MSU, Ole Miss set for key SEC baseball series

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team will carry the momentum of a six-game winning streak into its series against the University of Mississippi.

With both teams tied for second place in the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division, it’s fitting Ole Miss enters the matchup coming off a series win against No. 1 South Carolina.

MSU men’s tennis set to face FSU in NCAA opener

STARKVILLE — The Florida State men’s tennis team has lost three of its last four matches and finished the season with a losing record overall and in conference play.

Needless to say, FSU isn’t in ideal form entering its first-round NCAA tournament match against No. 22 Mississippi State at 9 a.m. Friday in Atlanta.

Gordon comes through for East Webster softball

MABEN — There was a point in the season when Katie Gordon couldn’t connect with a softball and keep from popping out.

MSU men’s track will make do without Tate, Mayers

STARKVILLE — No Tavaris Tate. No problem.

That’s the approach Mississippi State track coach Steve Dudley is taking into the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which begin Thursday in Athens, Ga.

Catledge shines as anchor for Starkville

STARKVILLE — As Jalan Catledge approached the finish line in the 400-meter dash last week at the Class 6A North State meet, he counted all seven opponents ahead

East Oktibbeha girls shooting for titles

CRAWFORD — Last year, East Oktibbeha County High School didn’t have a girls track team.

A year later, the Lady Titans are coming off a sixth-place finish at the Class 1A South State meet. The team will look to finish in the top five at the state meet Friday at Pearl High.

Starting pitchers deliver for MSU in sweep of Tennessee

STARKVILLE — Coming off its first Southeastern Conference sweep of the season, the Mississippi State baseball team can attribute much of its results against the University of Tennessee to its pitching staff.

MSU football stadium expansion plans moving forward

STARKVILLE — If the release of future renderings of Davis Wade Stadium expansion seems like a tease, have patience.

Mississippi State’s “Today. Tomorrow. Forever” fundraising initiative has given fans an idea of where athletic director Scott Stricklin and football coach Dan Mullen envision taking the program.

When it will happen, is still unknown.

Championships fill day for track and field teams

STARKVILLE — Six individual champions were crowned and one relay team from the area earned North State titles Saturday at the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A/6A North State meet at Mississippi State.

MSU baseball will try to gain ground at Tennessee

STARKVILLE — On paper, the Mississippi State baseball team’s weekend series at the University of Tennessee looks like an opportunity to get a much-needed series sweep.

Starkville, Columbus set to battle at North State meet

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School’s first chance to play host to a North State track meet won’t be on its campus, but make no mistake: It’s a home meet.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A/6A North State meet will take place Saturday at Mississippi State’s Carl Maddox Track facility.

Starkville High’s Bostic has titles in sight

STARKVILLE — Kamau Bostic is leading Starkville High School’s charge to another boys track and field state title.

The junior distance runner logs the most minutes on the track as a miler, half-miler, and as a member of the 4×400-meter relay team.

Starkville Academy’s Ward signs with Mississippi College

STARKVILLE — Every coach likes to see the heart and soul of his football team get a shot to play at the next level.

An emotional leader and example of sacrifice and intensity, Starkville Academy’s Matt Ward was rewarded for a breakout season with an offer to play at Mississippi College.

Hendrix cousins lead East Webster baseball into next round

STARKVILLE — Ty and Hayden Hendrix aren’t the first family members to play baseball together at East Webster High School.

The cousins want to be the latest to lead the Wolverines to a state title.

East Webster baseball, softball respond after tornado

MABEN — The response to tragedy was natural.

The baseball and softball teams of East Webster High School had sports put into perspective when a powerful tornado — one of dozens across Mississippi and Alabama — ripped through the Cumberland community and left their school in rubble.

East Webster’s Hollenhead more comfortable at pitcher

STARKVILLE — Last season, Swayze Hollenhead made a difficult position switch she knew was coming.

For the first two years of her high school career at East Webster, she starred at third base and helped lead the Lady Wolverines to a pair of Class 1A state titles.

Starkville’s Mattox has sights set on titles

STARKVILLE — Not many eighth-graders have a shot at winning a state title, much less in Class 6A, the state’s highest classification.

But anyone who knows Starkville High School’s Walker Mattox could see her rise to the top of the distance running chain coming from the longest straightaway.

MSU, Ole Miss men’s tennis teams earn NCAA bids

STARKVILLE — George Coupland had a strong feeling the Mississippi State men’s tennis team would land in Atlanta for the first round of the NCAA tournament.

When the selection show confirmed the No. 21 Bulldogs’ destination, Coupland couldn’t help but focus on host team Georgia Tech.

MSU might add Pollorena to starting rotation

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen has resisted the urge to move sophomore reliever Luis Pollorena into the starting rotation.

With the Bulldogs’ window to clinch a spot in the Southeastern Conference tournament shrinking by the week, Pollorena “has a very good chance” of starting Friday or Saturday in a three-game series at the University of Tennessee, Cohen said Monday.

MSU men’s tennis awaits NCAA tournament bid

STARKVILLE — Waiting to see how NCAA selection committees set national tournament brackets can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if your team is on the bubble.

Mississippi State’s 20th-ranked men’s tennis team doesn’t have to worry about making the tournament, but the Bulldogs hope the committee doesn’t tax them for losing to the University of Florida in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament.