Itawamba’s Cole hits his way onto All-Region squad

Ladarrius Cole arrived at Itawamba Community College just wanting to contribute.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound outfielder from Nettleton High School has done much more than that, and the Indians are reaping the benefits.

Cole, who leads the team with a .456 batting average, was one of a handful of players chosen to the All-Region 23 squad on Wednesday.

Cole, Pontotoc’s Dustin Lunn (catcher), Auburn signee Justin Bryant (middle infielder), of Remlap, Ala,. and pitcher/second baseman Josh Chism were selected to the first team all-state squad.

New Hope can’t solve West Lauderdale’s McWilliams

COLLINSVILLE — The New Hope High School baseball team always seemed to have the answer.

Whether it was timely hitting, clutch pitching, or sparkling defense, the Trojans put everything together in the past month to sweep their first three playoff series.

But one solution eluded them all season: How to solve Dustin McWilliams.

EMCC’s Abrams signs scholarship with UAPB

Jasmine Abrams has her eyes set on higher goals.

Her two seasons with the East Mississippi Community College women’s basketball team have made those aspirations more realistic.

Now the former Columbus High School standout plans to take her game to the Division I level in hopes of taking the next step toward realizing her goal to play professional basketball.

On Tuesday, Abrams, a 6-foot forward, signed a national letter of intent to play basketball in the fall at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Dale gets invitation to prestigious baseball camp

Christian Dale will get an opportunity this summer to watch some of Major League Baseball’s future stars.

In the process, Dale also will get a chance to develop his skills so he might one day reach that level.

Last month, the Lee Middle School eighth-grader attended an Under Armour Tryout Event at Zephyr Field in New Orleans.

Dale did so well at the tryout that he earned an invitation to an Under Armour Baseball Factory Specialty Training Camp in Cape Cod, Mass.

McWilliams hurls West Lauderdale past New Hope

COLLINSVILLE — Dustin McWilliams wiped out all of the New Hope High School baseball team’s momentum Thursday night.

Wes Stokes will try to finish the job tonight.

McWilliams pitched a complete-game five-hitter and West Lauderdale scored six unearned runs in an 11-4 victory in game one of the best-of-three Mississippi High School Activities Class 4A North Half state title series at Jerry Boatner Field.

Game two will be at 4 p.m. today in Columbus.

New Hope will try to keep run going against West Lauderdale

The New Hope High School baseball team has found new life in the postseason.

Whether it has been solid pitching, timely hitting, or sparkling defense, coach Stacy Hester’s Trojans (24-9) are playing their best baseball of the season entering game one of today’s (6 p.m.) best-of-three series against West Lauderdale for the North Half state title.

MSMS’ Powers, Patterson defend state title

Zachary Patterson and Adam Powers thought everything was going just fine.

Up a set and leading 3-0 in the second set, Patterson and Powers felt confident about their chances to repeat as Class 3A No. 1 doubles champions.

But an old kick serve called momentum turned against them.

Corinth’s Austin McElwain and Charlie Curtis rallied to win the second set and forced Patterson and Powers to regroup.

The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science duo used the 10-minute break between sets to analyze their mistakes and to formulate a game plan that would help them rally.

Caledonia golf team makes state tournament

CALEDONIA — The Caledonia High School boys golf team is ahead of schedule.

That’s fine with coach Bradley Tate and his players because their success this season has extended their season to the State Tournament.

Zac Taylor will lead district champion Caledonia next week when it plays at the Class 4A state tournament May 12-13 at River Birch Country Club in Amory.

The team will use Monday as a practice round to familiarize itself with the course. Play in the 16-team event begins at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

East Webster’s Williamson lets bat do talking

MABEN — Caitlyn Williamson knows how to make an exit.

Down to what could have been the next-to-last at-bat in her prep career, the East Webster High School standout didn’t go to the plate looking to hit a home run.

Heritage Academy baseball looks to continue turnaround

By Steve Hancock’s count, the Heritage Academy baseball team was 2-52 in Mississippi Private School Association AAA games the past three seasons.

Still, the veteran coach was optimistic heading into his first season in MPSA.

Playoff magic continues for New Hope

SALTILLO — The New Hope High School baseball team’s magical playoff run added enough highlights Monday night to fill an installment of SportsCenter.

Brent Younger and Phillip Tice played the roles of defensive stalwarts, diving to make run-saving plays.

Columbus youth soccer team wins state championship

Even the most talented teams sometimes need a break.

