New Hope displays elements for success

CALEDONIA — Fielding, hitting, and pitching are staples of any team’s success.

But a fourth ingredient — the ability to mold individual talents for the greater good — often is the determining factor when it comes time to win championships.

The New Hope High School baseball team showed again Saturday why it just might have all four elements to make a title run.

Blake Roberts, Jake Smith, and Gabe Franks combined on a one-hitter, and Davis Lee went 3-for-4 to lead New Hope to a 7-2 victory against Caledonia.

New Hope beats Cleveland, Columbus by hitting ball

Tabitha Beard wants to see more of a yes-yes-yes attitude.

If the New Hope High School fast-pitch softball coach gets her wish, there’s no reason why the Lady Trojans can’t challenge for a state title.

But New Hope is going to have to hit more like it did Saturday to realize that goal.

Coming off a one-run loss to Kosciusko on Friday in which it had only five hits, New Hope more than doubled that number in a 9-2 victory against Cleveland and nearly did in a 10-1 victory against Columbus Saturday in the final two varsity games of the New Hope Tournament at Lady Trojan Field.

Dawkins, Lindsey sign with EMCC

MACON — Alex Dawkins and Lillian Lindsey have been together this long, so they figured it was only natural to want to extend their careers together for another two years.

From Tee Ball to fast-pitch softball to slow-pitch softball, the Central Academy seniors have spent nearly their entire careers together on the same teams.

On Thursday, Dawkins and Lindsey finalized the next step of their journeys when they signed scholarships to play softball at East Mississippi Community College.

West Point bids to extend win streak

The West Point High School baseball team has shown in the last week it knows how to respond from a loss.

Thanks to some steady pitching and more consistent play on defense, the Green Wave have rebounded from a disappointing loss to East Webster to win their last four games in a row.

West Point will try to make it five straight at 7 tonight when it plays host to New Hope in a Class 5A, Division 2, District 1 game.

Belief helps CHS powerlifting make gains

Seeing is believing.

Six hundred or 700 pounds in an individual event and 1,500 pounds combined in three disciplines can be pretty imposing when you have never lifted that much weight.

But Rickey Knox said confidence has helped the Columbus High School powerlifting team soar past weights some never imagined the Falcons could reach.

McCollum learns lesson, gets chance at EMCC

CALEDONIA — The lesson was devastating.

Like any other senior, Rickey McCollum Jr. wanted to make a mark in his final year in high school.

Starkville’s Bonner signs with Itawamba CC

STARKVILLE — Some players are scorers.

Others can control a game cleaning the backboards or running the point.

While Shay Bonner possesses all of those skills, her ability to do a little more — something many aren’t willing to do — helped her realize a goal.

The Starkville High School senior girls basketball player’s penchant for diving on the floor for loose balls and getting into the passing lanes for steals are important elements to her game. Those qualities helped put Bonner in position Tuesday morning to sign a national letter of intent to play basketball at Itawamba Community College.

Heading in right direction, Brandon picks Shelton State

Johnathan Brandon knew he had to make a change.

In middle school and as a freshman in high school, Brandon’s attitude and behavior cost him a lot of chances, including numerous opportunities to play basketball.

But Brandon realized he was missing out, so he left behind the “hard-headed” young man he once was and matured into the upperclassman who became a team leader.

New Hope’s Walters will play basketball at EMCC

Raymond Walters wanted to keep his options open.

As a football and a basketball standout at New Hope High School, Walters hoped to attract interest from coaches of both sports and then decide which path he wanted to take.

Hamilton’s Earnest adds another gem

HAMILTON — Perfection rarely strikes twice.

But throwing a perfect game is a little easier when you have the mind-set of a Bulldog.

Hamilton’s McCartney signs with EMCC

HAMILTON – Tony Montgomery hoped, and then hoped some more.

The East Mississippi Community College baseball coach knows the importance of defense up the middle when you’re building a program, so the prospect of adding a speedy outfielder like Kevin McCartney to his program was exciting.

West Point set for night of champions with South Panola

All of the details still need to be sorted out, but mark May 14 as a night of champions.

On that evening, Class 5A champion West Point High School will take on Class 6A state champion South Panola at a site to be determined.

Louisville High School also could be involved in what would become a jamboree, but the recent decision of LHS football coach and athletic director Brad Peterson to take the head football coaching position at Brandon has left Louisville’s involvement in the event in question.

Hairston signs with Coahoma CC

A dream came true for Stefan Hairston on Friday.

Ever since he was a freshman at Columbus High School, Hairston hoped he would mature and progress to realize a chance to play baseball in college.

A solid start to his senior season helped Hairston earn an opportunity to play at Coahoma Community College, and he capitalized on it by signing a national letter of intent to attend the two-year school in Clarksdale.

Green Wave responds to Wyers

A little more than a week ago, West Point High School baseball coach Buddy Wyers laid it on the line for his players.

Following an 11-4 district loss to New Hope, Wyers said he knew the Green Wave was a good baseball team and that his players needed to believe in themselves.

If they did, Wyers said, the results would come.

MSU players selected in WNBA draft

Dreams came true Thursday for three Mississippi State women’s basketball players and the University of Mississippi’s Bianca Thomas.

Now Armelie Lumanu, Chanel Mokango and Alexis Rack, of Mississippi State, and Thomas are faced with the hard part: Making the most of their opportunities.

Things likely will be a little easier for Mokango and Thomas, who were selected with the No. 9 and the No. 12 picks in the WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream and Los Angeles Sparks, respectively.

Draft day for MSU women

STARKVILLE — Chanel Mokango is ready for anything today.

The only problem is the Mississippi State senior doesn’t know when it will happen.

Ole Miss’ Thomas confident about draft chances

Bianca Thomas believes in herself.

You can hear it in her voice.

More importantly, the University of Mississippi senior makes you believe on the court.

WNBA coaches/GMs like what they see from MSU, Ole Miss

None of the four WNBA coaches and/or general managers could pinpoint where Mississippi State seniors Armelie Lumanu, Chanel Mokango, and Alexis Rack and University of Mississippi senior Bianca Thomas will be picked today in the annual WNBA draft.

But all four individuals agreed all four will be drafted, likely in the first two rounds of the three-round event.

New Hope baseball team loses momentum in loss to Saltillo

Uncle Mo’ is someone all teams love to have on their side.

When you’re going good, like holding the opponent scoreless through the first five innings, the push you get from momentum can help you make things look easy.

But as soon as you lose that wave, performing even the easiest tasks can become the most difficult things imaginable.

The New Hope High School baseball team experienced both ends of the spectrum Tuesday night. Unfortunately for the Trojans, they lost the momentum, regained it, and then lost it again in a 10-8 loss to Saltillo in a Class 5A Division 2, District 1 game at Trojan Field.

New Hope blanks West Point in softball

The New Hope High School fast-pitch softball team is ready.

After an unusually long road trip due in part to weather-related problems to start the season, the Lady Trojans finally returned home Tuesday, and did so in style.

Lauren Holifield had three hits, including two triples, to lead a 10-hit attack in New Hope’s 15-0 victory against West Point in a Class 5A, Division 3, District 1 victory. The game was called in the bottom of the third inning due to the mercy rule.