Mississippi Sports Magazine Jan/Feb 2009

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The Cohen era begins at Mississippi State.

Southern Miss strives to host regional in ‘09.


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Mississippi Sports Magazine - 1


THE EGG BOWL

Billboard bites back

Ole Miss got the last laugh as they turned the tables on the Bulldogs with a 45-0 blowout win in the Egg Bowl in Oxford. The Rebs took a shot back at the Bulldogs infamous ticket campaign billboard with a jumbo sized version of it’s own.

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Photos by Greg Pevey

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Meridian Wildcats: 200

Meridian ended South Panola’s 89 game winning the 5A state championship. The Wildcats (14-1) Russell shredding the Tigers’ defense for 243 ya defense that kept the Tigers out of the endzone o Overtime period.

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Photos by Greg Pevey

08 5A State Champs!

g-streak with a thrilling 26-20 overtime victory in piled up 330 total yards, with quarterback Tyler ards through the air, but it was the Cat’s stingy on 4th and goal after Meridian scored first in the

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FROM THE PUBLISHERS

Weekends with Dad

G Greg & Mendy Pevey Publishers

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rowing up in Mississippi we all have our stories about how we got hooked into this thing we call sports. I was born into a family that lives, breathes, eats and drinks Ole Miss sports and unfortunately, the Saints too. Too bad for most of my 38 years I’ve only been able to celebrate maybe 10 years of success following the Rebels and less than that with the Saints. But I want to talk about the guy who got me hooked. My Dad. My mom always tells the story of my dad loading up the car on Saturday mornings and getting me to tag along with him. She’d tell us both goodbye and when she saw the tail-lights pull out of the drive way she’d dance a jig! She was so glad to have an afternoon off from everyone and enjoy the peace and quiet. Well, Dad and I would be just as excited about our day in Oxford and sometimes the drive to Memorial Stadium that same day for the night game to watch State. Those days are the one’s I’ll never forget. Dad and I would head out and stop along the way to pick up the Reynolds or the Smiths in Clinton then head out to wherever the road took us. Whether it was Oxford, Memphis, Baton Rouge, Little Rock, Tuscaloosa, or New Orleans. We were there. But looking back now it’s funny to know we’d be back that same day. Not sure why Dad never wanted to spend the night? I tell ya it’s long drive home to Clinton from Baton Rouge on a Saturday night after a big-time whooping from the Tigers. Little Rock is a long drive too! Winning a game from time to time made the drive home a little easier. But one thing’s for sure, we never left a game early no matter the score and no matter the weather. Dad and I have seen some great moments together. The upset win over LSU on ABC when Billy Brewer was coaching. I think that was the first time Ole Miss had won in Tiger Stadium in like 20 years. We got to witness the great Hershel Walker make one of his greatest runs as he dove over the Rebel defensive line only to get hit and do a flip and then jog into the end zone. Funny thing about that game was that it was Georgia’s first win over Ole Miss ever in Oxford. We even drove up to South Bend for the Notre Dame rematch game. We’ve seen about 15 Egg Bowls together. The good ones and the bad ones. We went to all the games at Memorial Stadium too. On the way to those games we’d pick up my great Uncle Henry and as usual he would be decked out in his suit and tie with his hat like he’d just stepped out of the 1950’s. We would go see Ole Miss play LSU or Alabama that afternoon and then go back at night and see State play Florida or Memphis. We watched the Dawgs play Navy the year Napolean McCullom was a candidate for the Heisman. I’m sure most of you have memories like this with your dad. Whether you wear red and blue, maroon and white, or black and gold, those are the probably some of the best memories many of you have growing up and they all had an impact on how you feel about school today. I think why some of us have these deep feelings about our Rebels, Dawgs or Eagles is the fact that in those days we didn’t have the things like the kids today have to keep us away from the stadiums. There was no internet, no X-boxes or Playstations, no cell phones to keep you tied into the “real” world then. Sports was all we had to do in the fall. TV games were only on network TV. You didn’t have 20 games on cable every Saturday. If your team was playing and you wanted to see them you had to make the drive. I’d like to thank my Dad for all those memories. There are many more I could talk about, but I only have so much room to write this column. Those memories are one of the reasons that made me start this magazine. One of these days however, I’m going to return the favor to my Dad and haul his butt all over the Southeast and then drive home right after the game. Let’s see how he likes driving home from Baton Rouge now! I think he would be like “We’re going to get home at what time?” Greg Pevey Publisher


MISSISSIPPI SPORTS

CONTENTS

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Volume 1, Issue 4 • January/February 2009

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THE STREAK IS OVER

STAYING PUT? 8 - The Opening Kick Guest Columnist Steven Godfrey gives you his take on the marketing strategies of Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

10 - You know what I’m saying? Chuck Stinson tells us why Mississippi is now a baseball state and Doug Colson discusses the ups and downs of the 2008 football season.

13 - Mississippi Heroes Millsaps’ Juan Jospeh becomes the first winner from a Division III school to win the Cellular South Conerly Award as Mississippi’s top college football player.

PLAY BALL!

COLLEGE BASEBALL PREVIEW

TUNICA TOPS IN GOLF

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ZOOM! ZOOM!

18 - Tradition, Tragedy & Triumph A look at the success of NW Rankin baseball coach Jeff McClaskey

60 - Time Out with Yolanda Moore Achieving success through Balance

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SPORTS BIZ Mississippi Sports Magazine - 7


the opening kick

Love him or hate him, Godfrey’s back with his latest take on what’s going on in the Mississipi sports scene.

College baseball deserves some national respect H

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By Steven Godfrey Contributing Writer

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o other state can greet the arrival of college baseball with the kind of enthusiasm and anticipation that Mississippi does. Unfortunately, that means most of the country isn’t joined in the same passion for the most underappreciated game in mens’ collegiate athletics. Certainly we know our teams are good: Entering the 2009 season, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s rankings already feature the Ole Miss Rebels (No. 11) and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (No. 33) in their preseason Top 40, with Mississippi State receiving votes as well. We also know that we’ve got the best fans in the country as well: When you consider the population of Mississippi in comparison with the sell out crowds for the Big 3 as well as the supporting schools, no other state comes close. But outside of places like Mississippi and pockets of the country (Fullerton, California or Omaha, Nebraska), college baseball is far from a nationally recognized pastime. It’s not about metal bats or big scores, it’s just a matter of finding fans, keeping them, and developing the kind of demand that makes bowl season and March Madness huge, passionate American events. Here’s a few suggestions on how to keep the momentum that Mississippi has built for the sport moving towards success: Get friendly with ESPN online – It’s a Friday evening in the Spring and you’re outside of the radio coverage map of your favorite team. Want to find an updated score? Good luck. Several times over the last two seasons I’ve relied on unofficial message board posts, official team web sites with very

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slow loading and update times and even the antiquated practice of calling family in Jackson and asking “Hey, what’s the score now?” Think it’s tough finding a State or Ole Miss game on the radio when you live here? You’ve got no shot if you move away, even a state over in my case. Despite living in the information inundation era, it’s still frustrating to search out an update for a regular season baseball game. The quickest resolution is to give in to the monopoly and court ESPN to provide a more up-to-date college baseball tab on their web site, as well as scoring updates. Considering that the “Worldwide Leader” and the Southeastern Conference just signed a broadcast agreement that rivals the G.D.P. of most Eastern European countries ($2.25 billion over 15 years), it’s sort of the least they can do. The wonderful age we live in allows me (hypothetically, mind you, as I would NEVER do the following) to check ESPN’s real-time scoring in a WNBA preseason game from my cell phone while camping in the woods, but not the score to LSU/Ole Miss in a crucial Sunday rubber match in March. Who needs to worry about NCAA Regionals when you can soak in the action of the Indiana Fever versus the Sacramento Mystics on your cell phone?! We got next! Get friendly with ESPN on TV – As both a SEC alumnus and a Nashville resident, I had twice the reason to roll my eyes this past September and October when fans of the Red Sox, Yankees and Phillies collectively wondered aloud just who in the world this left-handed reliever named David Price that was tearing up All-Star hitters. This once again proves that Yankee sports fans, specifically those concentrated in the northeastern United

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States, don’t know anything about baseball until Brian Cashman writes someone a check for $150 million. Price, as we all know, was a downright lethal arm and a conference sensation at Vanderbilt before becoming the first overall pick in the 2007 draft by Tampa. Price isn’t the only star the SEC has produced. Those of us in the Magnolia State know what even supposedly “diehard” Red Sox Nation fans don’t – that the ’07 World Series ended when a Mississippi State pitcher (Boston reliever Jonathan Paplebon) struck out an Ole Miss hitter (Colorado outfielder Seth Smith). Why should that matter? Because college baseball should market itself more aggressively as an arena for MLB fans to see the stars of tomorrow. Per the official press release issued in August, all championship games in all SEC sports (except football, where CBS still holds that contract) will be aired on the ESPN family of networks. However, no mention is made of airing a regular weekly college baseball game on any of the ESPN family of networks. Surely a conglomerate with only one major pro contract that has games on in February and March (the NBA) could spare a “College Baseball Night in America” on Fridays. Make concessions to the “winter” schools (unfortunately) I care as much about Big 10 baseball as I do about French soccer. However, if you’re determined to see college baseball make a step up, it has to be nationwide. If any network were to consider college baseball worth airing, reporting on and advertising in the regular season, the bulk of the country would have to be interested. That means that the currently implemented suicide march of 56 games in 13 weeks has to be tolerated (although I give you permission to do so


begrudgingly). Right now the compression of so many games in such a short amount of time is causing frustrations for coaches, players and fans alike. While several factors have combined to created the current rule, most warm-weather fan bases (that’s us) point the grousing of schools in conferences situated in the northeast and upper Midwest, who can’t host home games or even practice outdoors in the later Winter / early Spring months. So since the snowbirds cried foul, the season has been smooshed into a window that allows a reasonable amount of time for the weather to thaw in the beginning and enough time for finals, graduation, the draft and the College World Series to be played in the late Spring. If 56 games in 13 weeks feels like an intensive blur to you, try pitching for those three months. Right now Conference USA has a proposal on the table that would bump the season up by one extended week, allowing a little bit of breathing time. However, the addition of a 14th earlier week has only drawn the ire of cold weather teams yet again. The 2009 season will start on February 20 this year. In years past I can remember sitting in the outfield in Oxford on Valentine’s Day. My suggestion is that SEC, CUSA and Pac-10 fans quietly take this one on the chin until a better situation can be agreed upon. Or we can protest the fact that we’re unable to compete with the University of Michigan in hockey because of climate issues. Don’t get too slick at the stadiums I’m not one to stand in the way of advancement for the sake of nostalgia, but programs like the Big 3 in Mississippi were built upon the recreational atmosphere of their stadiums. It doesn’t matter if you’re putting a tent in right field at Swayze or pulling a pick-up to the right field at The Pete in Hattiesburg – the whole idea that got us loving college baseball in the first place was the combination of a great sport played among a distinctly unique Southern atmosphere. This season LSU will debut a new Alex Box Stadium. Ole Miss will

(possibly) finish upgrades as well. Across the South teams are dumping more money and more hard seating into their facilities as interest in the sport grows. Given the state of our economy, that’s wonderful, but take pause in your upgrades and realize that the charm of a college baseball game is stretching out on a grassy hill or pulling your truck up to the outfield. We’re all in favor of big lights, gaudy scoreboards and home-plate luxury seating that will wow fans and recruits

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– just don’t forget that a cooler and a blanket are a major part of our passion for this game. Homogenized cathedrals featuring $20 hot dogs and no leg room in the third upper deck belong to the idiots up north. I’ll see you in the outfield come May, cold beverages and all. Steven Godfrey is a freelance writer based in Nashville, Tennessee with over six years of right field heckling experience to his credit. Visit www.thegodfreyshow.com for more.

