Herring, Tice plan meeting in support of Hester

Chris Herring and Kenny Tice never imagined they would have to be spokespeople.

But the former New Hope High School baseball player and NHHS parent believe it is time to speak out.

After remaining quiet throughout the season and watching momentum build against New Hope High baseball coach Stacy Hester, Herring and Tice said Saturday they believe people in the community are on a “personal vendetta” and “crusade” to remove Hester as the school’s coach.

Coaches defend Hester’s coaching tactics

Billy Ray Lee knows there is a fine line in coaching.

In more than 30 years as a coach, Lee has learned some players respond to one style of coaching while others need to be motivated another way.

Lee has seen that dynamic play out in his two years with the New Hope High School baseball program.

In that time, Lee has seen New Hope High coach Stacy Hester is a lot like him.

Vaqughan resigns as New Hope’s girls basketball coach

New Hope High School will have a new girls basketball coach for the 2009-10 school year.

Tim Vaughan resigned for personal reasons Tuesday as coach at his alma mater to be an assistant girls basketball coach for Yvonne Hairston at Columbus High School.

Vaughan, who led the Lady Trojans to a 31-18 record the past two seasons, said Saturday he hasn’t signed a contract to make the move official, but that he expects to be a full-time social studies teacher in the fall at Columbus High.

New Hope coach fears for job

Stacy Hester is confused.

For 18 years as New Hope High School baseball coach, Hester has tried to run a program based on respect, discipline, and accountability.

Garth wants to remain girls basketball coach at Aberdeen

Cloyd Garth said he hasn’t officially submitted his application, but that he would like to remain the Aberdeen High School girls basketball coach.

Aberdeen High School Athletic Director Hansel Gunn said earlier this week that the opening for the girls basketball job hasn’t been posted. He said he expects it to be listed in the next few weeks.

Still, word of the opening has been circulating on the Internet and through the high school coaching ranks.

New Hope baeball players in the mix at EMCC

Two more New Hope High School baseball players will have opportunities to play that sport in college.

Third baseman T.J. Upton and left fielder Josh Ferguson performed well enough Tuesday at a tryout at East Mississippi Community College that coach Tony Montgomery has invited them to join the program

Ferguson, who already has signed a football scholarship to attend EMCC, will try to work with the team at least twice a week in the fall to keep his baseball skills sharp.

Hancock hopes building continues at Heritage

Steve Hancock hopes the building process will continue this summer.

In his first season as baseball coach at Heritage Academy, Hancock guided the Patriots to a trip to the Mississippi Private School Association AAA playoffs and a 10-16 finish.

Although Heritage Academy lost to Hillcrest Christian in the first round, Hancock was pleased the program raised its competitiveness and its confidence.

Spring football finales please coaches

Progress won’t be measured for real until at least three months — and for some teams it will be even longer than that.

But Chris Duncan, Bubba Davis, and M.C. Miller all came away impressed Saturday with the performances of their football teams in their spring finales.

Kelsey sees Howard fitting in at Belhaven

Tom Kelsey knows how to find players that fit his system.

When you like to play a 94-foot game like the Belhaven men’s basketball team, a coach needs versatile players who can play multiple roles.

Kelsey believes Woodie Howard fits that description.

Listed at 6-foot-2, the former Starkville High School product isn’t the tallest player on the court. He’s not the best scorer on the floor, and he won’t dazzle fans with eye-popping dunks.

But Howard can do everything a coach asks well, which is why Kelsey wanted Howard to join his program.

Branton, Brown complete world turkey hunting slam

STARKVILLE — Hunting used to be a way for Dawn Branton and Kristi Brown to find time to spend with their husbands.

Now their time tracking turkeys, deer, and antelope has become so much more.

Not only has hunting helped them build a strong friendship, but it also has helped the women achieve a special honor.

Last month in the Sierra Madre mountains in Chihuahua, Mexico, Branton and Brown killed their final turkey to complete their World Slams.

New Hope left to wonder what could have been

Missed opportunities aren’t any less frustrating in the spring.

