Shorter remains confident in Tigers despite loss

MACON — Noxubee County High School football coach Tyrone Shorter believes his team can be really good this season.

Nothing that happened Friday night in a season-opening 17-0 home loss to Starkville High shook that belief.

Caledonia will try to grow up quickly

Caledonia High School first-year head football coach Andy Crotwell knew his team would be young in several key spots this season.

Heritage Academy softball shuts out Oak Hill Academy

Heritage Academy softball coach Gary Harris urged his Lady Patriots to start fast Tuesday night.

Lesley wants to push EMCC defense to be even better

SCOOBA — Jordan Lesley has coached football long enough to know not to mess with something that has been successful.

MSU softball will play host to tournament in Gulfport

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University’s softball program will take the “Our State” theme to another level in 2014.

Optimism high for ICC football

FULTON — Former Noxubee County High School scatback LaDarrell Hunt has tons of confidence in the quarterback position at his current school, Itawamba Community College.

EMCC, Itawamba C.C. begin season nationally ranked

A quick glance at the junior college football schedules revealed arch-rivals East Mississippi Community College and Itawamba Community College will play each other the final week of the regular season.

Heritage Academy has quality at-bats in victory

STARKVILLE — Heritage Academy fast-pitch softball coach Gary Harris wants to see more quality at-bats from his team.

EMCC wants to forget end to 2012 season

SCOOBA — Outside the film room of the East Mississippi Community College football offices, a countdown clock shows the time remaining before this season opener at Pearl River Community College.

Central Academy beats Hebron Christian in softball

MACON — Central Academy softball coach Sammy Lindsey thought his Lady Vikings grew up a lot Saturday at the Starkville Academy Invitational.

That growth continued Tuesday night as Central Academy defeated Hebron Christian 9-2 in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A, District 3 opener for each school.

Heritage Academy uses big innings to defeat Kirk Academy

Throughout the course of a prep softball season, most teams will collect some big innings.

Central Academy eases past Starkville Academy in prep softball action

MACON — Central Academy catcher Blake Rigdon has a had a lot of great memories playing softball for the Lady Vikings.

Billups leaves Noxubee County

MACON — Noxubee County High School basketball coach T.J. Billups made a life-changing decision for his family this month.

Golsan, Stafford helped push New Hope to title

For Will Golsan and Taylor Stafford, winning a state championship was a dream 10 years in the making.

Boyd helps assemble Trojans’ championship pieces

Lee Boyd was well aware of the expectations when he accepted the job as New Hope High School baseball coach at the age of 26.

The Dispatch’s All-Area Prep Baseball team

The Dispatch’s All-Area prep baseball team for the 2013 season:

Starkville Academy softball wants to build on growth

STARKVILLE — Starkville Academy fast-pitch softball coach Kayla Mosley went recruiting in the offseason.

Annual Hoops for Troops benefit Saturday at Columbus High

Columbus Walmart General Manager Ernest Robinson dreamed big when he put together the Hoops for Troops basketball project.

EMCC football schedule includes five home games

SCOOBA — While remaining one of the nation’s premier programs, the East Mississippi Community College football team begins the 2013 season back below the national championship radar.

New Hope Jamboree sees growth in fourth season

The last time that Noxubee County High School football coach Tyrone Shorter and Starkville High School football coach Jamie Mitchell coached in a 60,000-seat senior college football stadium, the experience was a positive one indeed.