Minor inks with Warriors

Starkville Academy senior Carnail Minor signed to play basketball at East Central Community College.

Volunteer signs with Mississippi College

Starkville Academy senior Hunter Bolin was joined by seniors who celebrated his signing with Mississippi College to play baseball.

Canton sweeps Class AA North Track event

Canton Academy, under the direction of Coach Ben Williams, captured both the boys and girls North AA track titles held at Lee Academy in Clarksdale last week.

Watson’s two run blast lifts Marshall

Southern Sports & Travel

Marshall centerfielder Von Watson crushed a two-run, sixth inning homer to break a 4-4 tie as the fourth ranked Patriots edged third ranked Central Hinds in Raymond last night to take a 1-0 North AA State Championship series lead.

Senior southpaw Aaron McAlexander went the distance on the mound for Marshall collecting five strikeouts and scattering just four hits on the evening.

Marshall put up two runs in their half of the second inning.

Chance Lyken’s one-out single enabled Matt Rappa to advance to third base after Rappa had reached base on a fielder’s choice and Devin McGregor would bring Rappa home with a two-out single to left field.

Marshall sophomore Von Watson smashed a 2 run homer in the 6th inning

Marshall would score again in the inning as Central Hinds committed a costly fielding error on a Josh Mask grounder which allowed Lyken to score and increase the lead to 2-0.

Marshall doubled their lead in the third inning as Aaron McAlexander produced a lead-off single and Vince Hoyt drilled a full count double into left field scoring McAlexander.

Von Watson reached base on a second fielding error by Central Hinds which also allowed Hoyt to advance to third base.

Chance Lykens brought Hoyt home with an infield hit to give the defending Class AA North Champions a 4-0 advantage midway through the third inning.

Central Hinds showed life in the bottom of the inning.

Lead-off hitter Alex Biggs reached on a Marshall error but would be the first out of the inning as Bruce Agee hit into a fielder’s choice.

With two outs Peyton Banes popped a 2-0 double into centerfield to score Agee and the Cougars quickly cut the Marshall lead in half as Blake Bishop followed with a double to score Banes from second base to pull Central Hinds back to within two runs at 4-2 with four full innings to play.

Aaron McAlexander went the distance for Marshall allowing just 4 hits

Central Hinds would tie the contest in their half of the fourth inning as Marshall committed a costly error of their own.

Lead-off man Ty Mohler reached base on an errant throw and advanced to third base when Keller Bradford smacked a full count double to centerfield.

Tanner Leggett brought Mohler home with a perfectly laid sacrifice bunt and the Cougars would knot the game at 4-4 on an Alex Biggs grounder that forced a play at the plate in which Bradford safely scored from third.

Central Hinds would let an opportunity slip through their fingers in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Cougars managed to load the bases with two outs but could not capitalize and as a result it would prove to be costly.

Dakota Dailey led off the top of the sixth inning with a first pitch single into left field. Both Aaron McAlexander and Vince Hoyt smashed long bombs to the farthest reaches of centerfield falling just short of going yard but with two outs in the inning Von Watson did the honors as the sophomore drilled the first pitch he saw well over the centerfield wall with Dakota Dailey on base to give the Patriots what would be the final score of 6-4.

Aaron McAlexander closed the door to preserve the win as the senior retired the last six Central Hinds batters he faced.

Seven different Marshall players collected a hit on the night with sophomore Devin McGregor (Photo left) leading the way going 2/3 and an RBI, Aaron McAlexander was 2/4 and Chance Lykens went 2/4 with an RBI.

Marshall improved to 19-11 and will take a 1-0 series lead heading back home to Holly Springs where game two will take place on Thursday.

Keller Bradford took the loss for Central Hinds (21-8).

Post Game with Marshall Head Coach Bart Jenkins

Central Private to host summer all-star game

Here is information for the first annual Louisiana small private parochial schools football game.

This game will consist of graduated seniors from 2013 from the LHSAA, the MAIS, and the ACEL schools.  The game will be played on Saturday June 1, 2013 at Central Private School in Central, La. 

It will be a north versus south format. If you make Alexandria the center point then every school north of there will play for the north and any school south of there will play for the south. 

The south will practice at Silliman Institute in Clinton, La. They will be coached by TJ Davis of Silliman. The north will practice at a site the second I confirm a coach. If you are interested in coaching the north just let me know, there will be a small stipend for doing it. 

What I need from each of you is the name, mailing address, and phone number for 2 players or 3 if you have a kicker, that you would like to play in the game. You will say the position that they will play and I will let the coaches know the positions. 

