MSU softball team will try to extend winning streak

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State softball coach Vann Stuedeman has emphasized the need to grow the sport of softball in the state of Mississippi repeatedly in her first three seasons in Starkville.

Gilleylen has Aberdeen boys back on playoff track

ABERDEEN — The moment hasn’t proven to be too big for Cornelius Gilleylen.

After serving a two-year apprenticeship under legendary Aberdeen High School boys basketball coach Roy Hazzle, Gilleylen is in his first season as head coach for the tradition-rich Bulldogs.

Teamwork key ingredient for Noxubee County girls

MACON — Noxubee County High School senior Jasmone Brown waited patiently while her team learned how to play together this season.

Once the Lady Tigers found out that five working together is better than one, the season took flight.

MSU softball extends unbeaten streak to 14

STARKVILLE — After wading in the shallow end of the pool, the Mississippi State softball team is ready to dive into the deep end.

MSU completed a weekend sweep of Big 10 Conference foe Iowa 9-1 in five innings Sunday at the MSU Softball Field. The victory extended the program’s second-best start in a season to 14 straight wins.

EMCC women will be top seed for MACJC tournament

Sharon Thompson felt like her East Mississippi Community College women’s basketball coach had potential even though it had plenty of youth.

MSU softball teams wins 11th-straight game to open season

STARKVILLE — Thrilled. Excited. Surprised.

Mississippi State senior first baseman Sam Lenahan was full of adjectives to describe her team’s 11-0 start to the season. The Bulldogs matched the second-best start in school history Wednesday afternoon with a 6-0 victory against Central Arkansas at the MSU Softball Field.

Starkville advances to title game; Madison Central ousts Columbus

MADISON — Starkville High School boys basketball coach Greg Carter reached into the cliche grab bag Tuesday night.

“Survive and advance,” Carter said. “That is the name of the game when you get to this point in your schedule.”

Starkville did that as it sputtered to a 66-58 victory against Northwest Rankin in the opening round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 3 Tournament at Madison Central High.

Schaefer leads Starkville past Columbus

MADISON — When her team needed a lift the most, Starkville High School’s Blair Schaefer was there to provide it.

Schaefer scored 14 of her game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter as the Starkville High girls basketball team edged Columbus 58-55 Tuesday night in an opening-round game of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 3 tournament at Madison Central High.

Oak Hill Academy continues historic basketball season in state tournament

WEST POINT — For Oak Hill Academy, it was simply a matter of time for the boys’ basketball program.

MSU softball completes perfect weekend

STARKVILLE — Caroline Seitz may have been listening to the hype.

A lot of the Mississippi State softball team’s hopes for a successful season in softball hinge on a highly-touted freshman class. Seitz, a freshman infielder from Birmingham, is part of that class.

Noxubee County adds another bumper group of signees

MACON — While Noxubee County High School has racked up victories and a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A state championship under coach Tyrone Shorter, Shorter revealed the accolade he is most proud of Wednesday morning.

Williams leads West Point signees

WEST POINT — West Point High School senior running back Aeris Williams always has been a soft-spoken leader on and off the football field.

That is why it came as quite a surprise when Williams, the Dispatch’s Player of the Year in 2013, predicted some future wins for Mississippi State in its Egg Bowl rivalry with Ole Miss.

New Hope girls, West Point boys get victories

WEST POINT — The West Point High School boys basketball team found its second gear on the second possession of the second half Tuesday night.

After battling Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A, Region 2 rival New Hope on near even terms in the first half, West Point had all of the answers in the final half. The Green Wave turned their trapping zone defense into a fast-break layup line on the other end to post a 74-67 victory.

Reeves, EMCC baseball raring to go

SCOOBA — Chase Reeves now knows how much playing baseball means to him.

The former Hamilton High School standout has spent a majority of the past two baseball seasons on the injured reserved list.

Now the East Mississippi Community College sophomore is fully healthy and ready to go.

New Hope soccer looks for historic win tonight

Mary Nagy isn’t afraid to say she didn’t know a lot about soccer when she first became New Hope High School girls soccer coach.

EMCC softball ready to contend on national level

SCOOBA — For East Mississippi Community College softball coach Kyndall White, things are so much easier the second time around.

Bulldogs hope depth provides final piece to softball puzzle

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State senior catcher/infielder Sam Lenahan enjoys being surrounded by talented players.

Montgomery won’t look back in building Columbus’ future

Columbus High School named Randal Montgomery its new football coach earlier this month. Montgomery comes to Hazlehurst High School, where he won 43 of 47 games in three seasons and won the 2012 Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Class 3A state championship. Prior to that, Montgomery spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Velma Jackson High School and Canton High. He will lead the Falcons through spring practice in May and then will look to better last season’s 4-7 finish.

Transfers make impact for MSU softball

STARKVILLE — Logan Foulks and Alison Owen have played in their fair share of big softball games.

Starkville Academy sweeps Washington School

STARKVILLE — Starkville Academy senior Raheim Robinson knows now is the time for the Volunteers to play with more urgency.

“We have to come to practice and really work hard,” Robinson said. “It is time to go all out if we are going to make some noise in the tournaments. We have to be better on offense, and we really have to be intense.”