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p i r i t

When it comes to sports, We knoW hoW important it is to be part of a team.

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YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING?

Chuck and Doug always have a take on what’s going on in Mississippi sports.

Yes, Mississippi is a Baseball state

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By Chuck Stinson WLBT-TV 3 Sports Anchor and Co-Host of Mississippi Sports this Morning, 620AM Jackson

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hile Ole Miss and Southern Miss fans are basking in the glow of a bowl season and Mississippi State fans are all giddy over Dan Mullen, the one chosen to lead them to the SEC promise land in football. I got a little news for ya. We are a baseball state. That’s right I said it. I mean it too. Yes, we love football. We crave football. We can’t live without football But our best sport is right under our noses and we barely notice. Maybe it’s the spring, maybe it’s that we are too tired from another tough football season. But baseball is the one thing the whole state does right. Belhaven and William Carey are perennial powers in NAIA. Playoffs are not hoped for they are expected. Millsaps owns the SCAC. Sure the football team is having a great run under Mike DuBose and Juan Joseph won the Cellular South Conerly Trophy but Jim Page has been putting the Majors in the position to make the Division III postseason for most of his 20 plus years there. The Majors are like pizza. Even when they are bad they are good. Mississippi College has been a playoff team is recent years too. In the SWAC, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn State are always contending for the league title. Jackson State coach Omar Johnson won 37 games last year and thanks to a couple of upsets in the SWAC tournament his Tigers couldn’t move on. Expect more this year. Delta State has won one Division II national championship....and the Statesmen aren’t happy about it! They think there should have been more. Lots more! Mike Kinnison’s crew wins nearly 80 percent of the time, is ranked just about every week of every year, and has been to the D2 series four times. It’s not just one of the top programs in the tough Gulf South Conference, it’s one of the best in the nation. The big three? Well what do you think? Mississippi State has been to eight College World Series. Eight! When Greg Byrne went looking for a coach to replace the legendary Ron Polk he didn’t have to beg for takers I can assure you that. It’s one of the top jobs in college baseball and former Bulldog John Cohen would have crawled from Kentucky to Starkville to take it. Luckily for him they sent a plane. Ole Miss has been a top ranked team for years under Mike Bianco. The Rebels are playoff teams year in and year out they just haven’t been to a Series yet. You get the feeling it will happen sooner rather than later. And look at the improvements going on around the stadium there. It’s the same at Southern Miss. Improvements to Pete Taylor Park had to be made just to keep up with the other in state schools. The Golden Eagles have it tough enough already in Conference USA but competing with Ole Miss and Mississippi State for recruits might be tougher than their C-USA schedule! Still they just keep going to the postseason under Corky Palmer. So, get on board! I am declaring baseball as our new state sport! Baseball is the new football! At least until fall. - MSM


Professor Colson gives his final grades on the 2008 Football Season and got blown out 41-9 by Grambling State.

FINAL GRADE: C- Dreadful start, great turnaround, but I can’t over look the fact that none of their seven wins came against an opponent with a winning record.

By Doug Colson Co-Host of Mississippi Sports this Morning, 620AM Jackson

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s I nestle into my recliner for the better part of bowl season only taking timeout for fridge pillaging and bathroom breaks, I somehow find time between the stale BBQ pork rinds and bowl pick’em sheets to reflect on the 2008 college football season for the state of Mississippi. As I ready my red marker and gold stars, my mind meanders through the triumphs and tragedies that elate or torture the collective souls of Magnolia football fans. I hear the echoes of great radio play by play calls and the calls of coaches’ heads on platters. I visualize a gorgeous tapestry of highlights and the dull computer screen glow of scathing fan blogs. I just hope I regain consciousness in time for the BCS. So as I try to shake the cobwebs loose and get my life back together, here are my final grades for 2008. Read’em and weep. Jackson State swaggered into this season as SWAC champions with a big target on their backs and for the first half of their campaign it was open season on JSU tigers. After inconsistent quarterback play and injuries led to offensive futility and a 1 and 4 start, Coach Comegy and his staff did a good job of cobbling together an offense and relied heavily on a stout defense. The Tigers reeled off six wins in a row and earned a repeat trip to the SWAC title game. Unfortunatey for JSU, they flashed backed to September

Southern Miss entered 2008 riding a wave of excitement whipped up by first time head coach Larry Fedora. The spread offense lived up to the hype by dropping 51 points on UL-Lafayette but trouble was just around the corner. A five game losing streak in the middle of the season had many questioning whether the dumping of Jeff Bower was the right decision. The Golden Eagle staff closed out the season pushing all the right buttons on defense leading to a four game winning streak and a birth in the New Orleans Bowl. FINAL GRADE: B- Coach Fedora really showed wisdom beyond his years by salvaging the season with a complete turnaround.

Mississippi State, coming off a surprise 2007, needed to show offensive development and strong signs that the previous year was not a fluke. The Bulldogs got off on the wrong foot by losing to traditional doormat La.Tech. Frustrations grew with the lack of offense and special team blunders as the losses mounted. The Bulldogs showed a glimmer of hope by playing well at LSU and upsetting #13th ranked Vanderbilt, but a bad loss to Kentucky at home crushed any dreams of making a late run. The Egg Bowl proved to be what was the proverbial straw for the MSU coaching staff. The stat sheet was worse than the score indicated and was all the proof needed for the reputation of Coach Croom’s west coast offense. FINAL GRADE: F- When the head coach is forced to resign there can be no other conclusion. OTHER GRADES:

Mississippi Valley State: D+ I have a hard time failing Valley, so I graded them on a curve. Ole Miss sent out early signals that Belhaven: F- Sandwiched two wins the 2008 season would be different by between four and five game losing streaks dismissing the normally pesky Memphis and now must replace Head Coach Tigers 41-24 but growing pains were Donald Lee who left for his alma mater. soon to follow. Costly turnovers and Mississippi College: C- Coach Joseph inconsistent play had fans wondering was able to salvage the Choctaws grade by about which team would show up. closing out with three blowout victories. Would it be the team that beat Florida Alcorn State: D+ Head Coach Ernest in dramatic fashion or the lackluster Jones first year did not provide many one who showed up against Vanderbilt wins, but the Braves battled hard all year. and South Carolina. A combination of Delta State: B+ It’s a little harsh for health and confidence helped the Rebel a team that finished 10-2 and seventh D develop into a major force by years’ in the AFCA top 25, but Head Coach end. Houston Nutt has made genus calls Ron Roberts has an elite D2 program on special teams fakes; his Wild Rebel expectations are high. formation has kept defenses on their Millsaps College: A- The Majors boasted heels, and closing out the year by wining a 11-1 record and Conerly Trophy winner their last five games culminated in a Juan Joseph, but I have to knock a couple 45-0 drubbing of Mississippi State and of points off for losing at home in the a Cotton Bowl bid. playoffs. - MSM FINAL GRADE: A- By years’ end, the Rebels were playing some of the best football in the country. Mississippi Sports Magazine - 11


SPECIAL T O M S M

Mississippi Senior Olympics induct three into Hall of Fame

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n November 20, 2009 a special group of Mississippi athletes were recoginzed by their peers. The Mississippi Senior Olympics honored David Oaks, Helen Beauchamp, and Emil Pawlik by inducting them into their Hall of Fame at a banquet in their honor at the Baptist Healthplex on the campus of Mississippi College. The Mississippi Senior Olympics is a quality recreation experience whose mission is to promote and demonstrate physical fitness, excellence and health of Mississippi’s mature adults age 50 and over and to encourage them to improve the quality of their lives by continuing to be physically active through fitness and sports. Mississippi Senior Olympics provides this arena. MSO is a non-profit volunteer organization sanctioned by the U.S. National Senior Olympics. Also endorsed by the Mississippi Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Mississippi Senior Olympics is the only event in the state sanctioned by the U. S. National Senior Olympics. Men and women age 50 and older can take part in the games. Participants who win first and second place state medals as well as those meeting minimum performance standards during evennumbered years qualify for the National

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Senior Olympic games, which are held during odd-numbered years. The Mississippi Senior Games are held annually and are the only games in the state that qualify you for the National Senior Olympics. The games offer both individual and team sports. Included are archery, badminton, bowling, cycling, checkers, basketball, chess, golf, horseshoes, shuffleboard, swimming, tennis, table tennis, 5K run/walk, 10K run/walk, triathlon, all track and field events, pickleball (a new sport) and more! - MSM (left) David Oakes, Kosiusko David began competing in the Mississippi Senior Games in 1997. During his Senior Olympics career, David has competed in five National Senior Olympics winning 1 gold medal, 2 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals. He has amassed 183 gold medals, 59 silver medals, and 13 bronze medals. The real impact of David’s participation and involvement in the Mississippi Senior Olympics, however, is his positive and contagious winning spirit. He is an inspiration for hundreds of competitors, and a true representative of the passion, commitment and determination that the Mississippi Senior Olympics honors in its participants.

(middle) Helen Beauchamp, Memphis, TN Helen has been competing in Senior Olympics for a great many years. She competes in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus and javelin. Helen has won many Gold medals and set many records. She set world records in the throwing events. Helen participates in the 85 - 89 age group.

Vol. 1 No. 4 January/February 2009

Published by Pevey Publishing, LLC Publishers Greg & Mendy Pevey Layout Greg Pevey Columnists Doug Colson, Steven Godfrey Yolanda Moore, Chuck Stinson Contributing Writers Chris Brooks, Chris Brennaman, John Davis, Joe Dier, Cary Estes, Bryan Eubank, Kevin Maloney, Donell Maxey, Wesley Peterson, Greg Pevey Contributing Photographers Greg Pevey, Sports Information offices at Ole Miss, MSU, USM, JSU, Delta State, Miss. College, Millsaps, Belhaven Advertising Sales Greg Pevey, Jay Pevey Mississippi Sports Magazine is published bi-monthly by Pevey Publishing, LLC to promote Mississippi’s sportsmen and women, colleges, universities, high schools, communities and citizens in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all labeled materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Mississippi Sports Magazine are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Pevey Publishing is not affiliated with any institution, college, university, or other academic or athletic organization. Subscriptions are $24 (1 year, 6 issues). Make checks payable to Pevey Publishing and mail to: 405 Knights Cove West, Brandon, MS 39047 or subscribe online at www. mssportsmagazine.com.

