New Hope baseball faces region rival Oxford for North State title

New Hope High School has a rare luxury when the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s North Mississippi Class 5A baseball playoffs resume tonight.

Pitching leads charge as MSU softball begins play in Lafayette Regional

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State softball coach Vann Stuedeman has played and coached the game long enough to know that a quality pair of pitchers can go a very long way towards helping a team win a national championship.

New Hope baseball team comes together to try to make history

The New Hope High School baseball team is basking in its new role as the favorites to the win the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state championship.

Hitting comes alive for New Hope in sweep of Pearl

PEARL — After a sluggish offensive performance in a playoff win Saturday afternoon, New Hope High School baseball coach Lee Boyd said the time would come when the Trojans won a playoff game based on their offense.

Two days later, the coach was proven correct.

MSU softball team will play Texas in NCAA tournament

STARKVILE — When Mississippi State softball coach Vann Stuedeman took over the program three seasons ago, her primary goal was to make postseason play an expected destination every year.

Tupelo ends Columbus’ best season

For Columbus High School senior baseball player Michael Sturdivant, Saturday night quickly became more about celebration than dismay.

“We did something Columbus High School has never done,” Sturdivant said. “We were the best team that has ever come through this city. We were a special group of guys who really poured their hearts and souls into making it work. We won 23 games. We did things that had never been done before here and will probably be never done again. Making it to the third round of the playoffs is special. I am not bragging because the glory goes to God.”

Coleman, Stillman help New Hope stay undefeated in postseason

The New Hope High School baseball team is playing with the confidence of a defending state champion.

“It’s not a cocky confidence,” New Hope senior left fielder Rooke Coleman said. “It’s more of a confidence that comes from having been there and done that. Last season, our fans were doubting us and they didn’t know if we could go all the way. This year is different. This year everybody expects us to (win a state championship).”

Starkville High’s Ross hopes to finish with titles

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School senior Alex Ross found one of his true passions in life by accident.

Ross joined the Starkville High track and field team his eighth-grade year to stay in shape for soccer. Five years later, he will compete Saturday for the final time for the Yellow Jackets in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A, 4A and 6A state championships at Pearl High.

Seitz, Bulldogs get set for SEC Softball Tournament

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State softball coach Vann Stuedeman says freshman third baseman Carolin Seitz has some freak in her.

Columbus baseball goes extra innings to eliminate Clinton

Columbus High School baseball coach Jeffrey Cook spent Saturday afternoon taking his son to the movies.

New Hope baseball team beats Center Hill in Game 1

New Hope High School senior Taylor Stafford had a smile on his face and finally had color back in his cheeks.

While battling a week-long sinus infection has been tough for the Mississippi State signee, a couple of immunizations helped him dress out Thursday night for the opening game against Center Hill in a best-of-three series to start the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A North State playoffs.

MSU softball will try to continue momentum

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State senior second baseman Heidi Shape admits it has taken a little bit longer than she and her teammates would have liked.

Starkville’s Henderson out to reach new heights at North State meet

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School senior Charlie Henderson proudly labels himself “an adrenaline junkie.”

Henderson spent his grade school years in Colorado, where he enjoyed skiing and rock climbing. In 2006, he and his family moved to Starkville during his sixth-grade year.

MSU softball sets school conference record for runs in rout of Arkansas

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State senior first baseman Logan Foulks believes her team felt like it was out-fought Friday night in a Southeastern Conference loss to Arkansas.

Gilleylen won’t return as Aberdeen coach

Aberdeen High School boys basketball coach Cornelius Gilleylen is still in shock.

After leading the tradition-rich Bulldogs to a 24-8 record and the semifinal round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A North State playoffs, Gilleylen learned this week he won’t be back as the team’s coach for a second season.

Columbus seniors begin final playoff push tonight

Many tradition-rich baseball programs can argue which team or group is that school’s best.

The same can’t be said at Columbus High School. More than likely, the best group of Falcons is set for one last stretch run at 6 p.m. today when Columbus (19-6) plays host to Olive Branch (10-14) in a best-of-three series in the play-in round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A playoffs. The teams will play Friday at Olive Branch. If necessary, the teams will come back to Columbus on Saturday for Game 3.

Stuedeman’s squad riding high after ranked victories

In the preseason, Mississippi State senior softball players Alison Owen and Logan Foulks talked about their team’s chances to make a Super Regional for the first time in program history.

New Hope finds stroke in victory against Columbus

New Hope High School found its baseball season at a crossroads last month.

Longtime Mississippi High School Activities Association nemesis Oxford had just handed the defending Class 5A state champion Trojans a beating in a Region 2 game on New Hope’s turf.

MSU softball faces No. 4 Tennessee in Easter weekend conference series

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State shook up the Southeastern Conference softball standings last weekend by taking a weekend series from league leader and then third-ranked Alabama.

Columbus knocks Starkville from playoff contention in prep baseball action

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School’s exclusion from the Mississippi High School Activities Association baseball playoffs boiled down to one overriding factor.