Jackson Prep captured the Class AAA Division I State Championship this evening with a 5-1 win over MRA. Prep wins the series 2-0 and in doing so finished their 2013 campaign at 34-2.
May 8, 2013
Top big man in the MAIS signs with Nicholls State
Central Private senior Liam Thomas has signed to play basketball at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Nicholls is a Division I University and a member of the Southland Conference.
Thomas, a 6'10" center, averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and 9 blocked shots a game this past season and was a Southern Sports & Travel All-MAIS first team selection.
May 6, 2013
Veritas girls win sixth track title in eight years
The Veritas School Lady Lions recently won their sixth state title in the past eight years.
Above, L-R: Coach Steve Spinks, Sage Bowman, Maryanna Story, Nydia Tillis, Sydney Hughes, Lacius Caddle, Taylor Warriner, Monica Williams, Sophie Hughes, Bailey Woods, Kiara Harris, Coach Caddle.
May 5, 2013
MRA's McCraney to kick for Alcorn State
Madison Ridgeland Academy senior Haiden McCraney has signed to play football at Alcorn State University.
In the picture left to right, sitting is Steve McCraney (Father), Haiden McCraney and Sandra McCraney (Mother). Standing left to right is Coach John Weaver (MRA Assistant Coach), Craig McCraney (brother) and Coach Forrest Williams, MRA Head Coach.
May 4, 2013
May 3, 2013
Gantz out at Central Private
Central Private head basketball coach Henry Gantz informed Southern Sports & Travel today that he will not return next year. Gantz replaced Ed Palubinskas after the 2011 season and in his two seasons as the boys' varsity coach Central Private went 50-12, won two district titles, a Class AA South State Championship and the school's first ever Overall Championship this past season.
"I've decided it's best for myself and my family to part ways with Central Private. I've enjoyed coaching my players the last three years and I wish the kids the best in the future," said Gantz in a short statement.
A request for a statement from Central Private School went unanswered.
May 2, 2013
Earnhart to play basketball for Lady Choctaws
Tori Earnhart, a senior at The Veritas School, has committed to play basketball at Mississippi College this fall.
Pictured are (from left) Steve Spinks- Veritas Athletic Director, Shay, Tori, and Tray Earnhart, and Charlie Warriner- Veritas Head Girls Basketball Coach.
Lovitt heading to Oxford
Tavyn Lovitt of Madison Ridgeland Academy recently signed a track and cross country scholarship with the University of Mississippi.
Shown above: Back row (L-R): John Weaver, Head Track Coach; Kayla Lovitt (sister), and Stephen Force, Head Girls' Basketball Coach
Seated (L-R): Patrick Lovitt, Tavyn Lovitt and Jennifer Lovitt
May 1, 2013
Ben’s
Ford Christian School, a success story
Although
it was difficult in the early stages there was an upside which ultimately paid
dividends and that was evident as those seventh graders received a
steady dose of Baseball 101 as they progressed over the years.
“We
have some kids on campus that didn’t play baseball that could have helped us
and now they’ve seen the comradery, the fun and the success we’ve had and they tell
me they wished they had played, and since we only have three seniors, it’s
encouraging for next season.”
Southern
Sports & Travel
Sitting
three miles just outside the small town of Bogalusa, Ben’s Ford Christian
School is now in the closing weeks of the most successful school year in its’
history.
A
ministry of Ben’s Ford Baptist Church, the school has blossomed in both growth
and athletics and is now the biggest private school in Washington Parish. From
just 20 students in 1983 to 500 today the MAIS member school has addressed their
growth with improvements that include a newly constructed, spacious preschool building
and a much needed field house for their athletic program.
With
the growth came other changes. The school will, for the first time, compete in
Class AA when the 2013/14 school year gets underway in August and will be in
the same district as Bowling Green, just 18 miles away.
While
capital improvements helped the school keep pace with its’ growing enrollment
numbers the success of the athletic program reached new heights this year and
created a level of excitement never seen at the school, now in its’ fourth
decade.
The boys’ varsity basketball program, under the direction of third year head coach Shadd Pittman, teetered just outside the Southern Sports & Travel rankings this past season. Ben’s Ford caught fire in the playoffs and advanced to their first ever Class A South State Championship game where they fell to eventual state champion Porter’s Chapel. The Eagles finished the year at 18-11 and will have three starters returning next season.
