No. 1 Oxford shuts out New Hope to sweep baseball series

For the New Hope High School baseball team, the pitching and defense part are down pat.

Rankin helped Bulldogs believe in his system

ABERDEEN — With his team mired in a three-game losing streak, Aberdeen High School first-year boys basketball coach Jaworski Rankin broke out a visual aid.

“We printed out a picture of the (Mississippi) Coliseum and put it in each player’s locker,” Rankin said. “Sometimes, you can get lost during a basketball season. We just wanted the players to take a chance to visualize our goals.

Carouthers developed bond with Aberdeen coach

ABERDEEN — The bond with coach Jaworski Rankin wasn’t immediate for Aberdeen High School senior basketball player Marcus Carouthers.

However, once the standout player and first-year coach found common ground, the Bulldogs took flight.

Jones developed into force for Lady Yellow Jackets

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School sophomore Kelsey Jones always has dreamed big.

At the beginning of the season, Jones wanted to help the Lady Jackets advance to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State tournament.

Williams’ nurturing approach benefits Starkville High

STARKVILLE — Glenn Schmidt knows the pedigree of a championship coach.

Schmidt has won state basketball championships at Starkville High School and Starkville Academy. In 1992, Schmidt carried Starkville High to the state championship. Schmidt was excited when the Lady Jackets broke their 23-year drought and returned to the Mississippi Coliseum this season under the direction of Kristie Williams, who played for Schmidt on that 1992 team.

Starkville girls coach named Coach of the Year

Starkville High School Director of Athletics Stan Miller always has fostered an environment where every sport matters.

Golden Triangle father, son named player, coach of year

Starkville High School boys basketball coach Greg Carter will listen to any player that makes a suggestion.

All-Area Player of Year: Forest helps lead resurgence at West Point

WEST POINT — West Point High School senior Ecurb Forest joins his classmates in anticipating prom and graduation.

All-Area Player of Year: Tyson Carter leads Starkville to state championship

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School junior Tyson Carter conducted his research, created his plan, and executed it to perfection.

All-Area Coach of Year: Veteran coach Carter keeps SHS among the state’s elite

STARKVILLE — Starkville High boys basketball coach Greg Carter admits he was surprised by his team’s performance this season.

MSU softball sets sights on trip to Missouri

STARKVILLE – When the season started, the Mississippi State softball team knew the importance of the middle two weeks of April.

The Bulldogs have an eight-game stretch of games against teams in the Ratings Percentage Index Top 28, with seven of those being against the Top 13. With an RPI of 22, MSU is looking for a late push to secure a high seed in an NCAA regional with the outside hope of hosting a regional.

Heritage splits doubleheader with Starkville Academy

When all appeared lost on offense, Starkville Academy turned to its pitching and defense to take a series from arch-rival Heritage Academy. Starkville Academy senior

Starkville’s Minor signs with Northwest

STARKVILLE – When workouts began prior to this basketball season, Starkville High School senior Kayla Minor listed one of her goals as helping her team advance to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State Tournament in Jackson.

Turns out, Minor returned in time to help that goal become a reality.

MSU softball beats No. 1 LSU

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State softball coach Vann Stuedeman told her team to treat Wednesday night’s midweek game against No. 1 LSU just like any other midweek game.

Then she told her standout pitcher something different.

The non-conference game between Southeastern Conference rivals was designed to enhance both teams’ Ratings Percentage Indexes (RPI) and postseason hopes, but MSU got the most mileage out of the game thanks to a 9-4 upset before a standing-room only crowd at the MSU Softball Field.

Ricketts helps build confidence in every MSU hitter

STARKVILLE — It’s called the Ricketts Effect.

When Samantha Ricketts was hired as an assistant coach and hitting instructor in the offseason, her task was to rejuvenate the Mississippi State softball team’s offense.

Ricketts was hired to produce performances like Wednesday night, when MSU had 11 hits and dominated two of the Southeastern Conference’s best pitchers in a 9-4 victory against No. 1 LSU in a non-conference game before a capacity crowd of 902 at the MSU Softball Field.

MSU welcomes No. 1 LSU in non-conference softball action

STARKVILLE — For the Mississippi State softball team, this is not your ordinary midweek game.

Starkville Academy knocks off rival Heritage Academy in baseball

STARKVILLE – Starkville Academy junior outfielder Colt Chrestman sensed his baseball team could be special long before it ever played a game this season.

Rivers helps Starkville earn keys wins vs. Columbus

STARKVILLE — Senior pitcher Colbey Rivers felt like his Starkville High School baseball team was always on the verge of a winning streak.

“The last couple of weeks, coach (Travis) Garner told us we had been through the rough stuff and we had a win streak coming on,” Rivers said.

Garner was correct on that prediction. The Yellow Jackets capped a busy week on the diamond with a 4-0 record. Starkville also enhanced its playoff position with two wins against Columbus in Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 3 play.

Walters: Questions, answers on local sports scene

Let’s go to the mailbag and answer some recent questions.

MSU softball aiming for Top 16 finish in RPI

STARKVILLE — Things are shaping up nicely for a very important 20-game stretch of the Mississippi State softball team.