Three Academy standouts win state titles

Richard Christopher didn’t want to relive history.

A year after a shoulder injury helped prevent him from winning a state title, the Heritage Academy senior realized a goal Saturday when he won the AAA shot put title at the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Overall State Championship at Mississippi College.

Noxubee County expected to promote Shorter

M.C Miller believes the Noxubee County High School football program has its man.

Tonight, that man, Tyrone Shorter, is expected to take Miller’s place and become the head football coach at Noxubee County.

Shorter’s hiring is expected to be approved at the Noxubee County School District School Board meeting.

Shorter worked the past 12 years as an assistant coach to Miller, who left Noxubee County to accept the head football coaching job at Harrison Central. He reconsidered that decision last month and was hired as the head football coach at Louisville High School.

New Hope unable to sweep Neshoba Central

PHILADELPHIA — The Neshoba Central High School baseball program welcomed Lee Boyd back home Saturday night.

The Rockets enjoyed Boyd’s stay so much they’ll make a return trip to Lowndes County to see him again Monday.

Robert Greer pitched a complete-game six-hitter and Neshoba Central capitalized on a two-run error for a 3-2 victory in game two of its best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A opening-round playoff series.

MSU women add pieces to puzzle

The pieces are finally assembled.

Now Sharon Fanning-Otis and the Mississippi State women’s basketball coaching staff have some time to formulate a plan for the new pieces to the 2010-11 puzzle.

The Lady Bulldogs finalized their recruiting class Friday by announcing the signing of 6-foot forward Elyseia Dunn of Jefferson College (Mo.). Dunn is the fifth junior college player to join the program, and the ninth member of the 2010 signing class. She joins Jefferson College (Mo.) teammates Porsha Porter and Ashley Brown, whose signings were announced earlier this week.

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.

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 4×400-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.

Harris expected to land at UTEP

Dave Telep has fond memories of Rashanti Harris.

In December 2007, Telep, the national recruiting director for Scout.com, watched as Harris, then a senior at New Hope High School, held his own with some of the nation’s top post players at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

Bass clubs will compete for state title in Columbus

Mickey Aldridge might only have time to be considered a “weekend fisherman,” but that doesn’t mean he and his peers won’t be competitive this weekend.

Aldridge and the rest of the Starkville Bass Club will join fishermen from Columbus, West Point, Aberdeen, Monroe County, and the rest of the state at the Mississippi TBF State Championship Bass Tournament.

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.

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.

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.

Season approaches for Shockwave Aquatics swim team

Shockwave Aquatics swim coach Robert Gonzalez couldn’t have asked for much more.

After his swimmers delivered 83 to 84 percent best times at the Mississippi Swimming, Inc. Short Course State Championships in February, Gonzalez wasn’t sure what would come next.

But with the start of the summer season quickly approaching, Gonzalez believes his team’s runner-up performance to the Mississippi Makos will carry over. He also hopes his team’s efforts, which included three state records and nine competitors who scored 108 or more points, will help attract new members. (The team’s efforts to increase its numbers are highlighted in the accompanying press release.)

Former New Hope standout to be honored by Mississippi College

Tony Eddins has been blessed.

Born and raised in Columbus, Eddins had the good fortune to be loved by his biological parents and his stepfather and stepmother. He used the positive examples set by his parents to have a successful sports career at New Hope High School, where he excelled at football, basketball, and track and field.

West Point’s Robinson signs to play softball at EMCC

WEST POINT — Brook Robinson’s college plans didn’t initially include softball.

Instead, the West Point High School senior intended to concentrate on her interest in art in hopes of possibly becoming a graphic designer or illustrator.

Lee, Smith deliver in middle of lineup for New Hope

The power of protection is fueling the New Hope High School baseball team.

At the heart of the engine, seniors Davis Lee and Jake Smith are doing all they can to help make sure the Trojans realize their goal of winning a state title this season.

Columbus High’s Verner wins state title

Justin Verner had “it” last year.

The only problem was he didn’t know how to use his talents in the high school powerlifting world of dead lifts, bench presses, and squats.

But the Columbus High School sophomore certainly gets it now, and his reward Saturday was a state title.

MSU women celebrate season at banquet

Work already has started to build on the best season in Mississippi State women’s basketball history.

But the Lady Bulldogs took Monday to celebrate as a group for perhaps one final time at their season-ending banquet at the Hunter Henry Center.