Lovelady making most of his chance to catch

STARKVILLE — From last spring to this one, Josh Lovelady traded crutches for the ice bath. His legs still require daily maintenance and attention, but he prefers this way much better — this way he gets to play.

MSU men’s tennis team will face SMU in Oklahoma

STARKVILLE — If there was a time when the Mississippi State men’s tennis was most prepared to take on a draw like this one, now is it.

Days after coming a few points short of a Southeastern Conference championship, MSU learned Tuesday it will travel to Oklahoma to face third-seeded SMU in the first round of the NCAA tournament on May 12. A victory would set up a second-round match against No. 14 national seed and top-seeded Oklahoma (15-10) or fourth-seeded Bryant (12-13) on May 13.

Caledonia beats West Lauderdale on obstruction call

CALEDONIA — Just this once, Kevin Stewart would prefer to live in ignorance.

If Stewart has it his way, he will never know if Gracie McCleskey rounded third base with the intent of scoring or of colliding with the third baseman in her path, trying to draw an obstruction call. Stewart doesn’t plan on asking because it doesn’t matter: The umpire called obstruction and awarded the Caledonia High School fast-pitch softball team a 3-2 victory against West Lauderdale on Monday in Game 1 of their Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) third-round Class 4A playoff series.

Auburn’s Thompson praises Cannizaro’s effect on MSU

STARKVILLE — The Cannizaro family of baseball made its first impression on Auburn coach Butch Thompson almost a decade ago.

Thompson’s first exposure to the Cannizaros came in 2008 when he was an assistant coach at Auburn trying to recruit Andy’s younger brother, Garrett, who ultimately decided to follow in his brother’s footsteps and stayed close to home to play for Tulane, but the impression was made.

Bulldogs must regroup quickly before facing Aggies

STARKVILLE — “It’s just one day.”

Therein lies Mississippi State baseball coach Andy Cannizaro’s simplistic approach to leaving the Auburn series behind him and his Bulldogs (30-16, 14-7 Southeastern Conference). Cannizaro was referencing Auburn sweeping a Saturday doubleheader, 17-8 and 5-3, to take the series, MSU’s first conference series loss being swept in the conference debut at Arkansas.

Notebook: Bragg steps up to replace injured Stovall for MSU

STARKVILLE — Andy Cannizaro would certainly prefer to not be without second baseman Hunter Stovall for an extended period of time, given he’s already had to do it once.

MSU drops doubleheader, SEC series to Auburn

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s pitching has been defying the odds for months now, performing at a rate ranking among the top half in the nation with, thanks to injury, a staff half of the size of most others.

Pilkington delivers for Bulldogs in series-opening win

STARKVILLE — With over half of the Southeastern Conference schedule in the books, Mississippi State pitcher Konnor Pilkington ranked fourth in the conference in batting average allowed while pitching more innings than all but eight players in the league.

MSU offensive lineman Senior taken by Seahawks in NFL draft

Justin Senior’s mom won’t have to hide her Seahawks gear.

Starkville Academy’s Futral signs with EMCC

STARKVILLE — East Mississippi Community College’s men’s basketball team has a need on the offensive end of the floor.

It found help at Starkville Academy.

Starkville Academy’s Hamilton signs with EMCC

STARKVILLE — Torin Hamilton was not the prototypical high school football player that was destined for the next level as soon as he set foot on Starkville Academy’s campus. He was far too small for such a distinction.

Later in high school career, that finally changed — and, along with it, his plans for college.

Changes to mental approach, swing have helped Rooker

STARKVILLE — Jamie Shevchik saw the potential in Brent Rooker.

In the summer of 2015, Shevchik, who coaches the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League, noticed Rooker was hitting .360 and had a slugging percentage over .600 with the Plymouth Pilgrims of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, so he decided to add him to his team’s roster for the final days of the season. The move secured a spot for Rooker on the Whitecaps’ roster in 2016.

McQuary, Rooker lead MSU past Ole Miss

PEARL — Denver McQuary credited confidence.

Andy Cannizaro cited McQuary’s changeup.

Whatever it was, McQuary wasn’t the same pitcher at the end of his start Tuesday night than he was when it began.

International flavor works for MSU men’s tennis team

STARKVILLE — Matt Walters doesn’t spend much time in the United States in the offseason, but he doesn’t complain. It’s just part of the life of a college tennis recruiter.

As assistant men’s tennis coach at Mississippi State, Walters will spend close to two months overseas this summer as part of the new norm in college tennis: recruiting international players.

Columbus High girls basketball team sends four more to colleges

COLUMBUS — Yvonne Hairston looks pretty comfortable hosting a signing ceremony.

The Columbus High School girls basketball coach should because she has had plenty of practice the last few years.

After sending two of its three seniors to play college basketball following the 2015-16 season, Columbus sent four more off to the next level Monday in signing ceremony in the school’s gym. Guards Kaylyn Wilson and Zaria Jenkins will continue their careers at Itawamba Community College, while Briona Green will stay local at East Mississippi C.C. and Kennedi Stephens will play at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.

MSU’s Marrero popped for DUI

Mississippi State catcher Elih Marrero was arrested on two charges early Sunday morning, driving while under the influence

and driving without proof of insurance, according to the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office.

MSU baseball goes extra innings to complete sweep of Alabama

STARKVILLE — Andy Cannizaro called his third baseman Luke Alexander in for a meeting that could have easily gotten volatile.

Notebook: Self enjoys career day as Bulldogs enjoy sweep

STARKVILLE — The idea started as a self-deprecating joke. It ended in Riley Self doing something he’s never done before — and doing so wildly successfully.

No. 11 MSU holds on to beat Alabama

STARKVILLE — Ryan Gridley was ready for a rebound after a loss to South Alabama on Tuesday that Mississippi State baseball coach Andy Cannizaro thought was littered with uninspired effort.

No. 11 MSU had to wait four innings for it.

A three-run fifth inning gave MSU a lead it never relinquished thanks to the bullpen that threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings in a 6-5 victory against Alabama in Game 1 of a three-game Southeastern Conference weekend series.

Peng will lead MSU women into SEC Championship

STARKVILLE — The first step in getting one of the Southeastern Conference’s top talents to Mississippi State was a lucky Internet search.

Around 2011, MSU women’s golf coach Ginger Brown-Lemm was looking through the recent results in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), which serves as host for junior golf tournaments, including many sponsored by current or former PGA pros.