The game will be four quarters of 15 minutes each. Each player will be guaranteed 1 quarter at his position, any time that side of the ball is on the field during the game he will be in it. We are only going to have 45 on each team, 22 offensive, 22 defensive and 1 kicker. The kids will practice 5 days of 2 a days for a total of 10 practices before the game. I am contacting all the colleges in Louisiana to tell the coaches about the game so they will come and watch. 

There will be an all-star banquet with a guest speaker on the day of the game. Tickets will be available for this later. The players do not pay for the banquet. It will cost the players $90.00 to play but we do not want them or their parents paying for it. We want them to get a sponsor for the game program. They get their jersey, t-shirt, team photo, and banquet ticket for the money. We will also be handing out four $250 scholarships to the college of their choice, 2 for the north and 2 for the south.. 

The response for this game has been great. Over 60 teams have asked for information. If you have any questions you can call me at 318-453-0292 or email at lumleyl42@yahoo.com.

See you at the game.  

Coach Lyn Lumley

Central Private School head football coach

NORTH STATE TRACK MEET REULTS
SOUTH AAA TRACK MEET RESULTS

SOUTH A and AA TRACK MEET RESULTS

Tri-County smashes Winona to advance

Southern Sports & Travel

Tri-County is chasing history, one series at a time.

Class A top ranked Tri-County moved one step closer to their quest to win the school’s first ever baseball state championship on Friday with a convincing 10-0 win over second ranked Winona Christian at WS “Red” Hancock Field in Flora.

This marked the third consecutive season that the Rebels squared off with Winona in the second round of the playoffs.

Winona eliminated Tri-County in 2011 and 2012 but a 1-hit, 10 strikeout performance from senior Trent Driver and timely hitting propelled the Rebels in advancing to next week’s Class A North State Championship Series against third ranked Bayou.

Driver, who came into Friday’s game not 100% healthy, had to battle out of a first inning jam.

After Winona lead-off hitter Morgan Mills was hit by Driver the Stars looked to do some damage early on.

Delta State signee Trent Driver improved to 8-1 on the season

Bailey Lott followed by reaching base on a hot grounder that resulted in a Tri-County error and allowed Mills to advance to third base with no outs.

Winona’s threat would be halted as Driver began to settle in.

The Delta State signee struck out Aaron Gatlin and Brady Chambley and forced Miles Jackson into a ground out to get out of the jam.

Tri-County would get on the board in their half of the inning as Tanner Rodabough reached on a Winona fielding error with one out.

Rodabough successfully stole second base and was brought home on a Derek Martin 1-1 double into left field with two outs.

The Rebels added another run to go up 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning.

Dylan McKnight sent a 2-out, 3-1 single into center field and was brought home on Tanner White’s long double to the centerfield wall.

After a shaky start Trent Driver retired nine straight Winona batters and Tri-County would slowly start to pull away.

Tri-County's Derek Martin gets a large lead

The Rebels added a run in the third to stretch their lead to 3-0 when a deep fly ball to centerfield was dropped allowing Tanner Rodabough to score from second with two out.

Winona would get their only hit off of Driver in the top of the fourth inning as Aaron Gatlin garnered a lead-off double but Driver proceeded to strike out three straight batters to preserve the shutout.

Winona starting pitcher Bailey Lott found himself in a jam in the bottom of the fifth.

Dusty Brock delivered a 1-out single but would be tagged out attempting to steal second base.

Lott then walked Derek Martin, who with two outs, successfully stole second base to get into scoring position and Trent Driver would bring Martin home as the senior hit a single into left field to increase the margin to 4-0.

Tri-County poured it on in their half of the sixth inning.

Bailey Lott walked leadoff hitter Nick Wooten and would be replaced by Winona southpaw ace Brady Chambley.

Consecutive bunts from Dylan McKnight and Tanner White loaded the bases but a third straight bunt from Ryan Cothern would result in a force out at the plate. Tanner Rodabough then single into centerfield to score McKnight and White and Dusty Brock followed with a single of his own to bring home Cothern and Rodabough as the Rebels pushed the lead to 8-0 with just one out in the inning.

Trent Driver of Tri-County steals third base in the fifth inning

Derek Martin would reach on a Winona error which brought Trent Driver to the plate.

Brock would steal third base and Martin advanced to second and then Driver delivered the knockout blow as the senior belted a double to score Brock and Martin and end the game due to the 10-run rule.

