best lineups in the state. 

Tice, Younger lead New Hope into playoffs

Routine equals success. Whether it means taking hundreds of groundballs or swinging several hundred more times in the batting cage, baseball players use repetition to perfect their technique. Philip Tice and Brent Younger grew up following those practices. In the field, Tice grew accustomed to the angles and throws he had to make from second base, while Younger learned how to range to both sides and how to play the variety of hops a shortstop sees every game. But Tice and Younger learned change is just as big a part of athletics as routine.

Lady Trojans glad Shirley didn't quit

Empress Shirley was tempted. Even though she had practiced and played softball for years, there was a voice inside Shirley’s head that told her it might be a good idea to quit the New Hope High School softball program. After all, Shirley would have more time to spend with some of her friends. She also would have more time to find a job or simply hang out and relax and enjoy her senior year. The Lady Trojans are glad Shirley didn’t give in to temptation.

Caledonia's Hackman has lofty goals

CALEDONIA — Jelisha Hackman has lofty goals this season. The Caledonia High School junior wants to crack 36 feet in the triple jump. She also wants to help the school’s 4x400-meter relay team advance to the Class 4A state meet next month. But Hackman’s biggest goal likely is breaking the one-minute barrier in the 400. ”I am going to do it before the year is over,” Hackman said. “I am going to get a 58.” Hackman nearly reached the first part of her goal at the District 4 meet at Kosciusko, winning the event with a time of 1 minute, 1 second. Hackman knows that time won’t be good enough if she wants to continue to advance, so she has her sights set on breaking one minute Saturday when Caledonia is scheduled to compete in the regional meet at Mississippi Valley State University. West Lowndes also will compete Saturday at Mississippi Valley State in the Class 2A, Region 2 meet.

Starkville baseball faces difficult matchup

STARKVILLE — Danny Carlisle has an interesting approach to the Starkville High School baseball team’s opening-round playoff series against Madison Central. The Jaguars (24-2) play host to the Yellow Jackets (14-7) at 7 tonight in the first game of the best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A series.

Hamilton baseball, softball open playoffs today

Lewis Earnest and Jason Cobb feel their teams are ready to make postseason runs. Those journeys will start a day earlier than expected when the Hamilton High School baseball and fast-pitch softball teams begin play today in the opening rounds of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A playoffs. The Hamilton baseball team (16-3) will play host to Broad Street in a doubleheader at 4 p.m., while the softball team (15-8) will play at 6 tonight at East Union.

South Lamar baseball will try to extend playoff ride

South Lamar High School baseball coach Lane Wright has seen his team peak at the right time of the season. South Lamar is just 11-17, but has advanced to the third round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class A playoffs by sweeping the first two rounds.

Evaluations begin with spring practice at Starkville

STARKVILLE — This time last year, Jamie Mitchell was leading one of the top football programs in the state.  But much like he’s shown with resurrection projects at South Tippah, Olive Branch and Itawamba Agricultural, diving into a new situation yields results.  He expects the same at Starkville High School— his latest project and coveted job from 10 years ago. 

Pickens Academy playing Edgewood for berth in finals

CARROLLTON, Ala. — The Pickens Academy baseball team put itself in a situation without many options early in the season. Three region losses left the Pirates in danger of missing out on their first goal of the season: Making the playoffs. “The losses rallied the team and we knew we had to win out,” junior pitcher Chase Davidson said. Faced with the prospect of seeing their season end too soon, the Pirates responded to help secure their postseason chances.

Jackets' Perkins will play in Florida

There are plenty of questions surrounding the status of Rashad Perkins. But Chipola College (Fla.) men’s basketball coach Jake Headrick is certain about one thing. The first-year Chipola coach confirmed Monday night that Perkins, The Commercial Dispatch Large Schools Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Mississippi’s Mr. Basketball, and Southern Mississippi signee will play for the junior college for the 2010-11 school year.

Caledonia's Comer takes first step toward state meet

CALEDONIA — Jessica Comer is gearing up for a challenge. The Caledonia High School junior plans to be ready.

Caledonia girls track team wins division title

KOSCIUSKO — The Caledonia High School girls track and field team won the Class 4A, Division 4, District 4 title Thursday at Kosciusko High School. Caledonia scored 164 points to beat Noxubee County (second, 118 points) and Amory (third, 113). Louisville was fourth with 42 points. Caledonia’s Jessica Comer won individual titles in the 800 (2 minutes, 29 seconds), 1,600 (5:41), and 3,200 meters (12:31). She also teamed with Brooke Lester, Isis Perkins, and Jelisha Hackman to win the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 4:31.

Winning state title helps Carter earn honor

STARKVILLE — Greg Carter thought being the only team in the state to end the season with a win would feel different after years of playoff disappointment. The euphoria from winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state title gave the Starkville High School boys basketball coach a myriad emotions. The victory lifted a burden from Carter’s shoulders and certified his tenure at the school with a tradition-setting run that finally provided the hardware to prove it.  But if returning to the court after failing to accomplish all you set out for is difficult, getting over the jubilation of being the best team in the state has proven just as laborious.

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