The boys’ varsity basketball program, under the direction of third year head coach Shadd Pittman, teetered just outside the Southern Sports & Travel rankings this past season. Ben’s Ford caught fire in the playoffs and advanced to their first ever Class A South State Championship game where they fell to eventual state champion Porter’s Chapel. The Eagles finished the year at 18-11 and will have three starters returning next season.
The
success of the basketball program carried over to baseball where Ben’s Ford yet
again reached a milestone, its’ first ever district championship in any sport.
Now
in his sixth season at the helm, head baseball coach Jerod Wascom remembers the
difficulty in building a program that had fielded a team just once in its’
history, in 1991.
“My
first year we only had a 10 or 12 game schedule and didn’t have a field,” said
Wascom. “We
were able to play one home game and it was played at Bogalusa high School.”
A
larger obstacle was assembling a varsity team.
“Our
biggest challenge was playing at the high school level with kids that hadn’t
played baseball since 9 or 10 year old little league.”
Wascom
had to start from scratch which meant teaching fundamentals and basics of the
game in order to field a varsity team. Add a lack of numbers on the roster and
the challenge was magnified tremendously.
Wascom
had to incorporate kids one year removed from primary school to fill his roster
and had three seventh graders playing infield positions at one time.
Although
it was difficult in the early stages there was an upside which ultimately paid
dividends and that was evident as those seventh graders received a
steady dose of Baseball 101 as they progressed over the years.
The
program has grown and improved since Wascom’s first season in 2007 and the
Eagle baseball program enjoyed the fruits of their labor this season as
they went a perfect 8-0 in district play, qualified for the post season and steadily crept up the Southern Sports & Travel rankings.
First
and second round sweeps of Newton and ranked Russell Christian followed and
Wascom attributed that to solid pitching from seniors Cole Edwards and Brian Hines. In their series wins over Newton and
Russell Christian only 2 walks were allotted and Ben’s Ford pitchers racked up
37 strikeouts.
“It
was a hurdle at the start of the season due to seven of my starters playing basketball
and after a long playoff run I got them much later than usual.”
On
the Thursday morning the team traveled to Meridian for game two against Russell
Christian the entire school gave them an encouraging sendoff as students
holding signs lined the fences of the front of the campus.
“The
support from the school has been outstanding,” said Wascom. “We don’t have
lights yet at our field so most of our home games start at 2 p.m. and all the
kids are allowed to attend. It’s a great environment and our players love it.”
The
support from the school and this season’s success has also reaped another reward,
more interest from kids that chose not to participate in the program.
Now
playing for the Class A South State Championship, Ben’s Ford takes a major step
up in competition as the Eagle’s opponent is the 2012 defending state champion
Glenbrook Apaches and when asked if his players understood the moment they were
in Wascom replied, “We try not to make it bigger than what it is, we don’t
downplay it but we’ve been preaching all year that you play the game to have
fun first and foremost but at the same time we want our kids to put forth their
best effort.”
Wascom added, “They know Glenbrook won state last season but we’ve been telling our kids all year that the potential is there if they come together and play hard, the sky is the limit for this group. Now that things have started coming together they realize what they’ve accomplished to this point but make no mistake about it, we know Glenbrook is second to none and it’s going to be a real tough task.”
Coaches at Ben’s Ford know and understand the challenge that awaits them as they move to Class AA athletics but it’s a welcomed challenge that they eagerly await.
Wascom added, “They know Glenbrook won state last season but we’ve been telling our kids all year that the potential is there if they come together and play hard, the sky is the limit for this group. Now that things have started coming together they realize what they’ve accomplished to this point but make no mistake about it, we know Glenbrook is second to none and it’s going to be a real tough task.”
Coaches at Ben’s Ford know and understand the challenge that awaits them as they move to Class AA athletics but it’s a welcomed challenge that they eagerly await.
“Success
breeds success,” said Wascom. “Hopefully this will carry on from sport to sport
for years to come. We have kids who are winners, they believe they can win and
that’s the difference now.”
Ben’s
Ford met defending Class A champion Glenbrook on Tuesday night in game one of
the best of three series and witnessed up close and personal the play of one of
the top pitchers in Class A. Glenbrook defeated Ben’s Ford 13-0 behind a perfect
game hurled by sophomore Spencer White.
The
series resumes on Thursday.
.
Photos courtesy of Shelaine McClelland
.
Photos courtesy of Shelaine McClelland
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
