New Hope misses chance to clinch second place

The Neshoba Central High School baseball team could be hitting its stride at the perfect time.

New Hope High School coach Stacy Hester hopes he will be able to say the same for his team.

Unfortunately, the Trojans will have to go on the road next week to play the deciding games of their first-round playoff series on the road.

New Hope’s 5-2 loss to Neshoba Central on Thursday night at Trojan Field cost it a chance to clinch second place in Class 4A, Region 4, District 4.

Comer off to fast start for Caledonia

CALEDONIA — It’s all in the pacing for Jessica Comer.

As a freshman last year, the Caledonia High School distance runner learned about heartbreak when she was nudged out at the tape in the 800 meters at the Class 4A state meet.

This season, Comer is using that third-place finish as motivation as she builds toward another run at a state title.

Heritage Academy’s Vaughan going to EMCC

Perseverance and commitment are words Cole Vaughan lives by every day.

Through family tragedies, injuries, and life-changing diseases, Vaughan has used sports as an escape and a way to reinvigorate himself to face the challenges that life has thrown at him.

Columbus’ Barry, Tate select EMCC

There is no substitute for hard work.

That might sound like a cliché coaches and players trot out in an effort to explain their success.

But that mentality has served Nashedra Barry and Natalie Tate well for the past four years, so they don’t see any reason to stop now.

West Point’s Calvert feels fine with EMCC

WEST POINT — Demontez Calvert believes he will realize his potential in Scooba.

At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, the West Point High School senior baseball standout already has the physical tools to be an impact player on the diamond.

In two years, Calvert hopes he can become what his soon-to-be coach first saw in him.

Key leads Lamar to EMCC tourney win

Easton Key used to be a distraction on the golf course.

Unable to control his emotions, the Lamar School golfer was apt to throw his clubs if a shot didn’t break his way.

The outburst would unravel even the most successful round and force his parents to threaten to or to take away his golf clubs.

But Key has changed.

If something goes wrong these days, he pauses, takes a breath, and chalks the experience up to the highs and lows of the game of golf.

Key exhibited that new-found maturity Tuesday when he earned medalist honors with a 73 to lead Lamar School to the team championship at the East Mississippi Community College Invitational at Columbus Country Club.

New Hope, Columbus beat Caledonia in baseball

Dillon Hawkins and Austin Stovall gave their baseball teams exactly what they needed Saturday.

Unfortunately, Caledonia High School was on the receiving ends of both efforts.

In the afternoon, Hawkins threw a six-inning, one-hitter, and Philip Tice had three hits and two RBIs in New Hope’s 11-1 victory against Caledonia in a Class 4A, Region 4, District 4 game at Trojan Field.

In the evening, Stovall survived a 12-hit attack and pitched a complete game to lead Columbus to a 13-7 victory.

MSU signee chosen Florida’s Miss Basketball

Ashley Jones had no idea she was going to win the state of Florida’s most prestigious basketball award.

Five months ago, she didn’t even know if she would play basketball her senior season at Winter Park Lake Howell High School.

But the Mississippi State women’s basketball signee recovered from a liver infection to become the school’s all-time leading scorer and to lead Winter Park (29-2) to the Class 5A state title, its first in school history.

Jones’ performance this season helped her earn another honor. On Wednesday, Jones was chosen the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball winner. The award is voted on by state high school coaches and state sportswriters.

Sanders takes step toward college by signing with EMCC

DeShuni Sanders is ready.

Some would argue the New Hope High School senior could play for the East Mississippi Community College softball team today.

New Hope High coach Tabitha Beard would have something to say about that, especially with the state fast-pitch playoffs expected to start Monday.

Sanders took the final step toward beginning a career at EMCC on Friday when she signed a national letter of intent to join the school’s softball program.

Moore, Montet sign with Itawamba CC

STARKVILLE — Players don’t have problems transferring from one program to another.

So while Colby Moore might have changed states moving from Pickens Academy (Ala.) to Starkville Academy, his baseball skills weren’t affected.

It didn’t take long for the infielder/pitcher to make his impact on the Volunteers’ program.

EMCC signs Chisolm, Fumo for immediate help

SCOOBA — Junior Noel is looking for some immediate assistance to help him bring the East Mississippi Community College men’s soccer program out of the “doldrums.”

The EMCC coach found two players Friday who will help him accomplish that goal.

Caledonia High School’s Taylor Chisolm and Starkville High’s Eduardo Fumo signed national letter of intents to join a program that went 1-12-1 last season in Noel’s second year as coach.

Area well represented at powerlifting meet

Alex Sherrod doesn’t want to settle for second place this year.

One season after being the runner-up in his weight class at the Mississippi High School Activities Association State Powerlifting meet, Sherrod has his sights set Saturday on a championship.

A stint with the Caledonia High School boys basketball team might have delayed his training, but he has regrouped and made significant progress and said he is ready to win a state title.

New Hope turns attention to state tourney

Now that the New Hope High School fast-pitch softball team has taken care of its Senior Night festivities, it can focus on adding another state title to the program’s list of accomplishments.

New Hope (17-2) still has a game at 5 p.m. today against Neshoba Central, weather permitting, before it can focus on the state tournament.

As of Friday morning, the Lady Trojans still didn’t know their opponent. New Hope coach Tabitha Beard said New Hope will play Lafayette County or Center Hill at 2 p.m. Saturday in the first two games of a best-of-three series.

McWilliams pitches Knights past Trojans

Dustin McWilliams likes to talk to himself on the mound.

The West Lauderdale left-hander feels his verbal repartee helps keep him focused and prepared for any situation.

That’s why a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the third inning Wednesday night didn’t faze him.

Tutor helps seniors win in style

Haley Tutor isn’t ready to say goodbye to her senior teammates.

That’s why she is going to do everything in her power to see that the New Hope High School fast-pitch softball team’s season ends, fittingly, with a state title.

Tutor had a home run, two singles, and six RBIs Wednesday to lead New Hope to a 12-2 victory against West Point in a Class 4A-District 4 game at Lady Trojan Field.

Sportsplex will bring downtown together

Sports play a lot of roles in our society.

Whether it’s basketball or soccer or baseball or football, to name just a few, sports bring communities together. They unite people of different backgrounds and ages behind a school or a team.

Sports also bring people together at one location.

Columbus to host Friends and Family Days

Sometimes teams just want to play.

Tom Velek and others involved in soccer in Columbus decided last year to do something about it.

Their decision has grown into a full-fledged event this year.

Velek and Columbus United Soccer will welcome more than 20 soccer teams and more than 200 players to town Friday and Saturday for the second annual Columbus Friends and Family Days at the Cook Fields.

Surgery doesn’t sidetrack Roberts

There wasn’t a defining pop.

A piercing pain didn’t course through the elbow.

Instead, Blake Roberts saw a dispiriting loss in velocity on his fastball and control that signaled something wasn’t right.

Caledonia’s Jenkins going to EMCC

CALEDONIA — Justine Jenkins won’t lie.

The Caledonia High School standout wanted to play softball in college but she didn’t know if she was good enough.

It wasn’t until Jenkins started to relax and to have fun on the softball field that her confidence blossomed.

Columbus splits pair of games

Bad things aren’t happening once a game this season for the Columbus High School baseball team.

In some cases, like in Columbus’ 16-6 victory against West Point in five innings Saturday afternoon, the Falcons make enough positive things happen to outweigh the negatives.

But the momentum doesn’t last.

In other instances, like in a 12-2 loss in five innings to South Panola on Saturday night, the Falcons can’t overcome mistakes that seem to snowball out of control.