Columbus ready to play: Presidents Cups begins today

“Massive.”

In 25 years working in parks and recreation, Roger Short has been a part of his share of large undertakings. If you have ever driven by Propst Park in the summer and seen the softball and baseball tournaments that the city of Columbus has hosted over the years, you have an inkling of the planning and organization it takes to put on an event with tens of teams from out of town.

Columbus wants to put on good show

Tom Velek wants to put on a good show.

As tournament director for the Mississippi Soccer Association’s President’s Cup, Velek has spent much of the past week making sure all of the details have been taken care of for Columbus’ first opportunity to play host to what he called “Mississippi’s biggest soccer party.”

New Hope stands two wins away from first-ever repeat championship

The New Hope High School baseball team is back in a familiar position.

Wofford ready for CrossFit regional competition

Justin Wofford is an example of how channel surfing can promote a healthy lifestyle.

Prep Player of Week: Stafford helps carry New Hope back to state championship series

Talk about terrible timing.

Good fortunate brings Handa Cup to Golden Triangle

WEST POINT — If George Bryan didn’t pick up the phone, Jane Blalock might never have found a location for the 2014 ISPS Handa Cup.

Sophomores have become bigger leaders as seniors for Hamilton

HAMILTON — Sophomores aren’t supposed to be leaders.

But Alison Atkins, Taylor Hyland, Cheyenne Logan, Raimi Bryan, and Jordyn Jackson responded when pressed into service in 2012 for the Hamilton High School fast-pitch softball team. The program was in transition. Coming off a 2011 season in which it failed to advance to the playoffs, Hamilton also had to adjust to a new coach, Bryan Loague, who took over for Jason Cobb.

Noxubee County’s Barnett grabs state championship in discus

MACON — It’s a good thing Qendarrion Barnett isn’t superstitious.

Hamilton High’s Heard relishes state championship

HAMILTON — So much for needing blocks to win a state title in the sprints.

Some of world’s best will return to Old Waverly

WEST POINT — Chris Jester admits the Handa Cup initially was “foreign” to him.

Jester, the PGA Director of Golf for Old Waverly Golf Club, knew all too well about the success of the 54th U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship in 1999 at Old Waverly, but he wasn’t well versed about the history of the Handa Cup.

Neshoba Central powers past New Hope to reach state title series

PHILADELPHIA — Leadoff hitters are meant to get things going.

Hailey Lunderman took that part of her job description to heart Monday afternoon.

Coming off a three-hit effort in a Game 1 victory against New Hope, the junior shortstop set the tone with a ringing triple off D.J. Sanders in the bottom of the first inning. Three batters later, Lunderman scored on a sun-aided double by Kayla Robertson as part of a four-run first that helped propel the Neshoba Central High School fast-pitch softball team to a 9-2 victory against New Hope in Game 2 of the best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A North State title series.

Victory Christian baseball team wins title

Brent Harris had a feeling about the 2014 Victory Christian Academy baseball team.

In seven years as the squad’s coach, Harris has seen plenty of talented players come through the program, but he quickly recognized something was special about this season’s group. That’s why Harris wanted to be honest with his players in an effort to help bring the best of out of all of them.

Neshoba Central beats New Hope to inch closer to title series

Tabitha Beard knew what to expect from seventh-grader Aspen Wesley.

The New Hope High School fast-pitch softball coach compiled enough scouting reports on Neshoba Central’s seventh-grade right-handed pitcher to formulate a game plan predicated on her hitters being aggressive early in the count and not swinging at any of Wesley’s “junk.”

New Hope’s Mattix focused on winning finales

Mercedes Mattix has passed possibly the biggest remaining hurdle in her high school career.

For some reason, the New Hope High School senior has had difficulty in her career at North State meets. The latest one, which was Saturday in Oxford, was no different. You only have to ask Mattix about her times and a dissatisfied look covers her face.

New Hope’s Hollis celebrates decision to go to Mobile

The passage of time can go two ways when you are trying to attract attention to land an opportunity to play a sport in college.

As college coaches sort through prospects and evaluate players, the process can be tedious, especially after an initial visit or a first tryout. But once coaches determine which players they want and the student-athletes decide if a school is the right fit, the process can pick up steam and be completed in a matter of hours.

Blevins, Braddock overcome injuries to spark New Hope

An injury can’t slow a softball brain.

In the case of Taylor Blevins, her brain is itching to tell her legs to go. For the longest time, though, torn ligaments in her left thumb prevented the New Hope High School senior from playing a key role on the school’s fast-pitch softball team. After seeing significant minutes in the girls basketball team’s run to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state semifinals, Blevins’ injury forced her to miss most of her final high school fast-pitch season.

Young players mean bright future for New Hope

Mackenzie Harvey understands what it is like to be called a “baby.”

The term is one New Hope High School softball coach Tabitha Beard uses to describe the younger players who have come up through the slow- and fast-pitch programs and have grown into young ladies under her watch. It is a special word because Beard once was one of those “babies” for longtime New Hope softball coach Cary Shepherd.

Columbus baseball has plenty of contributors

Columbus High School baseball coach Jeffrey Cook knew this season could be special.

With senior pitchers Trace Lee and Hunter Mullis and veteran standouts like Chris McCullough, Gevonta Webb, and Greg Sykes, Cook felt the Falcons would have the potential to make their fourth-straight playoff appearance.

New Hope assembling another championship puzzle

In most cases, championship puzzles take years to assemble.

In addition to needing quality feeder programs to help their programs reload, coaches have to find the right blend of personalities and skills to make their teams click.

Columbus High’s Vernon will play golf at Mississippi College

Konrad Vernon has harbored dreams of playing golf in college for a long time.

But the Columbus High School senior has his priorities in line and understands his academics come first, which is why Mississippi College appeared to be a great fit for him. Not only was the school in Clinton relatively close to home, it also gave him a chance to pursue a career in the medical field, possibly the dental program.