West Lowndes attempts to finish strong

The West Lowndes Amateur Athletic Union basketball program hopes it can finish the season as quickly as it started it.

Coming off a 15-0 start, the West Lowndes’ 17-and-under boys basketball team will join its other boys and girls age group teams at The King of Kings Summer Closeout, which begins this weekend in Memphis, Tenn.

Greene creates new Falcon logo unique to CHS

Rusty Greene has always enjoyed dabbling in the graphic arts.

When he attended Mississippi University for Women, he thought that area of study would be something he would do professionally for the rest of his life.

But Greene changed his mind just about when he was ready to receive his degree and decided to go back to school to become a teacher and a coach.

Nutt should say no thanks to Masoli

The University of Mississippi has the papers.

Is Houston Nutt thinking clearly enough to say no?

That question could be answered very soon, as the Ole Miss football coach decides what to do about former University of Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.

Central Academy will look to seniors to lead way

MACON — The names might be different, but the approach will stay the same.

That’s the message Sammy Lindsey and the rest of the Central Academy fast-pitch softball team want opponents to know this season.

Hamilton’s Dahlem, Earnest earn top awards

HAMILTON — Leaders do it all.

Dylan Earnest and Katie Beth Dahlem epitomized that concept this season for the Hamilton High School baseball and fast-pitch softball teams.

New set of expectations for Nutt, Ole Miss

HOOVER, Ala. — Expectations did their best to crush the University of Mississippi football team’s season in 2009.

Imagine coach Houston Nutt’s horror last year when he was asked if his team could have a successful season if it didn’t go to Atlanta, the site of the Southeastern Conference Championship game.

Different styles appear set to produce similar results

HOOVER, Ala. — It’s all about the swagger for Nick Saban and Dan Mullen.

The methods used at the University of Alabama and at Mississippi State to instill that mind-set are as different as the coaches who lead the young men.

Hallmark excited to return to New Hope High

Brent Hallmark has been a mainstay on the mound for the Cotton States Baseball League – North Division’s Tippah County Tribe all season.

But today’s starting assignment will be a little more special for Hallmark.

Hoops for Troops fundraiser Saturday at Caledonia High

Ernest Robinson knows the importance of teamwork.

As store manager at the Walmart in Columbus, Robinson realizes communication and coordination are two keys to helping any business or organization run smoothly.

Cotton States Baseball League coming to New Hope High

The Cotton States Baseball League is coming to Lowndes County.

The CSBL North Division, which is in its second year, will continue its effort to increase its fanbase when it will feature the Tippah County Tribe against the Golden Triangle Jets in a nine-inning game at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at New Hope High School’s Trojan Field.

Johnson forms College Sports Publishing

STARKVILLE — David Johnson is a realist.

He knows the economy isn’t in the greatest shape.

And as someone who has worked in magazines and in newspapers in the region, Johnson also knows the publishing business has seen its share of hard times.

But Johnson believes he has the right product and even better support to take on the challenge of giving Mississippi State, University of Mississippi, and University of Alabama sports fans what they need.

Plan in place to bring Cotton States games to the fans

The plan is in place.

Now Sam Creekmore, Frank Dodds, Clark Richey, and the rest of the Cotton States Baseball League North Division have to see where it will take them.

The CSBL’s decision “to bring the game to the fans” continues this weekend when the collegiate summer wooden bat league will feature the Tippah County Tribe and the Golden Triangle Jets in a nine-inning game at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Trojan Field at New Hope High School.

The game is one of three the league is playing away from its home site in New Albany in an attempt to help it grow.

West Point football team to play in showdown in Florida

Make your plans now, the West Point High School football team is gearing up for a road trip.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association defending Class 5A state champion Green Wave will take on Mainland (Fla.) at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 in Daytona Beach, Fla., to kick off the Gridiron Challenge at Daytona Municipal Stadium.

Wilson eagerly returns to head coaching ranks at Caledonia

The timing was right, so John Wilson decided to adjust and flow.

As a result, the Caledonia High School baseball program has a new head baseball coach.

On Friday, the Lowndes County School Board approved Wilson, a former head baseball coach at Columbus High School and an assistant baseball coach at Caledonia, to be Caledonia High’s next baseball coach.

Patterson’s dismissal surprises prep coaches

Two coaches who worked with Patrick Patterson at Noxubee County High School said Wednesday they were surprised to learn Patterson had been dismissed from the University of Mississippi football team.

Time to make decision, move on

“The Decision” will come today.

That’s what ESPN is calling the latest made-for-TV event. We’ll have to see if Jay-Z will provide the music that will accompany LeBron James’ announcement of which NBA team he will play for in the 2010-11 season.

Ole Miss dismisses Patterson

Patrick Patterson’s football career at the University of Mississippi apparently is over.

Rivals, Scout, and RebelGrove.com reported Tuesday night that the former Noxubee County High School standout has been dismissed from the program.

The Northeast Daily Journal in Tupelo reported this morning on its website that Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt had confirmed the move and that more information would be released soon.

Mansfield leaves Caledonia

Morgan Mansfield came to Lowndes County with the hope of building programs.

After two years of moving in the right direction, Mansfield couldn’t pass up what he believes is a better opportunity to do the same kind of work.

Last week, Mansfield resigned as boys soccer coach at Caledonia High School to take the same position at Center Hill High School.

New Hope displays resilency

The bigger-than-life portraits are gone from behind home plate, but the tradition remains.

History — in the form of signs on the outfield wall — greets visitors once they enter Trojan Field. Beginning from the left-field corner and stretching around the field to the right-field corner, the yellow signs chart the success and the records of past New Hope teams.

Members of the 2011 New Hope High School team hope one day to add to that tradition.

Columbus battery displays potential

The rapport between a pitcher and his catcher is the most important relationship in baseball.

The pitcher has to trust his partner behind the plate not only to call the right pitch, but he also has to believe his teammate behind the mask will stop whatever he throws.

A catcher’s job can be thankless. It requires toiling in the dirt and taking a beating from foul tips and pitches that fall just a little short of their intended mark.