Starkville’s Bonner motivated to get back on track

STARKVILLE –– There is a special motivation for Shay Bonner, of Starkville High School, to get back on the track for the Class 5A state meet.

After injuring her knee during hurdles competition at North State, Bonner missed practice early this week in preparation for the state that takes place Saturday in Pearl.

Bonner, who qualified for state in the 100 and 300 hurdles, is also a leg in Starkville’s 4×200 relay team that has a chance to break a state record.

MSU going big by signing 7-foot-2 Riek

Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury understands that there is no such thing anymore as a quiet offseason.

This year, it seems to be louder than usual.

First, junior center Jarvis Varnado applied for early entry into the National Basketball Association draft.

Then this past Thursday, Mississippi State signed McDonald’s All-American Renardo Sidney, from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles.

Now it looks like Mississippi State is on the verge of signing 7-foot-2 center John Riek, of Khartoun, Sudan, via IMG Basketball Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Starksville High’s Keel signs with Holmes C.C.

STARKVILLE — Jayson Keel has accomplished quite a bit as a four-year starter on the Starkville High School baseball team.

After signing Monday to play baseball at Holmes Community College, Keel knows there is plenty more ahead for him.

Stringer rallies in seventh to eliminate East Webster baseball

MABEN — East Webster High School baseball coach Wes Johnson preached all season to his pitchers about the importance of throwing strikes.

The inability to do that Monday cost the Wolverines.

East Webster took a 5-1 lead into the seventh inning only to lose to Stringer 7-5 in game two of the Mississippi High School Activities Association best-of-three Class 1A South playoff series.

MSU will investigate Sidney’s amateur status

STARKVILLE — Getting Renardo Sidney on the basketball court at Mississippi State might be more difficult than the Bulldogs anticipated.

MSU will use sports attorney Mike Glazier to evaluate Sidney’s amateur status.

West Lowndes eliminated with a loss to St. Aloysius

The West Lowndes High School baseball team didn’t want or expect its season to end the way it did Saturday.

Losing two-straight games in the third round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A playoffs wasn’t what the Panthers had in mind.

Vicksburg St. Aloysius opened the series with a 10-1 victory at West Lowndes on Friday and then defeated the Panthers 4-2 at home Saturday to clinch the series.

Rain denies East Webster chance to even series with Stringer

MABEN –– The East Webster High School baseball team believes it can defeat Stringer two-straight games and advance in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A playoffs.

Beating the weather was a different story on Saturday, however.

After an estimated two inches of rain fell in approximately 10-to-15 minutes, the second game of the series was suspended in the top of the second inning. It will resume at 6 p.m. Monday.

East Webster (27-4) was looking to bounce back a day after losing the first game of the series to Stringer 4-3 in nine innings.

Stowers brothers cover West Lowndes’ outfield

If baseballs are going out to left or right field the Stowers brothers have them covered.

West Lowndes High School’s Ryan and Trevor Stowers have provided the defense necessary to keep the Panthers in games and have delivered key contributions to help them make the third round of the Mississippi High School Association Class A playoffs against Vicksburg St. Aloysius.

Trevor said he never knows when a play he makes in the outfield might be a difference in a game.

Starkville’s Shed focusing on track season

STARKVILLE — Spring football practice started this week at Starkville High School, but Billy Shed isn’t ready to take that field just yet.

As the football team worked out on a nearby field, Shed and fellow members of Starkville’s 4×400-meter relay team were preparing on the track for Saturday’s Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A North State meet at Madison Central High School.

Shed will be a returning safety for coach Bill Lee this fall, but right now track and field is a priority.

MSU looks to cool off Alabama’s bats

The University of Alabama baseball team’s offense is intimidating when you look at the numbers.

Alabama leads the Southeastern Conference in batting average (.338), hits (550), slugging percentage (.592), on-base percentage (.423), runs scored (423), RBIs (394), doubles (116), and total bases (963).

When Mississippi State plays host to Alabama in a three-game SEC series at 6:30 p.m. today, 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, the Bulldogs primary task will be to try to hold down that offense.