The Columbus Severstal Under-12 girls soccer team used two days of championship play and a little bit of good fortune this weekend to win a state title.

Columbus defeated the Greenwood Revolution 2-0 in the semifinals and then beat a team from Hattiesburg 2-1 to take the Kohl’s Cup championship in Jackson.

The U-12 age division featured 16 of the state’s top recreation soccer teams in an eight-on-eight tournament.

East Webster softball team joins elite status

RIDGELAND — Champions make you pay for your mistakes.

Whether it is a pitch in the wrong location, an errant throw, or a missed groundball, the East Webster fast-pitch softball team has capitalized all season on miscues by its opponents.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association Class A state title series was no different.

East Webster took advantage of two critical errors in a five-run third inning Saturday and then rode the pitching of Jessica Halterman to an 8-2 victory against Smithville to clinch the best-of-three series at Freedom Ridge State Park.

East Webster’s Halterman goes out in style

Jessica Halterman was in a zone.

The East Webster High School senior pitcher was so focused Saturday afternoon she didn’t appear ready to celebrate after recording the final out in an 8-2 victory against Smithville in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A best-of-three championship series.

While some of her teammates tossed their gloves into the air, Halterman left the circle and moved toward her team’s dugout. She appeared to mouth the word, “Wow.”

Hamilton softball team comes up short for state title

RIDGELAND — The miracle rally turned out to be incomplete.

Three singles in the top of the seventh inning by the Hamilton High School fast-pitch softball team gave it hope.

Brooke Delaughter and her Loyd Star High teammates ended the Lady Lions’ dream with a bang-bang play.

Delaughter retired Caitlyn Atkins on a close play at first base to help preserve Loyd Star’s 3-2 victory in game two of the Mississippi High School Activities Association best-of-three Class 2A state championship series at Freedom Ridge State Park.

Hamilton has season come to end with loss to Water Valley

HAMILTON — The “freebies” the Hamilton High School baseball team allowed Friday night turned out to be even more costly than anyone would have imagined.

Shonquayle Jenkins pitched six strong innings Saturday to lead the Water Valley High School baseball team to a 2-0 victory against Hamilton in game two of its Mississippi High School Activities Association best-of-three Class 2A third-round series.

The victory sends Water Valley (20-9) into the next round where it will face the winner of the Belmont-Ackerman series. Game two of that series was rained out Monday.

Hamilton ends its season at 21-7.

Columbus High celebrates Morris’ signing with special day

Phillip Morris isn’t the best 3-point shooter.

He didn’t have eye-popping numbers as a senior point guard for the Columbus High School boys basketball team.

But the key for coaches when they recruit is to identify players who have the intangibles, are willing to buy into a team concept, and who are willing to listen and to be coached.

Morris gets a perfect score in those categories, which is why Friday was a special day for him and his family.

Tate proving Jamison right by signing to run at MSU

STARKVILLE — Gloria Jamison has a special perspective on Tavaris Tate.

As minister at Columbus’ Maranatha Faith Center, Jamison has known for some time that Tate is destined for great things.

She became convinced of that one day when she was standing at the altar and Tate approached her. At that moment, Jamison said, God showed her Tate would excel as a track and field athlete.

Tate is proving Jamison’s vision correct.

Hamilton softball team seeks title with fire and desire

HAMILTON — This weekend is the Hamilton High School fast-pitch softball team’s chance to shine.

The Lady Lions will try to do it with fire and desire.

“Fire and desire” was the slogan on a sign taped to the wall in Hamilton’s dugout Saturday when it faced Hatley in game two of its Class 2A North Half title series.

Hamilton (15-10) won that game 7-6 to earn the opportunity to play Loyd Star at 6 p.m. today in the first game of the Mississippi High School Activities Association best-of-three Class 2A state championship at Freedom Ridge State Park in Ridgeland.

East Webster softball team goes for fourth-straight title

MABEN — Another championship walk would suit the East Webster High School fast-pitch softball team just fine.

Last week, the three-time defending champion Lady Wolverines concluded their most recent South Half state title with a 7-0 victory against Bogue Chitto.

After the final out was recorded in senior Jessica Halterman’s no-hitter, East Webster coach Bill Brand talked to his team and then had seniors Halterman, Iyeshia Thomas, Jordan Sisk, Darlynda Wilson, and Caitlyn Williamson had join arms and walk from the center field fence to the backstop.