(right) Emil Pawlik, Jackson Emil competed in his first Senior Olympic Games in 1987 or 1988. Emil has competed in every Nationals ever since often winning or placing in the 100 meters, 200 Meters, high jump, pole vault, long jump, hurdles. He is also a great ambassador for Mississippi as he is a true sportsman, friendly and outgoing. Emil is admired the world over for his amazing athletic feats.

PUBLISHING

Pevey Publishing, LLC Mississippi Sports Magazine 405 Knights Cove West • Brandon, MS 39047 PUBLISHING Phone: 601-503-7205 • Fax: 601-992-2885 email: publisher@mssportsmagazine.com www.mssportsmagazine.com


MS HEROES Major Surprise: Joseph Wins 2008 Cellular South Conerly Trophy Senior QB becomes first player from Division III to be awarded as state’s top player By Kevein Maloney, Millsaps College Sports Information Director

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illsaps College senior quarterback and All-American hopeful Juan Joseph capped a stellar four-year career with an unforgettable honor on December 2 in Clarksdale, as he was named the recipient of the 2008 Cellular South Conerly Trophy as the best college football player in the state of Mississippi. Up against incredible odds, Joseph won the prestigious award over a pair of projected NFL first-round draft choices from Ole Miss, defensive tackle Peria Jerry and offensive tackle Michael Oher. “This feels great,” Joseph said after the announcement. “I’m just happy. I can’t even put it into words.” Although two players from Division II Delta State have won the award, Joseph is the first player from the Division III level to win in the trophy’s 13-year existence. A senior from Edgard, La., Joseph led Millsaps to an 11-1 record this season. The Majors were ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in both the D3football.com and AFCA polls and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, where the Majors lost 3520 to Washington and Jefferson College. Joseph led Millsaps in rushing with 76 carries for 412 yards and four touchdowns and he completed nearly 68 percent of his passes (301-for-445), for 3,463 yards, 32 TDs and only six interceptions. A panel of about 60 media representatives around the state voted on the award, which was handed out following a ceremony at Clarksdale Country Club in front of 200-plus in the hometown of Charlie Conerly, the former Ole Miss quarterback for whom the award is named. Joseph was named the Majors’ top senior by the Jackson Touchdown Club on Monday night at River Hills Country Club in Jackson and still has two postseason honors pending in the Gagliardi Trophy – given to the top college football player in Division III – and All-Region/ American honors by D3football.com. Mississippi Sports Magazine - 13


HIGH SCHOOL

Meridian takes 5A title, ends South Panola’s win-streak at 89 Photos by Greg Pevey

By Chris Brennaman The Meridian Star Mississippi, meet “The man.” He wears the Blue and White of the Meridian High School Wildcats. Before the 2008 high school football season began, it was said in this magazine that “To be the man, you gotta beat the man.” And that’s exactly what Meridian did when the Wildcats knocked off South Panola in the MHSAA Class 5A State Championship on Dec. 5. “It’s been an unbelievable night,” Meridian head coach Larry Weems said after the Wildcats’ 26-20 overtime victory. “I can’t say enough about our guys, and this is something they’re going to be able to take with them forever.” This group of Wildcats will also be forever remembered for being the team that ended “The streak.” South Panola entered the game riding the nation’s longest winning streak at 89 games. That stretch included five straight Class 5A championships, two of which were wins over Meridian. The Tigers’ streak goes down in history as 14 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

the third longest by any high school football team. “We carried it as far as we could,” SP coach Lance Pogue said after the game. “I never thought about the winning streak. I was just thinking about winning this state championship.” Winning the state title is also the only thing that was on the mind of Weems, who said that talk of winning streaks is best left for the fans. “The streak didn’t matter,” Weems said. “We didn’t focus on it. The only thing that mattered was that South Panola was the North State representative and we were the South State. We wanted to win a state championship and that’s what we did.” While the coaches don’t like to use the “S” word, the Wildcat faithful — and just about everyone else in the state — won’t hesitate to bring up the fact that Meridian ended South Panola’s dynasty. Dennis Warren, who was the Voice of the Wildcats for 21 years before turning the reins over to Rob Allen two years ago, has no problem saying how big he thinks the streak is ... not only to the football team and the school, but to the entire city of Meridian.

Asked how he would rate the importance of the championship game and ending South Panola’s streak, Warren said he would give it a nine on a scale of 1-10. “It’s bringing the community back together,” Warren said of Meridian’s win. “It’s bringing back civic pride and it breathes a new life into saying ‘I’m proud to be from Meridian.’” The last Meridian game Warren called on the radio was the 2006 State Championship game when the Wildcats fell to South Panola 28-21. He said he could start to see at that time that MHS would be the team to dethrone the Tigers. “Meridian started this year’s victory in the second half of that game,” Warren said of the 2006 contest. “They realized that they could beat those guys. It was as though the mystique of South Panola was rubbed off.” The Wildcats built even more confidence in the preseason when they proved that the South Panola could be beaten. In a jamboree at Louisville the week before the regular season began, Meridian beat the Tigers 14-0 in two quarters of play. Although the win didn’t mean anything in the standings and still left South Panola’s winning streak intact, it was pretty clear that the same two teams would meet again at the end of the season. Ending the streak drew national attention for Meridian as the story made its way onto the websites of multiple media outlets, including those of the USA Today and ESPN. “It wouldn’t have been the same if we had beaten Madison Central for the championship,” said Meridian athletics director Jermaine Brown. “It’s nice to be associated with ending the streak and to get the national exposure. It’s been exciting for the school that we ended the streak.” During his four years as the leader of Wildcat athletics, Brown has seen Meridian take home multiple individual state championships as well as a pair of girls’ powerlifting titles, but he knows that the football crown is the one that will draw the most recognition from the community.


RB Quarderak Martin

RB James Barnett bulls his way into the endzone for the winning touchdown in Overtime.

Meridian business leaders honored the team at an early morning “Business Before Hours” meeting in the week following the championship game. Although nothing has yet been finalized the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, which sponsored the meeting, is looking into the possibility of hosting a celebratory parade to recognize the Wildcats. “It makes all the difference in the world to these kids to know that their city is behind them,” Warren said. The EMBDC is also working with the Meridian High School Quarterback Club to help raise money to go toward the purchase of state championship rings for the team that won on Magnolia State’s biggest stage for the first time since 1990. This year’s championship puts the total for the school at three — the other came in 1985 — but Meridian still has a ways to go to catch up to the state record of seven titles, which is shared by South Panola and Louisville. The Wildcats, however, have a history of breeding football champions dating back to the 1920s and 30s. Meridian won 16 Big Eight Conference championships before the playoff system began in 1981. While no one can take away from what South Panola has been able to do in the last five years, Meridian fans know that the Wildcats need to be mentioned when one talks about great football teams in Mississippi’s history. “This championship just added the exclamation point that we belong here,” Warren said of Meridian High. “We were champions long before South Panola and we will continue to be long after.” Meridian’s pursuit of title No. 3 got off to a slow start as the Wildcats opened

with Northeast Lauderdale. The Trojans held a 20-6 lead at halftime before MHS outscored their Lauderdale County rival 41-6 over the final 24 minutes. The Wildcats hammered Starkville the following week before making their first road trip of the season. And the ride home from Wayne County would be a long one. The War Eagles, who had been the last team to beat South Panola, handed Meridian its only loss of the year with a 4113 thrashing on a muddy field. West Lauderdale came to Ray Stadium in Week 4 with hopes of making it backto-back losses for the Wildcats. Although the Knights led as late as the third quarter, Meridian would not be denied. Sitting at 3-1, MHS was far from the team that ended up in Jackson, but the Wildcats were beginning to find themselves. It couldn’t have come at a better time as Meridian began Region 3-5A play the following week. A 36-10 win over Natchez marked one of the many games that star quarterback Tyler Russell saw much of from the bench. After putting his team up 36-3 in the first half, Russell didn’t take a snap in the second. Next up for the Wildcats was a trip to Hattiesburg, where the two teams combined for more than 1,000 yards in Meridian’s 4226 win. MHS returned home to host rival Oak Grove. In a series that has a history of being filled with close games, the Wildcats ripped off one of their more dominant performances in the rivalry. Meridian won 42-28, as the Wildcats scored on six of their first seven possessions. The score differential would have been even greater had the Warriors not scored with 11 seconds remaining in the contest.

QB Tyler Russell The Oak Grove game marked the last serious threat for Meridian’s pursuit of a Class 5A South State championship. A homecoming contest against Wingfield provided very little challenge for the Wildcats as they took a 48-0 shutout win. Russell, who sat out a total of 14 full quarters in the 2008 season because of large leads, left the game in the second quarter. Brandon became Meridian’s next victim as the Wildcats took an easy 39-14 win. The game was 32-0 at halftime and again Russell sat out more than half the game. Playing only the first quarter Russell, who was named Mr. Football in Mississippi after the season, led MHS to a 53-0 victory over Jim Hill in the second-to-last game of the regular season. With the win, Meridian claimed the Region 3-5A championship and was assured of hosting a first-round playoff game. A road trip to Terry and subsequent 48-14 win closed out the 11-1 regular season. The Wildcats led the game 41-7 at halftime. The first round of the playoffs brought George County to Ray Stadium and a 5524 win. The game marked the fifth straight outing that Russell did not touch the field in the fourth quarter. A return trip to Hattiesburg was next on the schedule for the Wildcats, and MHS defense turned in its best defensive game of the year as Meridian rolled 27-3. South State provided little challenge for the Wildcats as MHS created seven turnovers including six interceptions and took the 28-0 win over Oak Grove, setting up the historic victory over South Panola. MSM Chris Brennaman is the assistant sports editor at The Meridian Star. He has covered high school sports in East Mississippi for nearly 10 years for both newspaper and television. Mississippi Sports Magazine - 15


Dogwood Festival Market • Flowood

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cellularsouthgameplan.com Mississippi Sports Magazine - 17


HIGH SCHOOL Photos Courtesy Jeff McClaskey

PERSONAL FILE: • Jeff McClaskey – 23 years of Coaching High School Baseball (578-165) • 20th year at Northwest Rankin (512137) – (3 years at Porters Chapel – 66-28) • Wife – Jean, Daughter – Meghan Elizabeth – (9)

JEFF McCLASKEY Tradition, Tradgedy, and Triumph By Brian Eubank TRADITION hen you mention Northwest Rankin to someone in the state of Mississippi the first thing that comes to their mind is Baseball. Northwest Rankin has, for the most part, been known as a baseball school even before Jeff McClaskey took over 20 years ago. D.M. Howie (2 stints, 98-57) and Walley Hall (78-22) set the stage for McClaskey’s current run of success. Some of his accolades include - two district championships at Porter’s Chapel, and Coach of the Year twice. At Northwest Rankin his teams have won eleven district championships and been to the playoffs sixteen times. In 1998 and 2001, he was selected as BCA District

