Articles by Adam Minichino
Hamilton drops series opener
PEARL — For three and a half innings Tuesday, the Hamilton High School baseball team looked like a squad that was going to defy the odds.
Not only did the Lions put the controversy with Bruce High School behind them, but they also used a strong start by Dylan Earnest to quiet the Richton High School bats and take an early two-run lead.
But one of the most unusual sequences in recent state title series history helped the Rebels tie the game and changed the momentum to put the Lions’ season in jeopardy.
Hamilton, Bruce saga in quagmire
You have to admire the tenacity of the fans, parents and supporters of the Bruce High School baseball team.
If the coaching staff or athletic administrators had exhibited similar diligence in pursuing a clarification of a rule neither the Bruce nor the Hamilton High School baseball teams would be in this quagmire.
The situation involving the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s ruling to withdraw Bruce from the Class 2A state championship series due to a violation of a pitching restriction took another turn Friday when a motion was filed in Hinds County Chancery Court to get the team reinstated.
Malone rewarded for role at West Lowndes
It’s all in the attitude for Demetrius Malone.
The West Lowndes High School senior didn’t like the prospect of having to settle for his team’s first loss of the season, especially in a game he thought it should have won.
Instead of accepting defeat, Malone went to West Lowndes coach Herman Peters and told his coach he was going to do something about it.
Hoskins lets her play do her talking for her
STARKVILLE — Jameika Hoskins admits she doesn’t talk much.
While other players slap teammates on the back and create a lot of noise on the court, Hoskins takes a stealthier approach.
The Aberdeen High School senior guard/forward always has preferred to let her playing do the talking.
This season, Hoskins continued to become more of a vocal presence and a leader on the court. Those qualities helped her lead the team in scoring (21.7 points per game) and to a 24-3 record.
Gunter transfers to East Mississippi CC
New starts happen all of the time in college athletics.
Jamie Gunter knew after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee and having to sit out her freshman season at the University of Louisiana Lafayette that change might be the best thing for her.
But the former Heritage Academy and Columbus High School standout listened to the advice of her father and decided to give ULL another chance.
MHSAA rules against Bruce, will send Hamilton to 2A title series
Fate has smiled on the Hamilton High School baseball team.
Now coach Lewis Earnest hopes the Lions can smile back.
Those were the some of the words Earnest told his players Wednesday after he learned the Mississippi High School Activities Association Executive Committee upheld the ruling of Executive Director Dr. Ennis Proctor to withdraw the Bruce High baseball team from championship play due to a violation of the 17 inning per calendar week MHSAA pitching rule.
Columbus High’s Oliver signs with Ole Miss
Any drama Wednesday morning ended the moment Danté Oliver entered the Columbus High School library.
The Falcons’ track and field standout was supposed to have entertained last-minute recruiting inquiries Tuesday night from Mississippi State.
Vigilance is crucial in all situations
Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
If you have been stopped by a police officer and asked, “Do you know how fast you were going?”, you likely discovered that fact after being penalized for going a little too quickly.
Columbus players finalize college plans
Patience is crucial in the recruiting game.
Sometimes it takes student-athletes weeks, if not months, to decide which school is the best fit academically and athletically.
Other times, players have to wait until coaches sort out their classes and find out the plans of other recruits so they can take their next step.
Josh Tentoni, Tyji Hawkins and Aurby Burdine played the waiting game and came out winners, finalizing their college plans Tuesday night at the Columbus High School Baseball Banquet.
Hamilton awaits MHSAA ruling
The Hamilton and Bruce high school baseball teams were still waiting this morning for a decision from the Mississippi High School Activities Association to determine which team will get a chance to play for a state title.
The MHSAA’s executive committee was expected to hear an appeal by Bruce this morning in regard to an apparent rules violation associated with the number of innings a pitcher is allowed to throw in one week.
The issue involves Bruce’s Caleb Hanley pitching more than the mandated 17 innings in a week per the 2009-10 MHSAA handbook.
Hamilton, Bruce expect ruling Wednesday
The Hamilton and Bruce high school baseball teams are still waiting on a decision from the Mississippi High School Activities Association to determine which team will get a chance to play for a state title.
The MHSAA’s executive committee will hear an appeal by Bruce High on Wednesday in regard to an apparent rules violation associated with the number of innings a pitcher is allowed to throw in one week.
Columbus’ Oliver, Caledonia’s Hackman win state titles
The heat didn’t bother Danté Oliver and Jelisha Hackman.
Forced to return Monday to compete in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A and 6A meets in sweltering conditions, Oliver and Hackman made the most of their opportunities.
Columbus High’s Jethroe will get second chance
Second chances don’t come often enough in life.
So when Deonata Jethroe tore the anterior cruciate and the medial collateral ligaments in his right knee, he thought his basketball career was “over.”
Noxubee County capitalizes on New Hope mistakes
Turnovers are devastating in any season.
A good team makes you pay for them in the spring, too.
Buoyed by a strong running attack, the Noxubee County High School football team capitalized on four turnovers to beat New Hope 28-20 in the spring finale for both teams.
The result helped Tyrone Shorter, who was officially approved Monday to replace M.C. Miller as the program’s new coach, begin his tenure in style against a Class 5A team that has plenty of returning talent from last season when it advanced to the North Half State title game.
Caledonia’s Guess exceeds goal throwing the discus
CALEDONIA — Sarah Guess thought her track and field season would be finished by now.
Before the start of her sophomore campaign at Caledonia High School, Guess targeted reaching the Class 4A North Half State meet.
In her second year throwing the discus, she figured that would be an attainable goal.
Guess’ performance Saturday at the North Half State meet at Pontotoc forced her to re-assess her goals.
Teams will put spring’s hard work on display
Michael Bradley doesn’t want past success to go to his players’ heads.
The New Hope High School football team has lost to the eventual state champion (Noxubee County in Class 4A in 2008, West Point in Class 5A in ’09) the past two seasons.
Heritage makes coaching changes
Bruce Branch can’t wait to get started.
The 2010 baseball season recently ended for Heritage Academy, but Branch, who was hired as the school’s new head coach Tuesday, is already rearing to go.
“I am excited for the opportunity,” Branch said. “I am kind of overwhelmed. I am trying to take it all in.”
Boykin reunited with Miller
David Boykin will coach in Class 4A, Region 4, District 4 this season.
The only change is he will do his work at a different school.
On Tuesday, the Louisville School District approved the hiring of Boykin as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Louisville High School football team.
Noxubee County promotes Shorter to head coach
Tyrone Shorter didn’t intend to stay in Noxubee County.
Fresh off a training camp stint with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers and a year with the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos, Shorter moved back to Macon to be closer to his mother, who had just remarried.
Shorter’s step father knew a man — M.C. Miller — who changed those plans.
Miller, the coach of the Noxubee County High School football team, remembered Shorter from his playing days at Port Gibson High School, and it didn’t take him long to offer him a job as an assistant coach on his staff.
