Columbus basketball players sign scholarships

Sammy Smith looks back and smiles when he thinks of where Michael Hall, Akeem Toppin and Bobby Wrench were as freshmen.

The ninth-graders didn’t have a lot of success on the basketball court, but Smith saw the potential in each young man.

“They grew, they grew, the grew and they made steps,” Smith said. “The group before them, Philip (Morris) and Josh (Carothers, East Central Community College), made a difference in their lives and made them push a little harder. That made myself and the staff feel real good. I think the community will be pleased with how we have the boys going on (to college) and, hopefully, they will be successful in life and with what they’re going to do.”

All three players recently realized opportunities to have basketball be a part of the next steps in their lives. Hall will continue his athletic career at Southwest Mississippi C.C., while Toppin and Wrench will be teammates at Copiah-Lincoln C.C.

Heritage Academy’s Braddock, Pickens Academy players honored

Four local high school baseball players were recently recognized for their accomplishments and earned spots on their state’s All-State teams.

New Hope’s Petty hopes to end career with championships

The best is yet to come for Kelli Petty.

The New Hope High School track and field standout took the next to last step in her prep career in style Saturday, winning three individual events at the Class 5A North Half State meet.

WNBA’s Silver Stars cut former Lady Bulldog Rack

The latest group of Mississippi State women’s basketball players to reach the WNBA is down to one.

The San Antonio Silver Stars released former MSU standout Alexis Rack and forward Krystal Vaughn on Monday.

Chism gets better of his alma mater

Two weeks ago, Chris Chism told his players his fourth season would be his last as the coach of the Hernando High School baseball team.

The Tigers are doing everything they can to make Chism’s final run a memorable one.

Cody Camp and David Hinkle had RBI singles in the top of the seventh inning to help Hernando beat New Hope 5-3 in Game 2 and sweep its best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A playoff series.

New Hope softball team eliminated from playoffs

Five innings wasn’t enough for Olivia Ladner.

While some pitchers would have taken the opportunity to rest after a six-run inning created an eight-run deficit for her team, Ladner preferred to finish what she started.

That final deficit in Game 2 changed only slightly, which allowed the New Hope High School fast-pitch softball team to force a third game 20 minutes later.

The break apparently worked wonders for Ladner.

EMCC suspends soccer programs

Junior Noel was stunned.

For the past two seasons, Noel worked to make the East Mississippi Community College men’s and women’s soccer programs respectable.

The results weren’t eye-popping, but Noel and those in the area who follow soccer believe EMCC was improving.

That progress was put on hold earlier this week when the EMCC Board of Trustees voted to suspend the men’s and women’s soccer programs for one season.

Fumo caught off guard by EMCC decision

If Junior Noel was stunned to learn the East Mississippi Community College soccer programs he coached were going to be suspended, imagine the surprise of the freshmen on the teams when they heard the news.

Former Starkville High School forward Eduardo Fumo, who was a freshman on the EMCC men’s soccer team in the fall, said he first learned of the school’s decision to suspend the men’s and women’s soccer programs in a phone call from Brian Bennett, his former coach at Starkville High.

Suspending soccer programs at EMCC creates disappointment

The East Mississippi Community College Board of Trustees’ decision Monday to suspend the school’s men’s and women’s soccer programs has surprised and confused many coaches and followers of the teams.

The surprise is understandable given that EMCC coach Junior Noel, who coached the men’s team for the past three years and the women’s team the past two years, had no idea a move like that was going to be made until Tuesday morning, when he also was informed his contract would not be renewed.

Former MSU players vie for WNBA spots

It’s not a good time to be a rookie trying to earn a roster spot in the WNBA.

Former Mississippi State women’s basketball standout Armelie Lumanu has learned that fact, and former teammates Chanel Mokango and Alexis Rack hope they don’t suffer the same fate.

But Boris Lelchitski, the agent for all three players, said Mokango (with the Atlanta Dream) and Rack (with the San Antonio Silver Stars) are doing well and remain in competition for roster spots.

Seniors lead way for Hamilton baseball team

HAMILTON — Support comes in all varieties.

In baseball, teammates can back their pitchers with solid defense, timely hitting, and a selfless approach.

The Hamilton High School baseball team is fortunate because it has five seniors who provide that support in every facet of the game.

Left-handed pitcher Dylan Earnest and outfielder Kevin McCartney probably are the two of Hamilton’s most recognized players, but designated hitter Devin Hopper, shortstop Nathan Cockerham, and outfielder Cole Johnson have played integral roles in the Lions’ success this season.

New Hope baseball team begins series at Hernando

Survive and advance.

It sounds simple, but nothing is easy in high school athletics.

Even the most “outmanned” teams can give an opponent a test to remember.

Neshoba Central reminded the New Hope High School baseball team of that fact in the first round. The Rockets used stingy pitching and stout defense to stretch the Division 2, District 1 champions to three games before Blake Roberts’ complete-game effort pushed the Trojans to the second round.

Ten runs not enough for Hamilton softball team

EUPORA — Ten runs usually is enough for any fast-pitch softball team to win comfortably.

The way the Hamilton High School Lady Lions have been playing, scoring double-digit runs virtually guarantees a victory.

“If you would have told me we were going to score 10 runs I would have thought we would have won,” Hamilton coach Jason Cobb said.

But funny things happen at playoff time.

Montgomery not retained as EMCC baseball coach

Tony Montgomery loves East Mississippi Community College.

The former New Hope High School baseball standout played the sport at EMCC, spent eight years as an assistant baseball coach to head coach Bill Baldner, and the past four seasons as the Lions’ head baseball coach.

Montgomery doesn’t know why, but he said there is something about Scooba he enjoys.

Holley provides spark, leadership for New Hope

Anna Holley does everything at game speed.

Whether she’s hustling to second base to take infield grounders or she’s catching her pitcher and popping the ball back to the circle, Holley helps set the tone for the New Hope High School fast-pitch softball team.

Seniors lead way for Hamilton softball

HAMILTON — The pieces usually come together at this time of the season for the Hamilton High School fast-pitch softball team.

Led by seniors Katie Beth Dahlem, Lyndsey Williams, Shelby Savage, and Chauncia Willis, the Lady Lions are focused on adding another title to the slow-pitch crown they won in the fall.

Noxubee County boys track savors regional title

Reclassification meant opportunity for the Noxubee County High School boys track and field team.

Coach Tyrone Shorter knew the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s decision to add a sixth classification and the subsequent moves of Oxford and Pearl high schools from Class 4A to Class 5A would favor his program.

New Hope hosts Neshoba Central in series showdown

Lee Boyd hopes to see a little more fire from his team tonight.

The first-year New Hope High School baseball coach opened his team’s game against Neshoba Central on Saturday night by asking his players to get him five runs in the fifth inning.

Instead, the Trojans went scoreless in the first, had only six hits, and and scuffled through a 3-2 loss in game two of their best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A opening-round playoff series.

Victory Christian baseball will try to push on in playoffs

Brent Harris knew this season could be special for the Victory Christian Academy baseball team.

After watching many of the team’s younger players take their lumps, Harris watched as an assistant coach as those players slowly matured and gained confidence.

This season, in his first as the Eagles’ head coach, Harris thought things could come together provided the upperclassmen delivered solid leadership.

Roberts’ gem keys Trojans

Lee Boyd left the quick hook in the dugout this time — if only for another batter.

That’s about as much margin for error as Blake Roberts had remaining when Boyd sprinted to the mound for a discussion with his starting pitcher in the top of the second inning Monday night.