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6 Groundskeeper of the Year. In 1997 and 2005, he was selected as Metro Coach of the Year. In 2005 he received Mississippi Coach of the Year, BCA District 6 Coach of the Year, ABCA Region Coach of the Year, and also the ABCA National Coach of the Year for winning his first State Championship. Twelve of McClaskey’s teams have finished in the top ten in the state at the end of the year. Sixty-five of Coach McClaskey’s players have gone on to play college baseball. In addition, he has featured 8 Metro Players of the Year. What led Coach McClaskey to his decision to head to Northwest Rankin? “I always wanted to be in a public school, for one thing, the retirement system and the

brand of baseball is usually a lot better. I took the Porter’s Chapel job because that was the first job that was offered to me and it was a great opportunity to get into coaching. Then when the Northwest job came open, no doubt it was a big job and big step for me.” After eight years of successful leadership (only 2 losing seasons) from D.M. Howie and Walley Hall, Jeff took over in 1990. “My first year here we were 17-7 and that was one of the best teams we’ve had in the 20 years I have been here. We worked very hard and we had a lot of motivated players but I thought we fell short of what we wanted to do because I thought we had better talent than a 17-7 record. The transition was hard early on with wins and losses but it didn’t take long after that for the players to get used to the system and now we just roll along. The biggest difference now is that I have great assistant coaches who help me. Back when I first started I had nobody else but myself and a football coach to help with the baseball program. I was also coaching football and junior high basketball.” Another key to his success has been the administration and the Baseball Booster Club. “It starts at the top with the administration. They love athletics. My boss, Richard Morrison, was my assistant coach for five years and I also played with him at Delta State under Coach (Boo) Ferris and he knows all about baseball. One of the other administrators was one of my assistants for nine years, so we have sports oriented guys here, but they are also high academic people. They love sports and they want us to succeed


and excel, but they also want the kids to be disciplined. I am in a good situation and that’s why I will probably never leave here until I get through coaching, because I think I have one of the best jobs in the state when it comes to coaching baseball.” The other key component of success is the Northwest Rankin Baseball Booster Club. They have helped raise over one million dollars in McClaskey’s twenty years. Wesley Scarbrough Field is probably the only one of its kind in the state. When so many schools are spending their own money or having bonds passed to build facilities, Northwest Rankin’s entire facility was built on private

suffered a few losses along the way. In October of 1994, Wesley Scarbrough (an outstanding individual and baseball player for Northwest Rankin from 1991-1994) lost his battle with cancer. The field was dedicated in honor of Wesley Scarbrough on April 13, 1995. Coach McClaskey recalls his memories…”Still can’t hardly talk about him without crying about it. He exemplified courage. He never complained, never asked why. I saw him cry one time and that was after his third and final operation. He came through on one of his last checkups to see if

money. The facility features a twenty-two foot high concrete bleacher with 72 stadium chairs and a 20 foot net to protect the fans. There is a six-foot wooden fence around the entire outfield along with a sixteen-foot wooden centerfield wall which provides the perfect backdrop for hitters. Underneath the massive concrete structure is where the team has their own locker room, weight room, and coach’s offices. The players also benefit from their own player lounge which features leather furniture, a pool table, and a 37” flat screen television. Most of the money that is raised comes from three major fundraisers throughout the year that the Baseball Team puts on. While most schools will try to put together a media guide to help raise money, the Northwest Rankin Media Guide (one of the first of its kind in the country) is strictly for recognition of the players and their successes on the field. There are only five or so ads in the entire program.

it was still there and of course it was and he just broke down in my office. That was the only time I ever saw him cry about him having cancer. When he passed away, he had touched so many people. It wasn’t even my idea to name the field after him. I would have done it, but I didn’t even have time to. When it did happen, there were so many people that were already thinking about doing it. It was just a given.” Coach McClaskey also gives away three scholarships to senior baseball players – the Wesley Scarbrough Scholarship, an academic scholarship through the booster club, and a Dan Johnston Memorial Scholarship. “Dan was probably the best fund raising parent I ever had. He would do anything for anybody when it comes to raising money.” The Wesley Scarbrough Foundation also helps out others in the community. They have helped countless individuals in the area with their monetary contributions.

TRAGEDY Out of tragedy comes triumph. The Northwest Rankin Baseball team has

TRIUMPH After many years of solid baseball teams

the Cougars broke through in 2005 and gave Coach McClaskey his first state title. Just how hard is it to win it all? Well according to McClaskey it takes quite a few factors, “You’ve got to have some luck. But the big key is you have to have that guy on the mound and not run into a buzzsaw. In my twenty years, we’ve had seven or eight teams that I thought were good enough to win a

state championship, but out of those years, four times we ran up against Hattiesburg, Warren Central and some other teams that had a couple of guys that threw upper 80s to mid 90s. And some of those guys we had to see twice. Even though we were one of the top 5 teams in the state there was one team that was just a little better than us in that series.” When it comes to tradition, tragedy and triumph – Northwest Rankin has had their fare share of all three. When asked about what makes his program so special Coach McClaskey said, “I think our program is special when it comes to the scholarships and what we try to do with the kids and what we try to teach them. We couldn’t have built what we have without our parent support. Some of my best friends, after twenty years, are my baseball parents.” Doesn’t it make you want to send your kids to Northwest Rankin to play baseball, just so you can be called a friend of his? - MSM Mississippi Sports Magazine - 19


Photo Courtesy The Univeristy of Mississippi

PLAY BALL!

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Photo Courtesy Mississippi State University

Photo Courtesy The University of Southern Mississippi

The Cohen era begins at Mississippi State.

Southern Miss strives to host regional in ‘09.

2009

COLLEGE BASEBALL PREVIEW

Photos Courtesy The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University

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2008 RECORD: 39-26; SEC: 15-15 HEAD COACH: MIKE BIANCO (9th Year - 321-183-1) By John Davis, The Oxford Eage

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he expectations have been high for the Ole Miss baseball team ever since coach Mike Bianco arrived on campus in June of 2001. The former catcher at LSU had learned from arguably the most successful coach in the business in Skip Bertman as an assistant at LSU, and he had shown great promise in his first head coaching stint at McNeese State. Rebel fans’ hopes for better results in baseball under Bianco were realized immediately. Not only did Ole Miss make it to the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Bianco’s first year, the Rebels also advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The team won 39 games that season and laid the building blocks for a successful program that over the next Junior OF Jordan Henry seven seasons would win the SEC Tournament championship, play for two more SEC tourney titles, host four consecutive NCAA regionals and compete in three straight NCAA super regionals. Consecutive years (‘03-’08) the Rebels Winning big in baseball have made it to NCAA Regional play. The became almost a given, a only consecutive streak in their history. birthright if you will, for Ole Miss fans and with the increased results came increased expectations. of sweeping Vanderbilt and winning two out of Heading into the 2008 season, Ole Miss was three against LSU, we really didn’t play good. ranked in the top five of all four preseason polls. We weren’t consistent. We may have played well The Rebels were the favorite to not only win the on Friday night, but we just couldn’t put a good SEC West but also the overall SEC title. And weekend together. after having been so close the previous three years “The great thing was we were talented enough to making the school’s first trip to the College and we fought enough to where we didn’t let the World Series since 1972, many thought the 2008 season get away from us. People forget about team would be the one that finally cracked the that. That was the positive. Even though the team elusive barrier and advance to the CWS. maybe underachieved, maybe even though we Unfortunately for the players, Bianco and his didn’t play as well as we were supposed to play, staff and the fans, that hope was not realized for the positive was the team continued to fight. You a myriad of reasons. While Ole Miss did win watch it in our league where teams have a down 39 overall games and advance to both the SEC year and don’t make the (NCAA) Tournament. Tournament Championship game and a fourth- Our team continued to fight and claw back and straight NCAA regional title game, some of the we made the fourth regional final in a row. We’re preseason expectations were not met. the only team in the SEC to play in four regional “We didn’t handle the expectations very well,” finals in a row. We’ve got to be able to handle Bianco said in a recent interview. “We had a great the adversity and pressure a little better and put fall, we had a great early spring, and we got off to streaks together. Last year we couldn’t do that.” a great start. And then we struggled a little bit. The Rebels enter the 2009 campaign wiser, We lost a few games that maybe we shouldn’t deeper and maybe even hungrier to finally reach have and then got hit by the injury bug a little bit. the CWS. While it is still too early to know how We lost (shortstop Evan) Button the first week good this year’s club can be, there are a lot of of conference play, (outfielder) Michael Guerrero familiar faces that return for Bianco this season. was hobbled and (third baseman Cody) Overbeck, “This is one of the oldest teams that we’ve had when he was playing, was in a walking cast due when you look around and see how many juniors to his bad shins. He was banged up for a while. and seniors we have,” Bianco said. “It’s definitely We could never really recover. With the exception the most seniors we’ve had in a while. It’s certainly

rebels

OLE MISS

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Photo Courtesy The University of Mississippi


Photo Courtesy The University of Mississippi

Can coach Mike Bianco, in his 9th season, lead his Rebels to their first College World Series appearance since 1972?

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 23


schedule

Feb. 20 ......................................... Liberty# Feb. 21 .........................................Mercer# Feb. 22 ........................... South Alabama# Feb. 24...................... CENTRAL ARKANSAS Feb. 25...................... CENTRAL ARKANSAS Feb. 27................................................. tcu feb. 28................................................. tcu mar. 1.................................................. tcu mar. 4................................@ arkansas st. MAR. 6.........................................VERMONT MAR. 7.........................................VERMONT MAR. 8.........................................VERMONT MAR. 10..................................AUSTIN PEAY MAR. 11..................................AUSTIN PEAY MAR. 13................................. @ VANDERBILT MAR. 14................................. @ VANDERBILT MAR. 15................................. @ VANDERBILT MAR. 17.......................... ARKANSAS STATE MAR. 18....................................... MEMPHIS MAR. 20.......................................ALABAMA MAR. 21.......................................ALABAMA MAR. 22.......................................ALABAMA MAR. 24....................................... ST. LOUIS MAR. 25.......................... @ SOUTHERN MISS MAR. 27............................................. @ LSU MAR. 28............................................. @ LSU MAR. 29............................................. @ LSU MAR. 31.............................JACKSON STATE APR. 1.......................................@ MEMPHIS APR. 3.........................................KENTUCKY APR. 4.........................................KENTUCKY APR. 5.........................................KENTUCKY APR. 7.................................. NEW ORLEANS APR. 8.................................. NEW ORLEANS APR. 10........................... SOUTH CAROLINA APR. 11........................... SOUTH CAROLINA APR. 12........................... SOUTH CAROLINA APR. 14...................... MISSISSIPPI STATE% APR. 17...................................... @ FLORIDA APR. 18...................................... @ FLORIDA APR. 19...................................... @ FLORIDA APR. 21................ ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK APR. 24......................................... GEORGIA APR. 25......................................... GEORGIA APR. 26......................................... GEORGIA APR. 28........................... SOUTHERN MISS* APR. 29..................ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF MAY 1..........................................@ AUBURN MAY 2..........................................@ AUBURN MAY 3..........................................@ AUBURN MAY 8............................ MISSISSIPPI STATE MAY 9............................ MISSISSIPPI STATE MAY 10.......................... MISSISSIPPI STATE MAY 14....................................@ ARKANSAS MAY 15....................................@ ARKANSAS MAY 16....................................@ ARKANSAS MAY 20-24....................... SEC TOURNAMENT MAY 29-JUN 1....................NCAA REGIONALS JUN 5-7..................NCAA SUPER REGIONALS JUN 13-23..............COLLEGE WORLD SERIES # - at mobile, al, % - governor’s cup, * - trustmark park, pearl