With the win Tri-County improves to 24-3 while Winona closes out the 2013 campaign with a 20-3 mark.

Driver improved to 8-1 on the season and helped his cause at the plate with a double, a single and 4 RBI’s.

Tanner Rodabough and Dusty Brock each had 2 singles and 2 RBI’s and Tanner White had a double, a single and an RBI.

Post Game with Tri-County Head Coach Ricky Owens

Lady Raiders capture district championship

Riverfield Academy recently took home the District 7-A track championship.

Columbia releases statement on Watts hiring

Columbia Academy is pleased to announce that Coach Dale Watts will assume the role of Varsity Boys’ basketball coach and Junior High Boys’ basketball coach. Coach Watts is returning to his alma mater. He is a 1971 graduate of Columbia Academy, where he served as Senior Class President and was a key component of the 1971 State Champion Basketball team. 

Coach Watts has previously coached at Centreville Academy and Parklane Academy. While at Parklane Academy, his teams won a AAA State and Overall State Championship in 1982, and an Overall State Championship in 1990.   For the last nineteen years he has coached at Brookhaven Academy where he has won seven of eight State AA Championships from 2003 until 2011, six of which were consecutive. Watts stated, “I am extremely happy and excited to be here. I feel like the community is ready to move forward and that is my objective.”

Next year Columbia Academy will be moving up within the MAIS to the classification of AAA, Division II.  Columbia Academy is pleased and excited to have Coach Watts lead our program while this change is made.  Both the High School Girls’ and the Junior High Girls’ teams will continue under the capable leadership of Coach Reid McCay.  Coach McCay has faithfully led the Cougars basketball teams in the past and previously led the school to a State Championship in 2004.

Top ranked Rebels sluggish in 2-1 road playoff win

Southern Sports & Travel

Top ranked Central Private began their quest for a twelfth state championship on Tuesday night as they traveled to Columbia to take on eighth ranked Columbia Academy.

Central Private ace Brennan Fucich struck out 10 and allowed just 3 hits and seniors Brad Miller and Blake Benoit each hit homers to propel the Rebels to a hard fought 2-1 win to take a 1-0 series lead.

The Rebels had trouble early on adjusting the Columbia southpaw Logan Cooke’s change up as the junior went the distance and scattered 7 hits, allowing 2 runs and striking out three.

After leaving two men on over the first three innings Central Private got a spark from senior Blake Benoit who sent a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall in the top of the fourth inning to give the Rebels the first lead of the evening at 1-0.

Kris Tamplet would reach base on a two-out single but was stranded to end the Rebel’s half of the inning.

Columbia showed why they’re a top ten team as the Cougars would tie the contest in bottom of the inning.

Drew McElroy sent a 0-1 pitch into right field for a lead-off single and would advance to second on a fielder’s choice.

McElroy raced for third base on teammate Dylan Pounds’ ground out and would score to tie the game at 1-1 on a Rebel error as the throw to tag McElroy at third went awry.

Will Raybourn would extend the inning with an infield hit but that would be Columbia’s last base-runner as Brennan Fucich was gaining steam.

Central Private would break the tie in the top of the fifth inning when senior Brad Miller sent a Logan Cooke two-out fast ball well over the center field wall to give the Rebel’s the lead at 2-1.

Brennan Fucich retired the last ten Cougar batters he faced en-route to nailing the door shut on Columbia and improving his season mark to 7-1.

Central Private improves to 24-4 while Columbia slips to 16-9.

The series now shifts back to Central Private on Friday.

.Post Game with Central Private Head Coach Jason Kinchen

PLEASE TEXT BASEBALL SCORES TO 985-750-3455 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

CORRECTION:

Southern Sports & Travel received a story last week regarding Bayou Academy coach Winn Scott leaving for Delta Academy. I received information from Delta Academy headmaster Barry Finnie today who said that was an erroneous report and not true.

My sincere apologies.

Lady Wildcats win another district crown

Silliman took home another girls district title last week by capturing the 6-AA meet held at Silliman. The Lady Wildcats are coached by Sharon Kline.

Canton takes district track crown

Canton Academy made it a clean sweep by capturing the District 2-AA varsity meet and the junior varsity girls team also won. The meet was held at Winston Academy. Ben Williams is the track coach at Canton.

Adams sweeps district track event

Adams Christian captured the girls and boys varsity and junior varsity District 5-AA track championship.

Central Holmes dominates district track event

Central Holmes Christian School makes a clean sweep of the District 4-A track titles.

