Sneak attack propels Central Academy softball team past Heritage

Beware the sneak attack.

The Central Academy fast-pitch softball team can’t pinpoint its origin.

The Lady Vikings never know when it’s going to come.

But when the sneak attack arrives, hits are sure to follow.

On Tuesday, scorekeeper/assistant coach Pam Dawkins provided the fuse and Corey Dawkins, Kellie Hailey, and Blake Rigdon helped light the fire that sparked the Lady Vikings’ sneak attack.

MSU’s Gray introduced to new way of setting

STARKVILLE — Dorey Gray thought she knew how to set a volleyball.

The Mississippi State senior didn’t think she was perfect, by any means, but after seven or eight years she believed she was proficient as a setter.

In less than a year, MSU first-year coach Jenny Hazelwood has introduced Gray to a new way of playing her position.

Aberdeen’s Love keeps improving

ABERDEEN — Jamerson Love knew something needed to be done.

The Aberdeen High School football team’s dream of a perfect season ended in week one at Columbus, but Love knew the season wasn’t over.

Still, the senior running back realized the Bulldogs needed someone to provide a spark to help get the team rolling again.

Lamar County gets better of South Lamar in rivalry

VERNON, Ala. — Lance Bobbitt, Carson Chiquito, and Marquis Plant are going to try to bring the mohawk back to Lamar County High School.

The seniors didn’t have much luck in the preseason convincing their teammates the hairdo was the way to go.

Things just might change after Friday night.

Plant caught two touchdown passes from Michael Bradford, Bobbitt rushed for another score, and Chiquito played a key role up front to help the Lamar County football team defeat South Lamar 61-20 in the season opener for both teams at George Bell Stadium.

Starkville Academy soccer team claims first win by beating Heritage

STARKVILLE — Records sometimes don’t tell the entire story.

Artie Cosby has been around sports long enough to know that.

Now his goal is to help the Starkville Academy girls soccer team put a few more victories on the left side of the ledger.

Haley Jenkins, Jessica Dennis, and Sallie Kate Richardson each scored two goals Saturday to help the Starkville Academy girls soccer team defeat Heritage Academy 8-0.

Schedule affords MSU women’s basketball team chance for great wins

The challenge has been set for the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.

Now coach Sharon Fanning-Otis wants the Lady Bulldogs to go from earning “good” wins to chalking up “great” ones.

The team’s 2009-10 schedule, which was released Friday morning, should afford MSU plenty of chances to earn the signatures victories that allow teams to secure postseason bids.

Caledonia, Hamilton QBs will be center of attention

HAMILTON — Brandon Bell admits he is still figuring everything out.

You can’t blame the Caledonia High School sophomore. He has had to move to a new position, he has had to adjust to a new coach and a new offense, and he had had to shoulder the expectations and the responsibility for being a team leader.

That’s a lot to digest, even for the most experienced player.

Tigers will make do without Sanders

MACON — Programs don’t win state championships with one player.

Standouts can play key roles, but the labors of one player will take a team only so far.

The Noxubee County High School football team intends to show people in the state of Mississippi it is more than one player.

Blanchard will start on defense for ICC

FULTON — Tevin Blanchard didn’t expect to wind up at Itawamba Community College.

As a standout on the Aberdeen High School football team last season, Blanchard entertained dreams of earning a scholarship to play major Division I college football.

Alabama volleyball team sets sight on return to NCAA Tournament

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama volleyball team hopes focusing on smaller goals and taking them slower helps it accomplish a larger goal this season.

A strong spring season and a competitive preseason has the Lady Crimson Tide ready to start the season against Saint Louis at 7 p.m. Friday in the SLU Active Ankle Challenge in St. Louis.

“I think every team know what it wants to do, and I think when you set smaller goals and you reach them you get more encouragement and more affirmation,” senior right-side hitter Liz Salstrand said.

New Hope makes strides at plate to beat Eupora

A program develops constants in winning 11 state titles.

Defense has been one of the benchmarks for the New Hope High School slow-pitch softball team.

But as stingy as the Lady Trojans have been defensively, their hitting has adapted to the strengths of the players from title to title.

Some years New Hope has relied on its power hitters to fuel the offense. In other seasons — like in 2008 — it has blended line drive hitters with speed to deliver a consistent attack.

Tigers’ Sanders will miss time

The Noxubee County High School football team stayed relatively healthy last season in its run to the Class 4A state title.

Things will be a little tougher this season in the Tigers’ quest to repeat.

Noxubee County High coach M.C Miller said Monday that senior wide receiver/quarterback/free safety Vincent Sanders will be out an undetermined length of time with a fractured jaw.

Pirates’ Acker does it all in opener

CARROLTON, Ala. — Jacob Acker doesn’t have a preference.

He doesn’t even have to have the ball in his hands.

When you’re running an offense that is as much fun as the spread option, the points just have a way of piling up on the scoreboard.

It also helps to have a versatile array of players.

Shannon uses late score to beat West Point

SHANNON — Someone had to make one more play.

Michael Carr appeared to have what the West Point High School football team needed.

But Keon McGaughy snatched what Carr couldn’t hold to give Shannon High exactly what it wanted.

McGaughy caught a ball that tipped off Carr’s hands for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining to lift Shannon to a 27-20 victory in the season opener for both teams.

Season will be unique for Ole Miss soccer team

OXFORD — Each season brings a new sense of energy for Steve Holeman.

This season, though, will be unique for the University of Mississippi women’s soccer coach.

The Lady Rebels will rely on the experience of 11 returning players, but they also will count on contributions from 15 freshmen who are part of a class of 18 newcomers.

The group of newcomers is the largest since Holeman was hired as the program’s first and only coach in 1994.

Caledonia volleyball team wins as it continues to improve

CALEDONIA — Shaina Cruse feels like she is part of history.

With each practice and match she plays, the senior setter grows a little more comfortable with her Caledonia High School volleyball teammates.

Cruse, who also plays goalkeeper on the school’s girls soccer team, has been playing volleyball for only two years, but she dives on the floor to keep loose balls alive with the same hustle she throws her body at soccer balls.

To watch Cruse play volleyball, you wouldn’t know she is a newcomer to the sport.

Coaches don’t believe in scheduling easy openers

So much for scheduling a cream puff in your season opener.

Columbus High School’s Bubba Davis, West Point High’s Chris Chambless, and Noxubee County’s M.C. Miller all have high hopes for their football teams this season.

They agree there is no better way to put those hopes to the test than to schedule a difficult opponent in the first game of the season.

Each coach will get to do that tonight when Columbus plays host to Aberdeen, West Point travels to Shannon, and Noxubee County plays host to Starkville.

Local athletes will compete in USA Triathlon Age Group Championships

The duathlon last Saturday at Lake Lowndes State Park was just a warmup for Brad Atkins.

The feature presentation will take place Saturday morning when Atkins, Delynn Burkhalter, Alex Woodard, and Randy McCalip participate in the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The event will bring together the nation’s top age-group triathletes from ages 18 to 80 and over.

Alabama women’s soccer takes step toward consistency

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — When you’re building a program, consistency often is the first ingredient to ensuring success.

University of Alabama women’s soccer coach Todd Bramble hopes the Crimson Tide took a step toward establishing that foundation last season.

Immanuel girls soccer team looks to return to playoffs with young team

STEENS — Just about everything will be new for the Immanuel Christian girls soccer program in 2009.

The hope for this season is that all of the new players who have joined the program will help the Lady Rams make a return trip to the playoffs.

Fifth-year coach Ray Campbell and the Lady Rams will kick off the season at 4 p.m. today when they play host to Indianola.