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Junior Zach Miller

Photo Courtesy The University of Mississippi

the most that are going to start and play and play significant roles. One of the things that is neat about this team is that there are a lot of them. Teams will look to one guy or another to be our leader. “(First baseman) Matt Smith and (catcher Brett) Basham were voted by their teammates co-captains. Matt is just a redshirt sophomore but he’s been here three years. There are guys like Brett Bukvich who have been here five years, Logan Power for five, Basham for four, Button for four. So there’s guys around the field that have been here for a while and experienced a lot in their career here. There will be a lot of different leaders around the lineup.” As many as seven starters return from the 2008 season, while several pitchers, led by senior reliever Scott Bittle, also return. Bittle, who led the Rebels with eight saves and tied for the team lead in wins with seven, was not expected back. The Texarkana, Texas, native was drafted 75th overall by the New York Yankees following the loss to Miami in last year’s regional, but a contract with the Yankees never materialized over the summer, thus allowing Bittle to return for his senior season. Bianco said that Bittle would start the 2009 season in the bullpen again but that he could be used as a starter if things don’t progress with other pitchers such as sophomore left-hander Drew Pomeranz, junior left-hander Nathan Baker or some of the junior college signees brought in to help offset the loss of pitchers Lance Lynn and Cody Satterwhite. “We feel like Scott is going to get drafted as high or higher than he did last year and have a tremendous year,”

Bianco said. “Bittle got off to a late start because he just wasn’t in shape because he planned on signing. He didn’t throw at all, so we had to get him in shape, and he missed the first two weekends this fall. But once he started in weekend three, it never looked like he had put down the ball. His ERA was tremendous.” Bianco thought the pitchers had some good days and some bad days in the fall, but some of that resulted from practicing on a smaller field at Oxford High and from facing the experienced Rebel bats. “I think we certainly have the talent,” Bianco said of the pitching staff. “I think the one disappointing thing from the fall, it’s not that we pitched poorly, but I don’t think we pitched great. Some of that surely would have to be pitching on a high school field because it’s much smaller than what you’re used to playing on. But we probably just didn’t see the dominance from a handful of guys like you normally do. There wasn’t a lot of separation. Maybe some of that also has to do with Pomeranz, who on paper is the best returning starting pitcher, and he only pitched the first two weekends before missing the rest of time with pneumonia. Nathan Baker had a throat virus and he missed two or three weeks. So two of your top pitchers missed most of the fall. “I think when you evaluate it, there is enough talent there certainly to find three starters. Normally you’re looking for the starters to fill those roles first before you go to the bullpen, but we have a lot of the guys from last year’s bullpen returning,” Bianco added. “Although Bittle could start, we’re going to start off the season with him in the bullpen.


Once you make that move, you have (right-handed sophomore) Jake Morgan in the pen from last year. ( Junior righthander Phillip) Irwin had a good year for us, and David Goforth, who redshirted, is expected to be a short reliever for us so we certainly have enough in the bullpen. “It’s going to be tough figuring out who is going to be the three weekend starters and the two midweek starters. Unlike in year’s past, and we found out last year, you have to have more than three starters because of that compressed season and playing every Tuesday and Wednesday.” With the Rebels practicing at Oxford High, something Bianco had to do because of construction going on at Oxford-University Stadium, the hitters had a little more success overall. Wood bats were used primarily to save on balls, said Bianco, who added that the team still swung the bats pretty well. “We’re very fortunate that we’re in a town that has a great high school facility, and they were hospitable enough to let us use it and really take over their field and their indoor hitting facility. Had that not happened, this would have been a very difficult, difficult fall. But with that, it was pretty seamless,” Bianco said. “I thought the kids handled things well. The toughest thing was the travel back and forth from campus. With a couple of times a day, with four-on-ones and weights and trips from our campus to Oxford. We’re so thankful to Coach (Bradley) Roberson and (OHS Athletics Director Johnny) Hill for letting us use their facility.

roster

“It was a good fall offensively. I thought it was a little tough to judge the power numbers because of the small field. But one of the things that we did was swing wood bats exclusively in batting practice. It was really just to save baseballs and make things a little bit more realistic to the field on which we were going to play,” Bianco said. “We swung aluminum bats in the intrasquad games. We said that the pitchers didn’t pitch as well, but maybe that had something to do with how well we swung the bat offensively. I thought we did have a good fall, and I thought several guys had outstanding falls, guys like Matt Smith and (junior outfielder) Jordan Henry. No pitcher could just roll through their innings. There was always an inning where they would not give up runs, but several runs. They couldn’t stay out of the big inning, and I think part of that is you have to complement the hitters.” Defense was an area of concern last year, but Bianco thought the team would be better in that area thanks to the return of Button and the signing of junior college standout Kevin Mort at shortstop. “Defensively I thought we played tremendous at times but not so well at times. I thought we were a little inconsistent but we showed that we are very capable and so much better with Button back at short. For three years in a row, we were either first or second in the league in fielding. Last year we were near the bottom,” said Bianco, whose Rebels finished the 2008 season having

No. Name..................... Pos.......... Yr...................................Hometown (Prev School) 1 Zach Miller.............. INF.......... Jr............. Germantown, Tenn. (Germantown-Houston) 2 Evan Button............ INF.......... Jr................................ St. Louis, Mo. (Desmet Jesuit) 4 Tim Ferguson.......... INF.......... So.............. Beaumont, Texas (Beaumont Westbrook) 6 Kevin Mort.............. INF.......... Jr....... West Covina, Calif. (Rio Hondo) (South Hills HS) 7 David Goforth.......... RHP......... RFr.................. Philadelphia, Miss. (Neshoba Central) 8 Kyle Barbeck........... LHP......... Fr............ Blue Springs, Mo. (BLue Springs North HS) 10 Brett Basham.......... C............. Sr..................................... Knoxville, Tenn. (Bearden) 11 Kyle Henson............ C............. Sr..................... Conroe, Texas (San Jacinto) (Conroe) 12 Jordan Henry.......... OF........... Jr.................................. Vicksburg, Miss. (Vicksburg) 13 Drew Pomeranz....... LHP......... So............................... Collierville, Tenn. (Collierville) 14 Taylor Hightower...... C............. Fr................................ Cartersville, Ga. (Cartersville) 16 Matt Smith.............. 1B........... So................................... Milan, Ga. (Dodge County) 17 Chris Corrigan......... RHP......... Jr......... Houston, Texas (San Jacinto CC) (Humble HS) 18 Cullan Kight............ 1B........... Jr.......................... Magee, Miss. (Simpson Academy) 19 Scott Bittle.............. RHP......... Sr..... Texarkana, Texas (Northeast Texas) (Texas High) 20 Logan Williams........ INF.......... So.............. Damascus, Ark. (South Side Bee Branch) 21 Nathan Baker.......... LHP......... Jr....................................... Cordova, Tenn. (Cordova) 22 Logan Power........... OF........... Sr........................ Jackson, Miss. (Hillcrest Christian) 23 Michael Hubbard..... OF........... Sr... Pineville, Mo. (Arkansas-Fort Smith) (Bentonville)

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 44 46 48 49

Jeremy Travis.......... David Phillips.......... Wade Broyles.......... Taylor Hashman....... David Kindred.......... Matt Tracy............... Aaron Barrett.......... Cliff Vaughn............ Mike Snyder............ Matt Snyder............ Brett Bukvich........... Michael Park........... Phillip Irwin............. Blair Wright............. Brett Huber............. Rory McKean.......... Jake Morgan........... Zack Rutland........... Kyle Thornton.......... Scott Haltom...........

committed 40 errors and fielding just .964. “We made more errors last year at shortstop than we had the three years previous. That happens sometimes when you have an injury at short. With Evan back and feeling healthy, in addition to Mort, we’re a lot stronger. When a key position changes, it changes the whole defense. I have no doubt that we’re going to catch the ball better than we did last year.” Ole Miss opens the season Feb. 20 at South Alabama in a three-game weekend tournament. Until that time comes, Bianco said that the players will continue to lift weights and stay in condition through the opening of the spring semester on Jan. 21. Once school starts, individual drills will turn into full practices beginning on Feb. 1. When the Rebels do return from Mobile, Ala., after the opening weekend, they will be playing in front of potentially much larger crowds and in a stadium that will have undergone a huge overhaul to make it one of the top stadiums in the nation. “I think the general view is we’re just adding a few seats down the line. I think the people in Oxford know that the scope of it is much greater than that,” Bianco said. “It’s really impressive just to watch it go up. How massive it is. You can’t get that feeling just driving by. You can see the construction, but to see how much different it is. It won’t look the same.” MSM

OF........... Sr....... Spring, Texas (Northeast Texas CC) (Huntsville) OF........... Jr..... Nacogdoches, Texas (Texarkana) (Nacogdoches) RHP......... RJr........................ Madison, Miss. (Madison Central) OF........... Jr............... Naples, Florida (Manatee CC) (Naples HS) OF........... RSo... Tuscaloosa, Ala. (American Christian Academy) LHP......... So...................... Des Peres, Mo. (Christian Brothers) RHP......... Jr......................... Evansville, Ind. (Wabash Valley CC) INF.......... RFr.................................. Houston, Texas (Memorial) INF.......... Fr.................................... Centreville, Va. (Westfield) INF.......... Fr..................................... Centreville, Va. (Westfield) LHP......... Sr........................ Brandon, Miss. (Northwest Rankin) RHP......... RFr....... Memphis, Tenn. (Memphis University School) RHP......... Jr...................... Collierville, Tenn. (Christian Brothers) RHP......... Fr......... Memphis, Tenn. (Memphis University School) RHP......... Fr................................ Belleville, Ill. (Althoff Catholic) RHP......... Jr................... Montgomery, Ala. (Trinity Presbyterian) RHP......... RSo........................ Canton, Miss. (Canton Academy) C............. RSo...... Memphis, Tenn. (Memphis University School) RHP......... Fr........................................... Tupelo, Miss. (Tupelo) C............. So............................. Ridgeland, Miss. (St. Andrews)

