Youth takes toll on Starkville Academy

Starkville Acadedmy’s three Dizzy Dean World Series losses this weekend ended its chances of progressing to today’s elite eight.

The young squad began Saturday’s doubleheader with an 11-4 rain-soaked loss to Neshoba Central, which saw the entire West Point site shift to Heritage Academy Saturday due to rain and lightning. 

Starkville Academy’s final Dizzy Dean game against West Point was not finished before press time. 

Varnado, Williams selected in NBA draft

Four years of patrolling the paint for Mississippi State culminated in a dream come true for Jarvis Varnado on Thursday.

The 6-foot-9 shot-blocking specialist realized a dream by being selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Miami Heat.

The Heat, a playoff team a year ago, took Varnado with the 41st overall pick. The team didn’t have a first-round selection.

MSU needs Boyd, Cox to continue to grow

STARKVILLE — Freshman starters are rare in the Southeastern Conference.

Interior defensive linemen have the worst odds of holding up to the physical quantum leap players must make to adapt.

New Hope’s Boyd Large Schools Coach of Year

Lee Boyd has had a heck of year.

The New Hope native took over his alma mater’s baseball team, reclaimed the district title, made it to the second round of the playoffs, and with his wife, Allison, welcomed his first child into the world.

He’s still relishing everything that happened to him one month after capping another solid year in Trojans baseball.

Starkville High’s Johnson Large Schools Player of Year

STARKVILLE — R.J. Johnson’s remarkable senior season started with a commitment to make up for his junior year.

The Starkville High graduate had the size, athleticism, and arm strength to be one of the state’s top players. He knew it, and his coaches saw that potential years before the Milwaukee Brewers selected him earlier this month in the 36th round of Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

New Hope’s Holifield Large Schools Player of Year

Freshmen are lucky to have an impact in a game, much less a season.

But not every freshman is built the same way. Some surprise and become the team’s best player.

Meet Lauren Holifield.

New Hope’s Beard Large Schools Coach of Year

Armed with two dominant pitchers, Tabitha Beard entered her fourth season in charge of New Hope High School fast-pitch softball looking to add a state title to the slow-pitch hardware the Lady Trojans have added since 2006.

MSU’s Elliott set to realize prep accolades

STARKVILLE — Everyone remembers the story of Robert Elliott’s last-minute commitment to Mississippi State.

The Okolona native and consensus top-10 running back in the 2007 recruiting class had pledged to attend the University of Mississippi before former MSU coach Sylvester Croom pulled off a late signing coup and encouraged Elliott to choose the Bulldogs over the Rebels, Florida State, Alabama, and Arkansas.

Starkville Academy, Starkville softball in similar situations

STARKVILLE — Thursday’s softball game between Starkville High and Starkville Academy featured teams in similar situations.

Both are trying to break in a new starting pitcher and to replace starters who graduated in the spring.

Front court key for Starkville Academy

STARKVILLE — If Monday was any indication of things to come for the Starkville Academy girls’ basketball team, count on seeing plenty of front-court action. 

Freshman forward Sallie Kate Richardson scored 22 points and transfer forward Anna Lea Little scored 14 in the Lady Volunteers’ 56-30 win against West Lowndes. 

With Starkville Academy losing forwards Anne Claire Craig and Maggie Gladney to graduation, having a pair of 5-foot-10 players to step in certainly doesn’t hurt the rebuilding process, no matter their age.

MSU will host SEC/Big Ten Challenge

STARKVILLE — For the past three years, the Carl Maddox Track facility at Mississippi State has been dormant. 

Aside from practice, the Bulldogs haven’t hosted the Jace Lacoste Invitational and Bulldog Invitational. Their facility needed a facelift to attract teams, and with Mississippi State’s $3.2 million renovation the Bulldogs will host three spring meets in 2011. 

Home meets were anticipated once ground broke two months ago, and Monday the program announced the start of the SEC/Big Ten Track and Field Challenge, which will be held at MSU on March 26. 

EMCC’s Harris, Ware sign

STARKVILLE — John Harris and Rodricko “CoCo” Ware went to East Mississippi Community College hoping rebuild the men’s basketball program and move on to the next level. 

Mission accomplished on both accounts.

After helping EMCC make it to the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament this past March, Harris and Ware signed scholarships with four-year colleges this past week.

Stansbury enjoys annual Camp Rising Sun visit

Summer in Mississippi typically brings people together.

For one week every year, kids make new friends and reconnect with others at Camp Rising Sun next to the Tombigbee River.

Starkville High’s Johnson to weigh options

R.J. Johnson has a big decision to make.

Will the hard-throwing right hander turn professional after being drafted Tuesday by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 36th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft? Or will he head to college?

MSU sprinting for top 10 national finish

STARKVILLE — Line up the fastest collegiate runners in the country and Mississippi State would be well represented.

Line up the best 400-meter runners in the world and the Bulldogs would grace the top 16.

Championship swagger comes from results and Mississippi State sprinters have left a trail of success from the Texas Relays to the Penn Relays to the Southeastern Conference meet.

Bulldogs’ 4×4 free of Aggies until the finals

STARKVILLE — Though each relay race goes through the same three handoffs and covers the same distance, there’s plenty of strategy involved.

Many variables, including a runner’s current form or performance in individual events and opponents’ strengths can factor into how a coach shifts the lineup.

The Mississippi State men’s track team has made the right calls in its 4×100- and 4×400-meter relay events this year, setting up high expectations for this week’s NCAA championships in Eugene, Ore.

Camp at CHS beneficial for Southern Miss

High School football players from the Golden Triangle and surrounding area packed Columbus High School’s practice fields Tuesday to take advantage of a camp opportunity they hope paves the road to a college scholarship. 

More than 100 athletes participated in the University of Southern Mississippi football camp, utilizing an opportunity to a certified football Football Bowl Subdivision camp. 

Seniors will lead MSU women

STARKVILLE — Al Schmidt remembers Tiffany McWilliams carrying the Mississippi State women’s track and field team at the NCAA Championships six seasons ago.

Quick Start aims to make tennis appealing to youth

STARKVILLE — In an effort to spark youth interest in tennis, Starkville Tennis Association is beginning a program that’s been in the works for the past three years. 

Quick Start, a United States Tennis Association program, is aimed at giving children 10-years old and younger the chance to learn the sport using modified scoring, special equipment and smaller court dimensions. 

With solid tennis infrastructure in Starkville, Quick Start will help strengthen area tennis by making the game more appealing for youth.

Cowbells no longer have to be smuggled

DESTIN, Fla. — The smuggling of cowbells into Davis Wade Stadium is finished — at least for a year. 

Friday, in Destin, Fla., the Southeastern Conference amended its artificial noise-maker bylaw to allow the Mississippi State spirit symbol into Bulldogs’ home games.

The agreement is a one-year trial.