MSU, Ole Miss softball coaches set for first taste of rivalry

Neither Mississippi State University first-year softball coach Vann Stuedeman nor University of Mississippi first-year softball coach Windy Thees was born in the state of Mississippi.

Blevins, Lee pace Columbus past Grenada

At first, winning big baseball games came as a surprise to Columbus High.

Now, a youthful Falcons squad is basking in such a position.

Tyler Blevin’s two-run double sparked a three-run sixth inning Tuesday as Columbus turned back Grenada 3-2 in a Class 6A, Region 2 matchup at Sammy Fletcher Field.

SWINGING BIG STICKS: New Hope routs Columbus in prep softball

New Hope High has been on the search for offensive consistency throughout the fast-pitch softball season.

The Lady Trojans found lots of it Tuesday night, as New Hope pounded out 13 hits in a 17-0 rout of Columbus.

JUCOs makes changes to sports

The East Mississippi Community College football team capped its 2011 season with a first national championship.

The ability of the 2012 squad to defend that title may come down to a computer.

New Hope defeats Starkville in softball

STARKVILLE — In the seventh inning Thursday night, New Hope found much-needed separation in in fast-pitch prep softball game with Starkville and in the Class 5A, Region 3 race.

MSU softball confident as it begins trek

The Mississippi State University softball team remains confident even though it is on a nine-game conference losing streak.

New Hope softball wins region opener

New Hope High School fast-pitch softball coach Tabitha Beard can be difficult to please.

Tuesday night was not one of those nights.

New Hope baseball walks-off against Saltillo

New Hope High School senior Dusty Dyson is in quite a groove right now.

MSU can’t clinch series vs. Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. — Mississippi State University baseball coach John Cohen wants his Bulldogs a little more “locked in.”

Lack of focus and attention to detail proved costly Sunday afternoon as MSU lost to No. 24 Auburn 8-2 in the final game of a three-game Southeastern Conference weekend series before a crowd of 3,458 at Plainsman Park.

Auburn evens series with MSU with 10-6 win

AUBURN, Ala. — The Mississippi State University baseball team last won a baseball series at Auburn University in 2004.

MSU will have that opportunity against at 1 p.m. today when the teams meet in the rubber game of a weekend three-game Southeastern Conference series.

Graveman looking forward to start in series finale

AUBURN, Ala. — With his team playing a critical Southeastern Conference baseball game against No. 24 Auburn, Mississippi State University starting pitcher Kendall Graveman has plenty of reason to be excited as he heads to the ballpark today.

Cooley fell in love with racing at early age

Promoters at the Columbus Speedway have refurbished the facility hoping to pump life into an aging masterpiece.

Now, the drivers are ready to do their part in re-energizing “The Baddest Bullring in the South.”

After the season-opening James King Memorial two weeks ago, racing returns to the speedway Saturday for the first of several weekly races scheduled for 2012. Among the competitors in the late model racing series will be Fulton’s Eric Cooley.

EMCC baseball forced to forfeit after brawl

The East Mississippi Community College baseball team received the atypical Saturday off Thursday afternoon.

The Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College ordered the Lions to forfeit Saturday’s scheduled North Division doubleheader at Coahoma C.C.

MSU softball looks ahead to weekend series vs. No. 2 Alabama

STARKVILLE — Few secrets will be held in reserve this weekend when the Mississippi State University softball team will play host to the No. 2 University of Alabama in a Southeastern Conference three-game series.

Prep softball: Sanders no-hitter lifts New Hope past Columbus

New Hope sophomore pitcher D.J. Sanders was really proud that no opposing batters got hit Tuesday night.

Actually, Columbus got no hits and did not get hit, either one. However, it was more of the latter than had Sanders happy in the postgame.

Starkville High honors longtime coach Carlisle

STARKVILLE — Starkville High baseball coach Danny Carlisle had a pretty good day at the office Saturday afternoon.

In pregame ceremonies at the Starkville High baseball field, Carlisle received a 52-inch flat screen TV from the school’s baseball booster club. More than 40 former players attended the pregame ceremony, taking a stroll down memory lane of Carlisle’s 35 years at the school.

Tennessee softball takes game two from MSU

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University senior outfielder Ka’ili Smith really likes her team’s offensive abilities.

Smith simply wants to see more production from her and her teammates.

The Bulldogs pounded out 10 hits but timely hitting again eluded the squad in a 10-3 loss to No. 12 Tennessee at the MSU Softball Field.

Tennessee softball blanks MSU

STARKVILLE — Relentless effort has been a motto for the Mississippi State University softball team this season.

MSU coach Vann Stuedeman felt she didn’t get that type of effort Friday night at the MSU Softball Field.

Starkville High honors baseball coach with Carlisle Day

STARKVILLE — When Starkville High assistant baseball coach Ronald Campbell had an opportunity to return to his alma mater as a coach, he did not have to think twice about the invite.

Campbell, a baseball standout at the school from 1982 through 1984, is in his sixth season as an assistant coach on head coach Danny Carlisle’s staff.

PITCHING THE BULLDOGS FORWARD: Graveman embraces Sunday role for MSU

Junior right-hander Kendall Graveman has flourished in the role of Sunday starter for the Mississippi State University baseball team.

This past weekend, Graveman threw the Bulldogs’ first complete game of the season in a 7-1 victory over then 10th-ranked LSU at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. Graveman struck out no batters but got an amazing 19 ground ball outs, while allowing 10 hits.