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 25


2008 RECORD: 42-22; CUSA: 15-9 HEAD COACH: CORKY PALMER (12th Year - 418-255) Photo Courtesy The University of Southern Mississippi

golden eagles

SOUTHERN MISS

By Cary Estes

26 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

A

fter 27 years and nearly 1,400 games as a college head coach, Corky Palmer has seen enough baseball up close that he usually knows what to expect from his team fairly quickly, often before the season even starts. But as Palmer begins his 12th season leading the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, he admits that there is a big, fat question mark sitting over his team this year. That’s because of the 35 players on the USM roster, approximately a third of them are junior-college and community-college transfers who will be making their Division I debuts this year. So even though the Golden Eagles boast a middle infield that Palmer calls the best he’s ever had and a lineup that he believes will produce plenty of runs, he remains uncertain about USM’s prospects this season because of all those transfers, including two projected starting pitchers. “This is as heavy as we’ve gone in a long time depending on junior-college players,” Palmer said. “That doesn’t mean that they’re not talented. But I prefer to reserve (judgment) until I see them out on the field. Their talent level is high. But let’s see what they do against good Division I competition.” Six of the 11 transfers are pitchers, with only one true freshman among the new hurlers. Faced with the departure of All-American starter Barry Bowden and NCAA saves leader Tyler Conn after last season, Palmer looked at his potential pitching lineup for 2009 and decided the Golden Eagles needed some immediate help. “I guess some things fell through the cracks and some younger guys didn’t pan out the way we thought they would, but we just got where we really had to hit that pitching staff hard,” Palmer said. “So we’re a little heavier (with junior-college players) than we’ve been. I hope it’s a good thing, but it’s a little different for us than what we’ve done the last few years.” One thing the Golden Eagles have done for the past six years is make it to the NCAA Tournament, and that remains the goal for this season despite all the uncertainty. “The whole key is going to be how quick the junior-college guys and the pitching staff develop,” Palmer said. “If we can get some help from those junior-college guys, I think we’re going to have a chance to be pretty good.” The heart of the Golden Eagles this season is

Senior IF Brain Dozier

39

Over the past five years, the Golden Eagles have had no less than 39 wins each season.

going to be the heart of their defensive lineup. Palmer said that a trio of seniors – shortstop Brian Dozier, second baseman James Ewing and centerfielder Bo Davis – are the unquestioned leaders on the team, both on the field and in the clubhouse. “Our strength is going to be our middle infield and centerfielder,” Palmer said. “They’re all seniors and they’re all very good players. And they’re going to hit 1-2-3 in the lineup. So they’re going to be the cornerstone of how we do. Those are three guys who we hang our hat on.” Dozier batted .342 last season with five home runs, a team-high 17 doubles and 46 RBI. Ewing’s stats were nearly identical, batting a teamleading.359 with five homers, 13 doubles and 46 RBI. Davis hit for a .314 average with six home runs, 16 doubles, five triples and 27 RBI. Dozier – a native of Fulton, Miss., and a graduate of Itawamba High School – was as steady as they come at the plate in 2008. He had a 17-game hitting streak, 29 multiple-hit games (including nine three-hit performances) and 12 multiple-RBI games. He led the team in all of those categories. “Brian Dozer isn’t much of a vocal guy. He just


Photo Courtesy The University of Southern Mississippi

Senior IF James Ewing hopes the Eagles can end their NCAA Regional woes and make to the Supers.

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 27


schedule

Feb. 20............................................LEHIGH FEB. 21............................................LEHIGH FEB. 22............................................LEHIGH FEB. 24..................UNIV. OF NEW ORLEANS FEB 25............................. SOUTH ALABAMA FEB. 27................... LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE FEB. 28................... LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE MAR. 1.................... LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE MAR. 4...................... @ LOUISIANA-MONROE MAR. 6.................... CAL STATE FULLERTON MAR. 7.................... CAL STATE FULLERTON MAR. 8.................... CAL STATE FULLERTON MAR. 10............... @ UNIV. OF NEW ORLEANS MAR. 13............................ LOUISIANA TECH MAR. 14............................ LOUISIANA TECH MAR. 15............................ LOUISIANA TECH MAR. 17....................... @ MISSISSIPPI STATE MAR. 18.................. NORTHERN COLORADO MAR. 20............................................... RICE MAR. 21............................................... RICE MAR. 22............................................... RICE MAR. 24......................LOUISIANA-MONROE MAR. 25....................................... OLE MISS MAR. 27....................... @ CENTRAL FLORIDA MAR. 28....................... @ CENTRAL FLORIDA MAR. 29....................... @ CENTRAL FLORIDA MAR. 31........................................... @ TROY APR. 1............................................. @ TROY APR. 3........................................MARSHALL APR. 4........................................MARSHALL APR. 5........................................MARSHALL APR. 8............................MISSISSIPPI STATE# APR. 10.................................... @ HOUSTON APR. 11.................................... @ HOUSTON APR. 12.................................... @ HOUSTON APR. 14..............................JACKSON STATE APR. 17................................................. UAB APR. 18................................................. UAB APR. 19................................................. UAB APR. 21.............MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE APR. 24........................... @ EAST CAROLINA APR. 25........................... @ EAST CAROLINA APR. 26........................... @ EAST CAROLINA APR. 28...................................... OLE MISS% MAY 1.............................................. TULANE MAY 2.............................................. TULANE MAY 3.............................................. TULANE MAY 8........................................@ MEMPHIS MAY 9........................................@ MEMPHIS MAY 10......................................@ MEMPHIS MAY 12..........................@ SOUTH ALABAMA MAY 14............................ TENNESSEE TECH MAY 15............................ TENNESSEE TECH MAY 16............................ TENNESSEE TECH MAY 20-24................. CUSA TOURNAMENT* MAY 29-JUN 1....................NCAA REGIONALS JUN 5-7..................NCAA SUPER REGIONALS JUN 13-23..............COLLEGE WORLD SERIES # - TRUSTMARK PAR; % - TRUSTMARK PARK; * PETE TAYLOR PARK

28 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

Photo Courtesy The University of Southern Mississippi

Junior OF Nick Smith

goes out there and leads by example,” Palmer said. Just as important as their offensive statistics is their play in the field, especially the Dozier-Ewing combo. Those two were involved in a combined total of 84 double plays last season “I’ve coached a long time, and they’re the best defensive infield I’ve ever had at second and short. They’re that good,” Palmer said. “There’s not a lot of flash. They just make every play. They get to all balls, they read angles. They don’t even run that well, but they probably have as good a sense of the game of baseball as I’ve seen. They’re like an extended coach on the field.” And in the clubhouse. Palmer said he will rely heavily this season on those three seniors to provide leadership and direction to all the newcomers. “Those guys don’t know what it’s like not to go to regionals. They’ve been every year,” Palmer said. “So they can tell the junior-college guys and the freshmen what you have to do to get there. Sometimes it’s more important what they tell them than what I tell them. Those guys understand that, and they do a good job. “It’s hard to be a leader if you’re not a pretty good player, too. And those guys get everybody’s respect not just by being leaders but by their playing ability. I think all three will get drafted.” The one big loss for the Golden Eagles among their everyday players is first baseman Trey Sutton, who batted .315 last season with nine doubles and 25 RBI. His 58 hits last year gave him 327 for his

career, making him USM’s all-time hits leader. Palmer will be looking at several of the junior-college transfers to help fill the hitting void in the starting lineup, including third baseman Taylor Walker (a native of Senatobia, Miss.), catcher Travis Graves and infielder Joey Archer. “Offensively, those guys will help us hit for some power,” Palmer said. “And Graves is an outstanding catcher. But again, they’re all untested in Division I baseball.” That is why Palmer repeatedly refers back to that trio of returning seniors as being the most important aspect of this year’s team. “The whole key to our team is those three seniors. They are the best three players on the team,” Palmer said. “Having those guys is really going to help us. That way, these other guys won’t feel the pressure to do everything right off the bat. Those three seniors can give us some things on offense right away, and let the other guys work into it.” Palmer does not have that luxury among his pitching staff. The Golden Eagles lost their top starter and their bullpen ace from last season, as well as several other key components to the staff. As a result, of the 15 pitchers on the roster only two ( Jonathan Johnston of Brandon, Miss., and Moss Point, Miss., native J.R. Ballinger) have more than a year of Division I playing experience. “Pitching-wise, we lost a lot of guys from last year,” Palmer said. The departure of Bowden and Conn left the two biggest holes in the staff.


Bowden went 8-3 last season with a 2.12 earned-run average and 78 strikeouts. He gave up only 22 walks and three home runs, and opponents batted an anemic .188 against him. Conn was equally as dominant as the Golden Eagles’ closer. He recorded 18 of the team’s 20 saves, posted a 1.72 ERA and compiled 42 strikeouts in less than 37 innings pitched. “We lost a great starter and a great closer, two of the better ones in the country,” Palmer said. “So the pitching staff is going to have to come through. There’s some talent there, but let’s see how they perform.” The top returning pitcher is sophomore Todd McInnis, a native of Brandon, Miss., who has dealt with injuries throughout his USM career. As a freshman in 2007, McInnis showed potential in four appearances before suffering a seasonending back injury. And although McInnis was healthy enough to start 14 games last year as a redshirt freshman, going 6-3 with a 5.45 ERA, Palmer said the right-hander battled arm trouble part of the season. “Todd McInnis is an outstanding pitcher,” Palmer said. “We really need him to stay healthy.” Especially with two newcomers – Cody Schlagel and Scott Copeland – rounding out the planned weekend starting rotation. Schlagel is a hard-throwing

leftie who went 4-2 with a 2.82 ERA for Daytona Beach Community College last year, while Copeland is a right-hander who went 8-5 and held opponents to a .230 batting average last season at Panola (Texas) Community College. “The thing I’m most interested in seeing is how our junior-college pitchers perform,” Palmer said. “Two of the three (weekend starters) are newcomers, and that’s probably the first time we’ve had that here in a long time.” Because Schlagel and Copeland are new to Division I baseball, and since McInnis has been bothered by injuries, Palmer said he probably won’t let any of his starters pitch deep into a game early in the season unless they appear to be in complete control. “What we’re going to do early is shorten the game for pitch counts,” Palmer said. “If a guy gets into the sixth (inning) and he struggles at all, I’ll probably make a move. I’m not going to let those starters go too long if they’re not really rolling anywhere from the sixth inning on.” Of course, that means turning the game over to a relatively untested bullpen. Initially, Palmer said he will attempt to replace Conn with a trio of relievers: right-handed sophomore Collin Cargill of Hattiesburg, senior leftie Wade Weathers of Quitman, Miss., and righthander Kyle Lindsey, who pitched at Pearl River Community College last

roster

year. Weathers was the only pitcher other than Conn to record a save for USM last season. He went 4-1 with a 3.81 ERA and 52 strikeouts, third-best on the team. Cargill finished 5-1 with a 6.50 ERA and 41 strikeouts, though he also gave up 39 walks. Lindsey was 11-1 at Pearl River with a 2.31 ERA and 106 strikeouts. “We do feel good about our bullpen,” Palmer said. “We lost an All-American closer, but we have some guys who can pitch down in that bullpen. And early on, that’s going to be a big thing. Because until we see how some of those juniorcollege guys are going to do, I’m not sure exactly what to expect.” The Golden Eagles will be able to work through any of their early problems from the comfort of their home stadium. Twenty of their first 23 games are at Pete Taylor Park, including a three-game homestand against perennial national power Cal State Fullerton. They also get to play Conference USA favorite Rice at home as well. Of USM’s three road games during that span, one is in nearby New Orleans and another is in Starkville against Mississippi State. And while the Golden Eagles do hit the road more often during the final two months of the regular season, they conclude the season back home by playing host to the C-USA tournament. - MSM