High School Girls - 1st place

High School Boys - 1st place

Prep's Williams signs with Lipscomb

Jackson Prep senior Josh Williams has signed to play basketball at Lipscomb University of Nashville. Lipsomb is a Division-I University and participates in the Atlantic Sun Conference along with notables such as Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson and Mercer.

Williams averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds his senior season and is a two-time Southern Sports & Travel All-MAIS selection.

Shown above, L to R: Renee Williams (mother), Josh Williams and Willie Williams (father).

Watts heading back home

Southern Sports & Travel

Dale Watts will be returning to his alma mater.

Columbia Academy has announced the hiring of Watts to head up the boys basketball program. Both parties agreed to terms late this evening.

Watts, 59 and a 1971 graduate of Columbia Academy, addressed his Brookhaven squad this afternoon after informing administration officials of his plans.

The 2011 MAIS Hall of Fame inductee coached twenty seasons at Brookhaven, winning seven boys state championships including an unprecedented six consecutive.

Prior to his arrival at Brookhaven, Watts directed Parklane Academy to two Overall titles and one state title.

“We’re ecstatic,” said Search Committee and Columbia Academy Board Member Jason Stringer.

“We had a phenomenal list of candidates who were interested in our program and I can honestly say all of them were exceptional.”

Watts will direct the boys varsity and junior varsity squads while long time Columbia head coach Reid McCay will handle the varsity and junior varsity girls teams.
A formal statement from Columbia Academy officials is expected tomorrow.

Undermanned Tigers edge Cougars in extra innings

Southern Sports & Travel

The two-time defending Class AA State Champion Centreville Tigers avoided putting themselves in a big hole by edging third ranked Simpson 2-1 last night in extra innings at Centreville Academy.

Playing without three starters Centreville relied on the arm of senior Randy Bell and big plays from underclassmen filling in.

Bell (Photo left) went the entire eight innings striking out 14 and giving up just one hit while his counterpart, Simpson junior Austin Douglas, put together a solid performance allowing three hits and striking out 7 while also going the distance.

Bell would retire the first eight Simpson batters he faced before allowing a third inning, two-out walk to the Cougar’s Chris Sullivan. The walk was followed by an in-field error that put Kolby Burton on first while advancing Sullivan into scoring position at second base.

In what would prove to be a crucial play in the contest Simpson’s Christopher Richardson connected on a Randy Bell 1-1 pitch to deep center field but a diving grab by sophomore John Marcus McDowell halted what would have more than likely been two Cougar runs.

Centreville would take the lead in their half of the fifth inning.

Sophomore Casey Haygood sent an Austin Douglas 1-1 pitch into center field for a lead-off single and a sacrifice bunt from Hayden Mounce advanced Haygood to second base with one out.

Drew Noland’s grounder recorded the second out but that would move Haywood over to third base with Centreville’s Cale McKey stepping up to the plate.

McKey smoked an infield grounder that was mishandled, scoring Haygood and giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead after five full innings of play.

Simpson responded in the top half of the sixth inning.

The Cougars would get their first hit off of Randy Bell as Chris Sullivan hit a lead-off single into right field. Two pitches later Sullivan successfully stole second base but would watch Bell retire two batters and threaten to stop the Cougar rally.

Sullivan took advantage of a Bell pitch in the dirt and advanced to third base and scored on another Bell pitch that was short and couldn’t be handled by freshman catcher Chad Vanderford.

Bell struck out Walt Prince to end the inning and the two squads would play into the eighth inning knotted at 1-1 before all was decided.

Centreville's Casey Haygood (#12) readies to head home in the fifth inning

Bell retired the side in the top half of the eighth inning and Austin Douglas appeared to be on his way to doing the same in the bottom half but a critical pitching error would be costly for third ranked Simpson.

After forcing Centreville’s Drew Noland into a ground out Douglas sat down Cale McKey to record the second Tiger out but Douglas would hit pinch hitter Tyler Duncan.

Duncan was replaced by speedy sophomore Chase Hughes who wasted little time in stealing second base with fellow sophomore John Marcus McDowell at the plate.

McDowell, facing a 2-1 count, laid down a two-out bunt and just before reaching first base was hit in the back on the throw by the Simpson catcher while Hughes raced around third and scored the winning run.

“We knew we really had to come into tonight’s game focused,” said Centreville senior Randy Bell. “We had some key guys out but this win showed that we have a lot of grit and determination and our young guys really stepped up.”

