Tillery draws interest from pro scouts

STARKVILLE — Looking back on his football career, Chuck Tillery believes his broken ankle was a blessing in disguise.

When Tillery suffered the injury in the week of practice prior to Starkville High School’s season-opener against Noxubee County, he didn’t know it would cost him half his senior season and the extra repetitions needed to show scouts more of his talent.

Despite rejuvenating the Yellow Jackets offense when he returned, his lone offer came from Arkansas State.

Starkville Academy hires Lyle

STARKVILLE — It didn’t take long for Starkville Academy to find a boys basketball coach to replace Clay Stringer.

Former Harrison Central High School assistant Chris Lyle was hired as Starkville Academy’s coach Friday afternoon.

After meeting with athletics director Glenn Schmidt on Wednesday, Lyle accepted the job Thursday night and will begin his first head coaching position just four years into the profession.

He replaces Stringer, who accepted the principal position at Hillcrest Christian.

Lyle named boys basketball coach at Starkville Academy

It didn’t take long for Starkville Academy to find a boys basketball coach to replace Clay Stringer as Harrison Central assistant Chris Lyle was named head coach Friday afternoon.

Hectic spring period concludes for Starkville football team

STARKVILLE — The hectic time period the Starkville High Yellow Jackets have gone through under a new head coach will conclude when they play Brandon and Forest Hill in tonight’s jamboree at Jackson’s Newell Field.

For the past three weeks, the Jackets have beat up each other while trying to learn new systems on both sides of the ball and head coach Jamie Mitchell’s practice tempo. 

The first-year Jackets head coach admits there are “loose ends” that still need to be tied up, but he believes the team is on course with where he wanted it to be heading into tonight’s 5 p.m. start. 

East Oktibbeha eyes state title in track

CRAWFORD — Two years ago, East Oktibbeha High School didn’t have a track program.

Saturday, the Titans have a chance to win a state track title.

A district title and runner-up regional and Class 1A South State finishes have positioned the Titans to bring the school its first state title — regardless of sport — since the girls and boys basketball teams each won state crowns in 2007. 

Head coach Randy Brooks jump-started the program last year, and with a small group of freshmen sprinters totaled nine points at the state meet last season. 

Starkville track team counts on experience

STARKVILLE — Starkville High’s girls’ track team heads to Pearl with less representatives than usual, but the Lady Jackets could end up with more individual titles than they did in last year’s seventh place finish at the state meet.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A North State meet yielded just four state qualifiers for fourth-year head coach Mitchell Evans, but the Starkville graduate is banking on experience to push the five-runner team to a solid finish.

MSU seniors seek positive end to careers

STARKVILLE — With two Southeastern Conference series remaining and chances of postseason play long exhausted, the Mississippi State Bulldogs haven’t packed it in. 

Seniors want to finish their careers on a positive note and coaches want to continue first-year players’ integration into league play. 

The Bulldogs (21-28, 5-19 SEC), fresh off an 8-5 win against Northwestern State that snapped a school-record 11-game losing streak, host No. 18 Vanderbilt (36-13, 12-10) this weekend. 

MSU baseball ends losing streak

STARKVILLE — Russ Sneed drove in four runs and the Mississippi State baseball team snapped an 11-game losing streak with an 8-5 win against Northwestern State on Wednesday.

SEC meet will be challenge for MSU

STARKVILLE — Al Schmidt described Mississippi State’s track performances at the Penn Relays as “magical.”

Who knows how he’ll feel if the Bulldogs continue their trophy-winning form.

Faith guides Stringer to take job at Hillcrest

STARKVILLE — Sometimes, your next direction comes from a divine source.

Clay Stringer’s faith in God presented him with an opportunity he has relished since he became a high school teacher and coach.

And as tough as the decision to leave Starkville Academy was, Stringer followed his heart and accepted a position to be principal at Hillcrest Christian School.

Mississippi State track team gears up for SEC, nationals

With each meet this track season, Mississippi State’s men’s relay teams have built notoriety and put its stamp on the nation’s high-profile events.

MSU’s Aaron will try to gain notoriety

STARKVILLE — LaQuinta Aaron smiles when asked if Mississippi State’s men’s track team success has overshadowed the progress made by MSU’s women.

The All-Southeastern Conference hurdler and heptathlete enters this week’s SEC Championships hoping to achieve the same kind of notoriety.

Hamilton baseball team advances in playoffs

ACKERMAN — The Hamilton Lions survived a late scare from Ackerman to post a 9-8 win Saturday and advance in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A playoffs.

Hamilton (20-3) dethroned the defending state champions by building a 7-2 lead in the fourth inning and holding on through a furious rally that saw the desperate Indians plate four runs in the sixth inning.

Relief pitcher Chase Reeves rebounded from the shaky sixth by striking out three batters in the final inning.

Stricklin’s introduction like family reunion

STARKVILLE — Scott Stricklin’s introduction as Mississippi State’s 16th athletics director had the feeling of a family reunion or and Easter Sunday gathering.

With Stricklin’s family and friends gathered together Friday, the Mississippi State alum and employee spoke for the first time in a position he called “his dream job.”

Stricklin: Time for MSU to ‘start dreaming,’ expect greatness

Scott Stricklin’s introduction as Mississippi State University’s 16th athletics director had the feeling of a family reunion or an Easter Sunday gathering.

Stricklin: Time for MSU to ‘start dreaming,’ expect greatness

Scott Stricklin’s introduction as Mississippi State University’s 16th athletics director had the feeling of a family reunion or an Easter Sunday gathering.

MSU softball team plays Alabama in important series

STARKVILLE — A familiar season-ending situation faces the Mississippi State softball team this weekend against national championship favorite Alabama.

Mississippi State (26-26, 7-15 Southeastern Conference) hopes to force its way into the SEC and NCAA tournaments, but can’t afford repeat of last weekend’s doubleheader loss to Florida.

Tournament scenarios for the SEC include MSU having to finish better than Ole Miss and Auburn, both of which are vying for the eighth and final spot. MSU holds the tiebreaker against Auburn, while Ole Miss holds the tiebreaker against MSU. However, Auburn is a half-game ahead of MSU entering the weekend.

Stricklin tapped for Mississippi State athletic director job

Mississippi State will introduce Scott Stricklin as its 16th director of athletics at 2 p.m. today, capping the university’s month-and-a-half long search to replace Greg Byrne.

Stricklin tapped for Mississippi State athletic director job

Mississippi State will introduce Scott Stricklin as its 16th director of athletics at 2 p.m. today, capping the university’s month-and-a-half long search to replace Greg Byrne.

EMCC rodeo hopes to get fast start

WEST POINT — A program six years in the making finalized its first recruiting class Wednesday as East Mississippi Community College signed nine area student-athletes to rodeo scholarships.

When EMCC President Dr. Rick Young started in 2004, he envisioned a scholarship-based rodeo program that would lead to an equestrian program.