No. Name..................... Pos.......... Yr...................................Hometown (Prev School)

42

Seth Hester............. RHP.......... SO.................................. Stringer, Miss. (Stringer HS)

38

Joey Archer............. IF.............. JR................. Pensacola, Fla. (Alabama Southern CC)

32

Jonathan Johnston.. RHP.......... RS SR..............Brandon, Miss. (Northwest Rankin HS)

20

J.R. Ballinger........... RHP . ....... JR.......................Moss Point, Miss. (East Central HS)

24

Paxton King............. LHP.......... FR....................... Brookhaven, Miss (Brookhaven HS)

30 Houston Brown........ LHP.......... RS SO.......Collierville, Tenn. (Evangelical Christian HS)

11 Tyler Koelling........... OF............ SO...................................... Luling, La. (Meridian CC)

21 Kameron Brunty...... OF............ FR............................ Pensacola, Fla (Gulf Breeze HS)

5 Kyle Lindsey............ RHP.......... JR................................Purvis, Miss. (Pearl River CC)

36 Collin Cargill............ RHP.......... RS SO.................. Hattiesburg, Miss. (Hattiesburg HS)

39 Kyle Maxie.............. C.............. RS JR.. Hattiesburg, Miss. (Pearl River CC/ Florida St.)

34

Scott Copeland........ RHP.......... JR............................... White Oak, Texas (Panola CC)

10 Todd McInnis........... RHP.......... RS SO................ Brandon, MS (Northwest Rankin HS)

45

Derek Copley........... RHP.......... JR........................... Dyersburg, Tenn (Dyersburg CC)

18

8

Daniel Covert.......... OF............ RS FR.......................... Meridian, Miss. (Meridian HS)

29 Cody Schlagel......... LHP.......... JR............................ Greely, Co. (Daytona Beach CC)

17 Travis Creel............. INF........... FR..............Ocean Springs, Miss. (Ocean Springs HS)

6 Bret Shattles........... OF............ RS FR................. Long Beach, Miss. (Long Beach HS)

14 Bo Davis................. OF............ RS SR.............. Meridian, Miss. (West Lauderdale HS)

4 Nick Smith.............. OF............ JR.................................Purvis, Miss (Pearl River CC)

35

Adam Doleac.......... IF.............. RS SO...Hattiesburg, Miss. (Presbyterian Christian HS)

37

2

Anthony Doss.......... OF............ SO...................Brandon, Miss. (Northwest Rankin HS)

15 Corey Stevens......... OF............ SR...................................... Clinton, Miss. (Hinds CC)

12 Brian Dozier............ IF.............. SR.......................... Fulton, Miss. (Itawamba AHS HS)

3 B A Vollmuth........... INF........... FR.......................................... Biloxi, Miss (Biloxi HS)

28

James Ewing........... IF.............. SR.............. Beaumont, Texas (University of Arkansas)

23 Taylor Walker........... INF........... JR........................... Senatobia, Miss. (Northwest CC)

33

Michael Ewing......... OF............ SR.........................Beaumont, Texas (West Brook HS)

26

Matt Warren............ RHP.......... RS FR..................................... Petal, Miss. (Petal HS)

22

Josh Fields.............. IF.............. SR.................. Springdale, Ark. (Arkansas-Fort Smith)

25

Wade Weathers....... LHP.......... SR............................... Quitman, Miss. (Meridian CC)

19 Travis Graves........... C.............. JR.............................. Mesquite, Texas (Eastfield CC)

16

Drake Zimmerman... C.............. FR......................Theodore, Ala. (Mobile Christian HS)

Moses Munoz.......... LHP.......... JR.................San Antonio, Texas (Bossier Parrish CC)

Jeff Stanley............. LHP.......... JR.......................... Magate, Fla. (Daytona Beach CC)

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 29


bulldogs

MISSISSIPPI STATE

30 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

2008 RECORD: 23-33; SEC: 9-21 HEAD COACH: JOHN COHEN (1st Year) Photo Courtesy Mississippi State University

By Joe Dier, MSU Sports Information

A

new era of baseball dawns at Mississippi State University next spring when the Diamond Dogs take the field at Dudy Noble Field under the guidance of new head baseball coach John Cohen. The 41-year old Cohen needed little introduction to the Mississippi State family when he was announced in June as the successor to MSU coaching legend Ron Polk. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native became a fan favorite and earned All-Southeastern Conference accolades as an outfielder during his three-year playing career (1988-90) under Polk at Mississippi State. And many Diamond Dog fans followed Cohen’s subsequent steady progression through the collegiate coaching ranks, which included assistant coaching stops along the way at Missouri and Florida and successful head coaching positions at Northwestern (La.) State and most recently in Bulldog Coach John Cohen the SEC at the University of Kentucky. Cohen and the new MSU baseball coaching staff welcome back the lion’s share of the 2008 Bulldog team that finished with a 23-33 record. Of the 30 Diamond Number of trips the Bulldogs have Dogs that drew game-opening made to the College World Series. assignments, 21 return for the (1971, ‘79, ‘81, ‘85, ‘90, ‘98, ‘01, and ‘07) 2009 campaign. In fact, the Bulldogs’ losses include just one .271 batting average. Butler and Sneed were regular starting position player – first baseman Tyler Moore, and one starting both backed by sophomore-to-be Ryan Powers rotation pitcher, lefty Justin Pigott. Maturity (Beacon, N.Y.), who drew 27 starts in the infield should be an ally of the Diamond Dogs, who and hit .239 as one of six freshmen to take the enter fall practice with 11 seniors, eight of them field for the Diamond Dogs in ’08. Junior catcher Ryan Duffy (West Melbourne, fifth-year performers. The following is a preliminary preview of the Fla.), a 31-game starter behind the dish, leads a 2009 MSU baseball team, a preview that no foursome of catchers that combined to handle all doubt will be subject to a host of updates and of State’s receiving duties last spring. Duffy hit changes prior to the start of State’s 119th season .306 and with 11 doubles and seven home runs compiled the team’s second-highest slugging of baseball in February: Junior third baseman Connor Powers percentage. Returning with Duffy for 2009 are (Naperville, Ill.) returns, along with his team- sophomore Cody Freeman (Collinsville, Miss.), leading .348 batting average and a .644 slugging who hit .310 and started 17 games as a true percentage. Despite missing the final 21 games of freshman, and seniors Johnny Allen (Grenada, the season with a hamstring injury, Powers piled Miss.) and Brooks Lewis (Heidelberg, Miss.). up 47 hits and ranked second on the team with Based on the number of returnees, the 11 home runs and 38 RBI. Powers’ late-season Bulldogs figure to have their greatest depth in the replacement at third base, junior Russ Sneed outfielding corps. Five players who combined for (Senatobia, Miss.), drew 35 starts at shortstop, 90 percent of State’s starts in the outfield are back. hitting at a .274 clip with 59 hits, five stolen bases A pair of seniors, Grant Hogue (Hattiesburg, and 31 walks. Sneed was one of only two 56-game Miss.) and Mark Goforth (Covington, Tenn.), shared starting time in centerfield. Hogue (.321) starters for State in 2008. Junior Jet Butler (Pensacola, Fla.) drew starts paced State at the plate with 63 hits and 47 runs in 45 of 56 games at second base, compiling a scored and swiped 25 bases as a junior, the most

8


Senior OF Mark Goforth is a key ingredient to the success of the Bulldogs this season.

Photo Courtesy Mississippi State University

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 31


schedule

Feb. 20................ bank first challenge feb. 21................ bank first challenge feb. 22................ bank first challenge feb. 24............................ south alabama feb. 25.............mississippi valley state feb. 27.............................nicholls state feb. 28.............................nicholls state mar. 1..............................nicholls state mar. 5...........................................@ hawaii mar. 6...........................................@ hawaii mar. 7...........................................@ hawaii mar. 8...........................................@ hawaii mar. 11........................... valparaiso (DH) mar. 13.......................... south carolina mar. 14.......................... south carolina mar. 15.......................... south carolina mar. 17............................southern miss mar. 18................................................ uab mar. 20......................................@ georgia mar. 21......................................@ georgia mar. 22......................................@ georgia mar. 24.........................@ south alabama mar. 25....................................... memphis mar. 27....................................... arkansas mar. 28....................................... arkansas mar. 29....................................... arkansas mar. 31............mississippi valley state apr. 1...................... @ louisiana-monroe apr. 3............................................ auburn apr. 4............................................ auburn apr. 5............................................ auburn apr. 7............................................... @ UAB apr. 8.............................. southern miss# apr. 10..................................@ tennessee apr. 11..................................@ tennessee apr. 12..................................@ tennessee apr. 14...................................... ole miss% apr. 17.......................................kentucky apr. 18.......................................kentucky apr. 19.......................................kentucky apr. 21....................... middle tennessee apr. 22....................... middle tennessee apr. 24................................. @ vanderbilt apr. 25................................. @ vanderbilt apr. 26................................. @ vanderbilt may 1...........................................alabama may 2...........................................alabama may 3...........................................alabama may 8........................................@ ole miss may 9........................................@ ole miss may 10......................................@ ole miss may 14.................................................. lsu may 15.................................................. lsu may 16.................................................. lsu MAY 20-24....................... SEC TOURNAMENT MAY 29-JUN 1....................NCAA REGIONALS JUN 5-7..................NCAA SUPER REGIONALS JUN 13-23..............COLLEGE WORLD SERIES # - trustmark park; % - governor’s cup, * - trustmark park, pearl

32 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

Photo Courtesy Mississippi State University

Pitcher Chad Crosswhite

by a Bulldog since 1981. Goforth was the sixth Bulldog to hit .300 (.304) last season and ranks second on the club with 15 career stolen bases. Sophomore corner outfielder Ryan Collins (Callaway, Fla.), a 34-game starter, has returned from a late-season shoulder injury on his non-throwing arm and could challenge for to team hitting honors after finishing second on the club (.345) as a true freshman in ’08. Sophomore Jason Nappi (Birmingham, Ala.), a 28-game starter in left field and a 25-game starting designated hitter, hit .274. Nappi, who led State with 32 walks, finished fourth on the team with 54 hits, third with eight home runs and 37 RBI and turned a few heads when as a freshman he piled up an SEC-record 11 RBI in a three-home run explosion at UAB. Another rising senior and corner outfielder, Nick Hardy (Flora, Miss.), played in 49 games last spring, 19 as a starter, and hit .263. Also expected to make a strong challenge for playing time is junior Luke Adkins (Nettleton, Miss.), who sat out the 2008 season after transferring from Southern Miss.