MSU men’s basketball team signs McDonald’s All-American

Mississippi State’s basketball program might not have a “Varnado” next season, but it will have a “Renardo.”

Renardo Sidney, a McDonald’s All-American from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles and the nation’s No. 7 prospect in the country according to ESPN’s Scout’s Inc., signed Thursday afternoon with Mississippi State.

MSU spokesman Gregg Ellis confirmed the signing, which ended a week of speculation about Sidney’s destination.

Road Dawgs Tour coming to Columbus

The Road Dawgs Tour is getting closer to Columbus.

Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen and other members of the athletic department are making plans to make their Lowndes County appearance at the Plymouth Bluff Center on Monday.

It’s one of the stops Mullen is making among 16 cities across the Southeast.

Anyone wanting to attend must purchase their $15 tickets by today at Coldwell Banker West Realty or BankFirst in Columbus.

Pitching will key for East Webster vs. Stringer

MABEN — East Webster High School baseball coach Wes Johnson knows good pitching when he sees it.

As a pitcher who played for coach Ron Polk at Mississippi State, Johnson understands the importance of commanding the strike zone.

Long jumper Gaines will participate in graduation exercises

It was tempting for Mississippi State track jumper Priscilla Gaines to participate Saturday at the Mississippi Open in Oxford.

After reaching a season-high and regional qualifying long jump of 19 feet, 8 inches at the Mississippi Invitational on April 11, the chance for more success there was inviting.

But Gaines has something more important to do Saturday.

Starkville’s Tate commits to run track at MSU

STARKVILLE — Tavaris Tate will stay home to run track collegiately.

The Starkville High School senior has committed to Mississippi State to remain close to family and friends. He will officially sign Friday.

The sprinter had many choices to consider, but said he couldn’t go wrong with Mississippi State.

Hogue, Bramlett give MSU teams threats on the bases

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball and softball teams have something in common at the top of its batting orders.

Although both teams are struggling in the Southeastern Conference, baseball’s Grant Hogue and softball’s Chelsea Bramlett have enjoyed personal success stealing bases.

Hogue leads the SEC with 28 stolen bases and is tied with Dave Klipstein for second most steals in a season in Mississippi State history. He is fifth in school history with 53 career stolen bases.

As far as Bramlett, she has already set the Mississippi State single-season record for stolen bases with 49 and her 141 career thefts are tied her for the most all-time with Iyhia McMichael.

Varnado advised to remain at Mississippi State

Mississippi State center Jarvis Varnado may not be able to get much bigger, but he can get better.

That’s why another season at Mississippi State would benefit the two-time Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Varnado announced Monday that he was making himself eligible for early entry into the NBA Draft. He has until June 15 to decide if it is in his best interest.

West Lowndes baseball team uses speed to advance in playoffs

Speed and athletic ability are keys to winning baseball games at West Lowndes High School.

In the 12 years that Todd Stanley has been the baseball coach at West Lowndes, the Panthers have tried to use an aggressive style on the basepaths to score runs.

That was the case Friday night when West Lowndes manufactured a pair of runs to beat the Edinburg Eagles 2-0 and advance to the third round of the Class A state playoffs.

East Webster baseball team makes most of second chances

MABEN –– Tanner Roberson, of the East Webster High School baseball team, didn’t need nine lives Saturday afternoon.

Two of them turned out to be very beneficial, however.

Roberson’s good fortune began an offensive outbreak for East Webster as the Wolverines defeated the Bogue Chitto Bobcats 14-4 in six innings to clinch the second round Mississippi High School Association South Class A playoff series. East Webster (27-3) won the first game 17-2 Thursday.

MSU football coaches believe Bulldogs improved

STARKVILLE –– Mississippi State’s football coaches believed the team progressed in all phases of the game during spring practice, but the common opinion throughout the program is that there is much improvement yet to be made.

The Bulldogs spent 15 NCAA mandated practices in the spring, mainly trying to install the spread offense.

On the defensive side, coordinator Carl Torbush liked going against the spread in practice and said his unit benefited from having many things thrown at it.