The only solace for New Hope coach Michael Bradley, Starkville coach Bill Lee, and Amory coach Pat Byrd is that their results in the New Hope High School Jamboree won’t count against them in the 2009 season.

New Hope, Starkville and Amory completed its spring seasons Friday in action that also featured Pontotoc and Shannon.

Starkville defeated Amory 21-7 and lost 10-7 to Pontotoc. Pontotoc defeated Amory 7-0. Those results were two-quarter games.

Columbus’ Hayward, Caledonia’s Pounders sign with EMCC

Junior Noel continues to mine the Golden Triangle for its top soccer talent.

The East Mississippi Community College men’s soccer coach landed two more standouts Friday when he signed Caledonia High School’s Tyler Pounders and Columbus High’s Mike Hayward to national letters of intent.

Martin stepping down as Columbus soccer coach

Richard Martin had the Columbus High School boys soccer program on the verge of making the Class 5A playoffs this season.

In his three seasons as coach, the Falcons improved from three, to nine to 11 victories.

Now someone else will have to take the team to the next level.

Martin recently announced he was stepping down as boys soccer coach at Columbus High to spend more time with his family.

Brand to become East Webster principal again

MABEN — East Webster High School is losing three coaches and gaining a principal in one man.

Bill Brand, who coached girls basketball and slow- and fast-pitch softball at the school this year, recently accepted a job offer to return to work as East Webster High School’s principal.

Brand will take over for Phil Ferguson effective July 1.

East Webster’s Allen, Halterman sign with MCC

MABEN — Wanda McPhail admitted Friday morning she was the lucky one.

It was easy to see why McPhail used that word after listening to her read the resumes of Kaley Allen and Jessica Halterman.

After reading an impressive set of accomplishments, McPhail watched as the East Webster High School academic and athletic standouts signed national letters of intent to play tennis at Meridian Community College.

MSU’s Rack, EMCC’s Thompson at USA Trials

If things work out this weekend, Alexis Rack, of the Mississippi State women’s basketball team, will be a little busier this summer than she anticipated.

The rising senior guard at Mississippi State is at the USA Basketball National Team Trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

East Mississippi Community College women’s basketball coach Sharon Thompson, a former women’s basketball player at MSU, also is in Colorado working as a court coach who is helping work the player in drills.

Louisville holds on to beat West Point

WEST POINT — Big plays usually are few and far between in spring football games.

Like many sports, defenses typically get the better of offenses in preseason or games early in the season.

That wasn’t the case Thursday night at McCallister Field at Hamblin Stadium.

Tajh Ford had three touchdowns, including a 92-yard kickoff return for a score, to help Louisville High School defeat West Point 32-24 in the spring finale for both teams.

Noxubee County looks to silence critics again

MACON — Vincent Sanders and Gussie Lane already can hear the haters.

They likely are some of the same people who said the Noxubee County football team got lucky in 2007 when it advanced to the Class 4A state title game.

Those doubters rejoiced when Laurel edged Noxubee County 19-16 to win the 2007 championship.

The chatter kicked up again last year as the Tigers set out on a mission to finish the drill and win a Class 4A state title.

Their hard work and team unity silenced the critics and D’Iberville in a 12-10 victory that gave the Tigers their elusive crown.

Harris leaves Noxubee County for first head coaching job

MACON — Reggie Harris couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

As much as the former Noxubee County High School football player and coach wanted to remain at his alma mater, he felt he was ready to take a chance on becoming a head coach.

It didn’t take long for someone to agree.

Sunflower County School Superintendent Peirce McIntosh hired Harris last month to become the new football coach at Ruleville Central High School.

Loss fuels Central’s run to winning state championship

MACON — One loss can change a season.

It can also test the resolve of a team that believes it is destined to win a state championship.

The Central Academy slow-pitch softball team faced that challenge after it saw a double-digit lead vanish against Russell Christian en route to a 27-24 loss in the regular season.

The players called the result “amazing.”

Coaches Sammy Lindsey and Pres Dawkins called the defeat “mind boggling” and wondered if it would rattle their players and ruin the title dreams in an otherwise promising start to the season.

There was no need to be concerned.