Starkville springer Tate on the run again

STARKVILLE — Starkville sprinter Tavaris Tate is used to living in the fast lane.

On the track, it takes Tate seconds to run the 400 meters or his leg of the 4×400 relay.

Off the track, Tate’s preparation and travel schedule keeps him on the go.

Since helping Starkville High School to its second consecutive state championship, Tate has participated in the Atlanta-DeKalb International Prep Classic in Atlanta, Ga., and the Sports Authority Great Southwest Classic at Albuquerque, N.M.

Hamilton beats Starkville Academy in Dizzy Dean game

STARKVILLE — The Hamilton High School Dizzy Dean baseball team used an “Earnest” effort Thursday to get a victory at Starkville Academy.

Dylan Earnest had seven strikeouts and two hits and Ethan Earnest added two hits to help the Lions defeat the Volunteers 10-5.

The umpires stopped the second game of the doubleheader in the third inning when a bank of outfield lights wouldn’t come on.

Baseball is a family affair at Hamilton with brothers Ethan and Austin Earnest and cousin Dylan Earnest.

Dodgers select MSU’s Powers

The easy part was the wait for Mississippi State junior first baseball Conner Powers.

Now comes the decision.

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Powers in the 11th round Wednesday in the Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.

Camp Complete will introduce football to area youth

STARKVILLE — Willie Gillespie wants to educate young people of the community about the sport of football.

With the help of some of his friends, Gillespie is set to do that with Camp Complete on June 19-20 at Starkville High School.

MSU confident about signing Sidney

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s men’s basketball program wasn’t afraid about going after McDonald’s All-American Renardo Sidney as it appeared other schools were.

Despite an on-going process concerning Sidney’s eligibility, Mississippi State officials believe signing him was the right thing to do and are confident he will be on the court in the near future.

Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury insists recruiting Sidney was in the best interest of the program and the player.

Rye promoted to director of Starkville Parks and Recreation

STARKVILLE — The love of Starkville led Matthew Rye through an open door at the Starkville Parks and Recreation department in 2005.

After four years with the department, Rye gets the opportunity to lead.

Rye assumed the position as parks and recreation director June 1 after Clark Roman retired.

MSU’s Jones fine-tuning skills in summer league

STARKVILLE –– Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen is excited about the future of pitcher Devin Jones.

Jones, who played at Eupora High School in Webster County, is spending his summer fine-tuning his skills in the New England Collegiate Baseball League in Danbury, Conn.. He is one of 12 Mississippi State Bulldogs that has been assigned to a college summer league by Cohen and his staff.

A broken hand kept Jones off the mound during much of the past season, but he started in the last two Southeastern Conference series against Ole Miss and LSU.

SEC presidents seek even field for all schools

STARKVILLE — One of the main points of emphasis at the Southeastern Conference Meetings in Destin, Fla., this past week pertained to football recruiting and the desire for a more even playing field for all 12 schools.

The SEC presidents took an action that will move toward that goal.

Beginning with next year’s signing class, SEC programs can only sign a total of 28 players. The coaches wanted the cap at 30, but the presidents got their way at 28.

Thebauld helps Starkville Academy sweep Starkville

STARKVILLE — Ben Thebaud, of the Starkville Academy Dizzy Dean baseball team, uses his speed and athletic ability to his advantage.

As a wide receiver and defensive back in football at Starkville Academy, Thebaud has been known to make something positive happen for the Volunteers.

It was his play on the baseball field that helped Starkville Academy come from behind and defeat Starkville High School 13-10 in a four-inning second game of a Dizzy Dean High School doubleheader Monday night. The Volunteers earned a sweep by also beating the Yellow Jackets 10-4 in the opener.

Byrne impressed with how Mullen showed his class

Greg Byrne is becoming more confident that Dan Mullen is the right man to be Mississippi State’s head football coach

Each time Byrne, Mississippi State’s athletic director, sees Mullen in a public setting or at an official gathering, he’s impressed with the way the coach handles the situation.

After spending time together last week at the Southeastern Conference Spring Meetings in Destin, Fla., Byrne felt the need to pin another rose on Mullen.

SEC seeks even recruiting field

Mississippi State and Ole Miss don’t play Southern Miss in football each fall.

The battles between those schools are waged in the offseason when it comes to recruiting the state’s best talent.

That’s why any perceived advantage for one of the other football programs can be an issue.

At the Southeastern Conference spring meetings in Destin, Fla., this week, discussion has included a proposal to change an SEC regulation that restricts assistant football coaches from attending coaching clinics in their home states unless the coach is a speaker.

Mullings will try to deliver for MSU track

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State junior sprinter Dwight Mullings knows his coaches believe in him.

Each time Mullings runs a race, associate track coach Steve Dudley tells him he can do a little bit better.

Starkville’s Williams picks Memphis

The roads between Starkville to Memphis are going to be a little more busier during the college basketball season thanks to Latavious Williams.

The former Starkville High School player announced Tuesday his commitment to play basketball at the University of Memphis.

Alabama seeks 12th regional bid during Wells’ tenure

University of Alabama baseball coach Jim Wells is set to hear that one of his teams has been invited to an NCAA Regional for the 15th time when the pairings are announced Monday.

In a 20-year coaching career that began at Northwestern State in 1990, Wells is no stranger to success by owning five regular-season SEC or Southland Conference championships and eight SEC or Southland postseason titles.

Wells is set to take the Crimson Tide to a regional for the 12th time in 15 seasons. Three of his Alabama teams have made it to the College World Series (1996, 1997, 1999).

Ole Miss selected as one of 16 regional tournament hosts

A disappointing showing in the Southeastern Conference Tournament this past week didn’t keep the Ole Miss Rebels from hosting an NCAA regional tournament.

Ole Miss (40-17) learned Sunday it made the NCAA Tournament by virtue of being selected as a regional tournament host.

Ole Miss was chosen as a host despite going two and out at the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.

Southeastern Conference may look into baseball tournament format

The Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament has been known to be one of the best college tournaments in the country.

Sometimes the fans are put in tough situations to see it all.

The SEC attempts to play four games per day the first, second and fourth rounds of the tournament and sometimes the final game lasts well into the next morning.

Take Wednesday for example.

Matthes provides power for Alabama

The University of Alabama’s Kent Matthes wants to win a national championship.

If honors and statistics come his way in the process, that’s fine, but he has bigger plans.

That is why it was hard for the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year to accept what happened to the Crimson Tide at the SEC tournament at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala.

Matthes set the school’s single-season record for home runs in a season (28) with a blast to center field Wednesday night in a 9-5 lost to South Carolina.

Henson has been surprise for Ole Miss

University of Georgia baseball coach David Perno can appreciate a good catcher.

After playing the position at Georgia from 1989-91 before becoming a coach, Perno understands what it takes to be a catcher.

He calls the skills he sees in University of Mississippi senior Kyle Henson “tremendous.”

Former MSU catcher Curry back at SEC tournament

HOOVER, Ala. — Chris Curry has returned to the Southeastern Conference Baseball tournament after 10 years.

In 1999, Curry played in the event in Hoover, Ala., as a catcher at Mississippi State. Now he’s back as a volunteer assistant at the University of Arkansas.

Alabama will look to Hyatt today vs. LSU

HOOVER, Ala. — University of Alabama baseball coach Jim Wells thought he got a good enough effort from pitchers Del Howell, Nathan Kilcrease, and Jimmy Nelson to pull out a win Wednesday night against South Carolina.

But Wells will need an even better effort today.