Caledonia scores big in win vs. Starkville

STARKVILLE — Two softball teams coming off winless weekends met Tuesday looking for a much-needed win.

Caledonia High School made it happen with a 15-2 victory against Starkville High. The Lady Confederates had an offensive punch they didn’t see in losses to Saltillo and Hamilton on Friday in which they had scored just two runs.

Starkville Academy no-hits Oak Hill Academy

STARKVILLE — Drew Pellum and Hunter Bolin combined for a no-hitter Tuesday to lead the Starkville Academy baseball team to a 14-0 victory against Oak Hill Academy.

Pellum earned his first win of the season by striking out seven and walking one in four innings. Bolin cleaned up the fifth and final frame by striking out two.

Stratton helps Bulldogs bounce back

STARKVILLE — Chris Stratton’s scoreless streak continued Saturday in the Mississippi State baseball team’s 5-3 victory against Belmont.

The sophomore earned his second straight win of the season after giving up four hits and no runs in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out 13 and sat down the Bruins in order in five innings.

Brand brothers lead Starkville High

STARKVILLE — There’s no guarantee siblings who play the same sport will develop the same way.

Differences in height, weight, and athleticism can leave a glaring difference between the players, especially when they play on the same team.

At best, a coach can hope the players possess a passion for the game and good work ethic.

Starkville High boys basketball coach Greg Carter has that in brothers Mike and Steven Brand.

MSU men will be without Steele at Tennessee

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team can’t catch a break.

Overshadowed in the Bulldogs’ 84-82 loss to LSU on Wednesday was freshman guard Jalen Steele’s knee injury, which was determined to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus after an MRI revealed the damage.

MSU will try to continue hot streak

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team will put its unblemished mark on the line this weekend in a three-game series against Belmont University.

Starkville Academy’s McKee signs with Meridian C.C.

STARKVILLE — Last year, Conner McKee watched Starkville Academy soccer teammates Will Goodwin and Roy Miles sign soccer scholarships.

He was determined to be the next Volunteer to move on to the next level.

Men’s tennis will face two tests

STARKVILLE — Before the Mississippi State men’s tennis team begins league play, it will face a couple of tough measuring sticks this weekend in Texas.

No. 33 MSU will face TCU at 3 p.m. today and No. 11 Baylor on Sunday in an attempt to build on shutout wins against Tulane and the University of Alabama at Birmingham two weeks ago.

Cristil announces retirement after 58 years as MSU announcer

STARKVILLE — Jack Cristil’s 58-year radio broadcasting career at Mississippi State will end later this week after he announced Wednesday he was stepping down as basketball and football play-by-play announcer due to health concerns.

Cristil’s last game will be the MSU men’s basketball team’s basketball matchup Saturday at the University of Tennessee.

Bulldogs suffer costly loss to Tigers

STARKVILLE — Protecting home court is crucial down the stretch of a season.

The Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s inability to do that Wednesday night left it with a tough road ahead of the league tournament.

The Bulldogs built a 24-11 lead in the first half but fell victim to a relentless opponent, which thrived off second-chance points and 18 turnovers to post an 84-82 win at Humphrey Coliseum.

MSU’s Johnson responding after suspension

STARKVILLE — Ravern Johnson’s career at Mississippi State has been filled with ups and downs.

For all of Johnson’s natural talent and scoring ability, the senior wing has had a tendency to dissent.

Johnson has been disciplined twice this season for violating the team’s class attendance policy and has served two suspensions for detrimental conduct in the past two seasons.

Strong pitching continues as MSU baseball goes to 5-0

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team received another quality effort by a starting pitcher Tuesday in a 6-4 victory against Northwestern State (La.).

Sophomore Kendall Graveman allowed two earned runs and four hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked none.

East Webster’s Patterson signs with Holmes C.C.

MABEN — East Webster High School student-athlete Ledrick Patterson had a tough decision to make on National Signing Day.

Patterson was torn between signing a scholarship to play basketball at Itawamba Community College and signing to play football at Holmes C.C.

Stansbury doesn’t care how people feel about his handling of Sidney

STARKVILLE — Rick Stansbury doesn’t care if people criticize his handling of Renardo Sidney.

The Mississippi State men’s basketball coach has endured a turbulent season that has featured two mid-season transfers by players, two players being suspended by the NCAA, and discipline-related suspensions.

Cohen wants to build on solid start

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s baseball team led the Southeastern Conference in errors last season.

The Bulldogs (4-0) ended the first weekend of this season without a single error.

MSU men have work to do down stretch

STARKVILLE — The players on the Mississippi State men’s basketball team would like an easier path to the NCAA tournament, but they’re used to taking a bumpy road.

In each of the past three seasons, the Bulldogs have had 10 losses or more — often a stumbling block to earn a spot in the NCAA field — before the start of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Ole Miss men trying to find consistency

Inconsistency has plagued the University of Mississippi’s men’s basketball team for much of the Southeastern Conference season.

Coach Andy Kennedy feels his team has played and prepared with enough focus, but it hasn’t translated into results.

Columbus girls capture district crown

STARKVILLE — Kiandria Patterson heard the doubters.

Critics of the Columbus High School girls’ basketball team said a team with eight sophomores and one senior couldn’t live up to the lofty goal of winning a district championship.

After all, the Lady Falcons had never won a district title and have struggled annually to overtake Tupelo and Starkville in Class 6A, Region 2.

MSU pitchers have dominating starts

STARKVILLE — John Cohen couldn’t have imagined a better start to the season by his pitching staff.

After posting consecutive shutouts in its first two games of the season, the Mississippi State baseball team capped Saturday’s doubleheader with a 10-1 win against the University of Akron.

Sophomores Chad Girodo and Luis Pollorena (win) combined to pitch seven-plus innings, surrendering one earned run on four hits.

Sidney helps MSU men sweep Ole Miss

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing skid and picked up the season sweep against the University of Mississippi with a 71-58 win Saturday.

MSU sophomore forward Renardo Sidney finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double in the past five games. He scored 24 against Ole Miss on Jan. 13.