Bell, who improved to 5-2, wouldn’t have been the game one starter for Centreville but without the services of junior pitcher Colby Shaw he got the nod.

“Chad Vanderford, our freshman catcher, did a great job tonight and our defense really stepped up and made some big plays,” said Bell. “Now we have to look towards Friday’s game and keep everyone focused.”

John Marcus McDowell (#32) of Centreville bunted in the winning run in the eighth inning

Vanderford along with John Marcus McDowell filled in for two other Centreville regulars who were unavailable for last night’s contest.

Austin Douglas took the loss for Simpson. The junior (6-2) recorded 7 strikeouts on the night.

With the win second ranked Centreville improves to 15-5 but more importantly the Tigers take a 1-0 series lead.

The series picks back up in Mendenhall on Friday with a double-header scheduled if necessary.

Simpson fell to 15-6.

.

Post Game with Centreville Head Coach Jason Horne

PLEASE TEXT BASEBALL PLAYOFF SCORES TO 985-750-3455 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Simpson's Shane Brown inks with Copiah-Lincoln

Simpson Academy has announced that senior pitcher Shane Brown has signed to play baseball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Pictured standing are: Co-Lin assistant baseball coach Ryan Tutor, Simpson head baseball coach Gird Warren, and Co-Lin assistant baseball coach, Bryan Nobble.

Sitting: Father, Patrick Brown, Shane Brown, and mother, Janet Brown.

Magnolia Heights eyeing another title

Southern Sports & Travel

In 2008 the MAIS discontinued the Overall Championship series that decided the best overall baseball team in the association and since then debate routinely ensues each season as to who has the best squad. The debate is worthwhile due to the parity that exists amongst all three MAIS baseball classes.

This season a handful of teams have impressed baseball enthusiasts who have an eye for talented squads but one particular group has been heads above the field with post season play approaching rapidly.

The Magnolia Heights Chiefs won the 2012 Class AAA Division II Championship and are on pace to repeat and claim the school’s fifth state title in baseball this season.

The 2013 version looks more impressive than the group that captured the crown with an impressive two game series win over Starkville last May and if the manner in which they have posted a 20-0 record thus far is any indication of what’s to come when the playoffs get underway opposing teams may struggle to get base runners in scoring position.

Those opposing teams will face the best group of pitchers assembled in the MAIS led by Jacob Billingsley, a Mississippi State signee, who has posted a 5-0 record and an impressive 0.46 ERA. Billingsley (photo below) has yielded just 8 hits and 2 runs on the season and has collected 49 strikeouts.

In last season’s 6-1 win over Starkville to clinch the state title Billingsley tossed a complete game 3 hitter to cap a 2-0 series win in which Magnolia Heights limited Starkville to just 1 run and 5 hits in 14 innings of play.

Complimenting Billingsley is senior Colin Liles who also posts a 5-0 season mark and a paltry 0.75 ERA and 37 strikeouts.

Add to the mix unbeaten senior southpaw Jackson Pitts, who hurled a 2 hit, 1-0 shutout win over Starkville in last season’s game one of the championship series. Pitts has a 1.45 ERA and with the southpaw’s experience one could understand the enormous task facing opponents.

Magnolia Height’s success isn’t limited to the mound.

Delta State signee Dalton Skelton leads the Chiefs in hitting with a .458 average and an on base average of .522 and junior Jamell Newson is hitting at a .397 clip and leads the squad with 15 stolen bases.

The Chief’s power hitter is senior Luke Latham, a Northwest Mississippi Community College signee, who has gone yard 5 times and is hitting .370 with a slugging percentage of .759 through 20 games.

Magnolia Height’s head coach Chris McMinn, who is in his eighth season, has obviously kept his squad focused and the results are there to back that up.

Magnolia Heights is 52-5 dating back to the start of last season and the Chiefs have won 24 straight and 29 of their last 30 games dating back to last season and have recorded an impressive 8 shutouts this season. Only two times has an opposing team scored more than 3 runs in the Chief’s 20 wins during the 2013 campaign.

The Class AAA Division II State Championship Tournament gets underway on April 29^th and it will take a gargantuan effort for a team to pull an upset against one of the best teams in recent years.

Magnolia Heights will be shooting for their fifth state championship in baseball in school history and third in the past five seasons but the big question that some may ask prior to the April 29^th start of the playoffs might be can a team score enough runs against such an overpowering defending champion?

It’s a 290 mile drive from Bogalusa to Senatobia but Southern Sports & Travel will be there.
The Chiefs host Washington in double-header action on Thursday.