Georgia makes grand statement in SEC tournament opener

HOOVER, Ala. — University of Mississippi’s Drew Pomeranz looked like an All-Southeastern Conference pitcher through five innings Wednesday against Georgia.

One swing of the bat in the sixth inning changed that.

Box wins his third-straight state title at Jackson Prep

Chuck Box and Brad Mitchell might not have won state championships as high school baseball players, but they have made up for it as coaches.

Box, a graduate of former Caldwell High School in Columbus, won his third consecutive Mississippi Private School Association Class AAA state title at Jackson Prep on Saturday, while Mitchell, from Starkville, led Ackerman High to its first Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A state championship on Monday.

Winning championships is nothing new to Box, who earned a state crown at Itawamba Community College in 1999 and a conference title at Freed-Hardeman University in 1997.

MSU’s Routt chosen to SEC Baseball All-Freshman Team

Mississippi State freshman left-hander pitcher Nick Routt had a knack for going the route this season.

Southeastern Conference coaches thought enough of Routt’s efforts to vote him Tuesday to the All-SEC Freshman Team.

Routt was the only Bulldog to make the all-league teams.

MSU pitching coach Butch Thompson wasn’t surprised Routt was honored because he had four complete games, all in the SEC.

Henry leads Ole Miss baseball team into SEC Tournament

University of Mississippi junior outfielder Jordan Henry has found a way to steal more bases and Southeastern Conference honors this season.

After being named to the All-SEC second-team and earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2007 and making the SEC All-Tournament team in 2008, the coaches Tuesday voted Henry a first-team All-SEC performer.

Henry leads the SEC in walks (49) and with a school-record 33 stolen bases, which has caught the eye of coaches who’ve had to try and slow him down.

Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin compares Henry to New York Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon because they bring similar qualities to the game.

Byrne impressed with MSU’s men’s basketball recruiting

Mississippi State Athletic Director Greg Byrne has faith in the basketball coaching staff’s ability to recruit players.

Men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury has had a busy offseason, with the signings of McDonald’s All-American Renardo Sidney, 7-foot-2 John Riek, and Wendell Lewis to national letters of intent. They join Shaunessy Smith, a Noxubee County High School senior, who signed with the Bulldogs last November.

MSU baseball team turns focus to improving

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State senior catcher Scott DeLoach wasn’t considered much of a factor for playing time when the baseball season began.

DeLoach was projected for defensive purposes to spell sophomore Cody Freeman and junior Ryan Duffy.

But by the end of the season, DeLoach assumed a bigger role than he had ever dreamed.

DeLoach not only played, but he finished the season as Mississippi State’s leading hitter with a .353 batting average.

MSU finds way to have fun during loss to LSU

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State freshman starting pitcher Devin Jones had a rough outing against LSU on Saturday afternoon and was pulled after two innings.

It wasn’t his final appearance of the day, however.

Despite a 15-4 loss to LSU in the final game of the season, which included a 1 hour and 57 minute rain delay, the Mississippi State Bulldogs found a way to have a good time.

After giving up six runs on seven hits, Jones probably wished he could’ve found a hole to crawl into and hide.

His teammates wouldn’t allow that, however.

West Oktibbeha’s Bedford signs with EMCC

MABEN — West Oktibbeha High School boys basketball coach Joseph Landfair said a strong work ethic turned Deon Bedford into one of the better players in this area.

East Mississippi men’s coach Mark White hopes to get more of that from Bedford in the future.

Landfair talked about the past, while White looked ahead Thursday as Bedford signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at EMCC.

LSU’s Mainieri has fond memories of Dudy Noble

It has been 30 years since his first visit to Mississippi State’s Dudy Noble Field, but LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri said his return this weekend is special.

Mainieri’s first experience at the Bulldogs’ home came in 1979 as a player at the University of New Orleans. The Privateers played in the NCAA tournament in Starkville that season.

Mainieri’s relationship with the MSU fans took a positive turn in 2000 when he was the head coach at Notre Dame.

Starkville High quarterback continues to develop

STARKVILLE — Spring is a time for growth, especially for quarterbacks.

Jaquez Johnson showed signs of being a promising quarterback last season as a sophomore at Starkville High School.

After securing the starting job early in the schedule, Johnson had his ups and downs. In his first year leading the Yellow Jackets, he threw 15 interceptions and nine touchdowns, but he has committed to improving in the offseason.

MSU’s Bell going home for regional

STARKVILLE — Softball is serious business in Florida.

No one knows that better than Mississippi State sophomore outfielder Brittany Bell.

While growing up in the Tampa area, Bell discovered how important the game was in the Sunshine State.

Bell will accompany her Lady Bulldogs teammates to her home state this weekend for the NCAA tournament’s Tallahassee Regional. MSU will play California in the first round at 4 p.m. Friday. Florida State will play host to the double-elimination regional.

Starkville High’s Tate closes career in style

STARKVILLE — There was a gasp in the crowd at Pearl High School last Saturday afternoon when Starkville High School senior sprinter Tavaris Tate took the baton for the final leg in the 4×400 relay, rallied from third place and ran away from the pack in the final race of the Class 5A state track meet.

Varnado will return to MSU for senior season

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s men’s basketball program received good news Monday about a big man for the third week in a row.

After the signing of Renardo Sidney and the addition of John Riek, the Bulldogs learned Monday that center Jarvis Varnado plans to return for his senior season.

Starkville repeats, Columbus’ Lanier wins triple jump

PEARL –– Starkville High School boys track coach Cleveland Hudson never lost faith in his team’s chances to defend its Class 5A state championship despite consecutive second-place finishes in the division, region and North State meets.

That’s because Hudson had Tavaris Tate on his side.

Tate accomplished something that had never been done before in Class 5A by winning the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes, and then pulling the 4×400 relay team through to victory as Starkville scored 66 points to overcome second-place Meridian’s 60.

Tate, Rogers bid for seven gold medals

STARKVILLE — It seems improbable that one team would have two runners with a chance to combine to win seven state championship gold medals?

But that’s what can happen Saturday for Starkville High School’s Tavaris Tate and Quartez Rogers at the Class 5A State Meet at Pearl High School.

Ole Miss baseball has the ‘Power’

The University of Mississippi baseball team has been known to unleash its “Power” on opponents the past four seasons.

As outfielder Logan Power has driven in runs, it has usually led to success for Ole Miss.

Since his arrival in 2006, Power has helped the Rebels to a four-season record of 159-86, trips to three NCAA Regionals, and appearances in two Super Regionals.

West Point’s Portera will get chance at EMCC

WEST POINT — East Mississippi Community College baseball coach Tony Montgomery first saw Oak Hill Academy’s Lance Portera as someone who could help the Lions as a outfielder.

Montgomery likes Portera’s arm so much he chose to recruit him as a pitcher.

South Alabama series meets MSU football’s needs

Mississippi State considers the new three-game contract to play South Alabama in football a win-win situation for both parties.

Considering the economics and benefits for the Bulldogs, the deal was too good for the school to pass up.

Riek officially joins Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Signed, sealed, and delivered.

The much anticipated paperwork confirming the signing of 7-foot-2 center John Riek reached the Mississippi State men’s basketball office Wednesday afternoon.

MSU Brownlee has battled back from arm injuries

It’s difficult enough for an athlete to come back from one torn labrum.

Mississippi State freshman outfielder Brent Brownlee has suffered that injury three times, and has had to have surgery on each occasion.