The Bulldog pitching staff also features a bevy of returning players, including 10 of the 15 players that took the hill for State in 2008 and eight of the 12 that did so as starters. Junior right-hander Ricky Bowen ( Jasper, Ala.) proved to be the iron man of the MSU staff. Bowen drew a staffhigh 13 starts, worked a staff-high 731/3 innings and paced MSU’s hurlers with 64 strikeouts while fashioning a 3-6 record and a 7.61 ERA. Bowen and senior righty Chad Crosswhite (Brandon, Miss.) drew a combined 25 of MSU’s 56 starts. Crosswhite has registered 11 wins and two saves in 62 career appearances over the past three seasons. Junior lefty Tyler Whitney (Lakeland, Tenn.) started five games while sophomore lefty Forrest Moore (Baton Rouge, La.) and junior right-hander Lee Swindle (Eupora, Miss.) drew four starts each while juniors-to-be Drew Hollinghead (Leakesville, Miss.) and Greg Houston (Hoover, Ala.) made their starting debuts with game-opening performances in two games each. Sophomore righty Michael Busby


(Vicksburg, Miss.) and seniors Photo Courtesy Mississippi State University Jared Koon (Tupelo, Miss.) and Jared Wesson (Tupelo, Miss.) saw relief duty in a combined 27 games. The Bulldog roster also includes the likes of senior catcher squad man Scott DeLoach (Madison, Miss.) and two other players who redshirted in 2008 – freshman pitcher/infielder Paxton Pace (Collinsville, Miss.) and freshman outfielder Brent Brownlee (Oxford, Miss.). They are joined by seven signees and other newcomers on State’s 35-player spring roster. During his first few weeks on the job new head coach John Cohen assembled a solid fourman baseball staff that has strong ties to the Magnolia State and the Southeastern Conference. Amory, Miss., native Butch Thompson, who played for and later coached with former MSU assistant Brian Junior Connor Powers Shoop at Birmingham-Southern, has joined the MSU staff as pitching coach. Thompson has seven years of coaching in the league, and former Bulldog player from West the last four at Auburn. Hitting coach Point, Miss., has joined the State staff as Lane Burroughs is a native of Meridian, the Coordinator of Baseball Operations, Miss., and a graduate of Mississippi while Nick Mingione, from Cape Coral, College. Burroughs joined the State staff Fla., is MSU’s new coordinator of after coaching a season at Kansas State, baseball camps. Mingione coached at but MSU fans likely connect him with Western Carolina in 2008 after having Southern Miss, where he served for nine previously served two seasons on Cohen’s seasons on USM’s baseball staff. Tyler staff at Kentucky. Bratton, an MSU undergraduate assistant The Diamond Dogs’ attractive ’09 slate

roster

No. Name

Pos.

features a blend of familiar teams and new opponents with some new scheduling wrinkles mixed in for good measure. State launches a 32game home schedule Feb. 20-22 with the BankFirst Baseball Challenge, a three-day, six-game event at Dudy Noble Field that pits the Bulldogs against first-time foe Northern Illinois and last year’s seasonopening opponent, the University of North Florida. MSU plays its first nine and 15 of its opening 20 games at home. In addition to SEC rivals Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU and South Carolina, State also hosts the likes of non-conference opponents Middle Tennessee State, Memphis, Mississippi Valley State, Nicholls State, South Alabama, Southern Miss, UAB and Valparaiso State, another first-time opponent. One of the highlights of the Bulldogs’ baseball lineup in ’09 is a four-game, six-day trip to Hawaii (Mar. 5-8), the fourth for MSU baseball and the first since 1989. State will be the designated visiting team in two neutral site games at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss., meeting Southern Miss (Mar. 17) and Governor’s Cup opponent Ole Miss (Apr. 14). MSU’s three-game series with Auburn Apr. 3-5 will serve as the centerpiece of Super Bulldog Weekend 2009 on the Mississippi State campus. - MSM

Yr...................................Hometown (Prev School)

25 Connor POWERS . ......3b/1b..... Jr............................... Naperville, Ill. (Benet Academy)

2 Justin BUSSEY ...........ss/rhp .. Jr. ........... JC Dora, Ala. (Dora HS/Shelton [Ala.]State)

26 Scott DELOACH . ........C ........... Sr. .Madison, Miss. (Madison Central HS/Itawamba CC)

3 Grant HOGUE .............of ......... Sr... Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove HS/Pearl River CC)

28 Shawn MARQUARDT ..lhp ....... Fr. RS....................Carmel, Ind. (Carmel High School)

4 Forrest MOORE ..........lhp/1b . .. So. ..Baton Rouge, La. (Parkview Baptist High School)

29 Cody FREEMAN . ........C ........... So....Collinsville, Miss. (West Lauderdale High School)

5 Russ SNEED ..............3b/ss .... Jr............. Senatobia, Miss. (Magnolia Heights School)

31 Ricky BOWEN ............rhp........ Jr....................Jasper, Ala. (Sumiton Christian School)

6 Will COGGIN ..............2b ......... Sr......Booneville, Miss. (Booneville HS/Northeast Miss. CC)

32 Devin JONES .............rhp/of... Fr. HS............................... Eupora, Miss. (Eupora HS)

7 Ryan POWERS ...........ss/2b .... So. ......................Beacon, N.Y. (Beacon High School)

33 Paxton PACE . ............rhp/2b... Fr. RS Collinsville, Miss. (West Lauderdale High School)

8 Brooks LEWIS ............C ........... Sr. ............... Heidelberg, Miss. (Heidelberg Academy)

34 David HAYES...............lhp........ Fr. HS..................... Homewood, Ala. (Homewood HS)

10 Luke ADKINS .............OF ......... Jr. RS ... Nettleton, Miss. (Nettleton High School/USM)

35 Jared WESSON ..........lhp ....... Sr. .. Tupelo, Miss. (Tupelo High School/Itawamba CC)

12 Tyler WHITNEY ...........LHP........ Jr. ........................ Lakeland, Tenn. (home-schooled)

36 Nick ROUTT ...............lhp........ Fr. HS.......... Silver Spring, Md. (St. Johns College HS)

13 Jet BUTLER ...............ss/3b..... Jr. ........................Pensacola, Fla. (Tate High School)

37 Caleb REED ...............rhp/inf.. Fr. HS ................. Cleveland, Miss. (Bayou Academy)

14 Ryan DUFFY . .............C ........... Jr. .....West Melbourne, Fla. (Barron Collier High School)

38 Ryan COLLINS ...........OF ......... So..................Callaway, Fla. (Rutherford High School)

15 Mark GOFORTH .........OF ......... Sr. .Covington, Tenn. (Covington HS/Birmingham-Sou.)

39 Nick RAY ...................1B ......... Fr. HS.............................Gulfport, Miss. (Gulfport HS)

17 Chad CROSSWHITE . ..RHP ....... Sr. ...... Brandon, Miss. (Madison Ridgeland Academy)

41 Lee SWINDLE ............rhp........ Sr. ...Eupora, Miss. (Eupora High School/Meridian CC)

18 Jason NAPPI...............OF/3B..... So. ...Birmingham, Ala. (Mountain Brook High School)

42 Brent BROWNLEE........ of ........ Fr. RS................... Oxford, Miss. (Oxford High School)

19 Frankie RAWDOW ......INF.......... Fr. HS .................... Lakeland, Fla. (McKeel Academy)

44 Drew HOLLINGHEAD...rhp ....... Jr........Leakesville, Miss. (Greene County High School)

20 Nick HARDY . .............OF ......... Sr. .... Flora, Miss. (Madison Central HS/Meridian CC)

47 Tyler JOHNSON . ........rhp........ Fr. HS.................Trussville, Ala. (Hewitt-Trussville HS)

21 Johnny ALLEN ...........C ........... Sr. ..Grenada, Miss. (Grenada High School/Pearl River CC)

49 Sean JOHNSON .........of.......... Jr. .Senatobia, Miss. (Senatobia HS/Northwest Miss. CC)

22 Michael BUSBY ..........rhp/ss... So. ......... Vicksburg, Miss. (Porters Chapel Academy)

51 Greg HOUSTON...........rhp........ Jr ......................... Hoover, Ala. (Hoover High School)

24 Jared KOON ..............rhp........ Sr. ..Tupelo, Miss. (Tupelo High School/Itawamba CC)

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 33


2008 RECORD: 33-23; SWAC: 18-5 HEAD COACH: OMAR JOHNSON (2nd Year - 33-23)

tigers

JACKSON STATE

By Jamea Adams-Ginyard Assistant Manager of Athletic Media Relations

34 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

Photo Courtesy Jackson State University

W

hen it comes to baseball in the South, Jackson State’s long, rich tradition makes it one of the best. Strong coaches and talented players have helped develop the Tigers’ nine into the premiere program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. As the Tigers fourth full-time head coach, Omar Johnson is in the process of linking himself with JSU’s illustrious history. In just two seasons under Johnson’s direction, JSU has won more than 60 percent of its contests, posting a 70-45 overall record. With such a rich baseball history, much is expected of Jackson State. Winning championships is among the team’s main goals and will help the Tigers stay focused on winning a SWAC title and advancing to the 2009 NCAA regional. Johnson’s team finished the 2008 season ranked No. 1 in the nation for triples, second in triples per game, sixth in stolen bases per game and seventh in stolen bases. In addition to those impressive team credentials, the Tigers will return three all-conference selections making sure this squad is ready to hit, run and steal its way back to Baton Rouge, La. for the SWAC Championship. LaDerek Camper, Cortez Cole and Jerome Tyes received all-conference honors, and will be three key players who will bring experience to the field. In 2008, the Tigers just missed advancing to the SWAC championship game as they fell 9-2 to eventual conference champions Texas Southern in the semifinal round at Lee-Hines field in Baton Rouge. Over the duration of the season, the Tigers proved to be a more than worthy opponent as they finished as the only SWAC team to post an overall winning record (37-22). Since 1958 JSU has posted 13 30-plus win seasons. Jackson State returns seven starters seeking to claim the SWAC championship in 2009. Add to that a collection of freshman and transfers, and the Tigers should have another solid season. “We have a good nucleus of players returning that will step up to the plate and carry the team through the season” Johnson said. “My biggest expectations for the team this year is to play hard.” As back-to-back SWAC Eastern Division champions, the 2009 squad possesses a competitive collection of players – young and veteran, fast and strong, mental and physical – that has the potential and ability to handle top-flight opponents and develop an impressive resume of work on

Senior Catcher Jamaal Thelwell the mound and in the field and at the plate. The Tigers have a strong collection of backstops, led by senior Jamaal Thelwell. The Toronto, Canada native hit .299 last season with eight home runs and 42 runs batted in while throwing out 15 percent of base runners who attempted to steal. Also able to handle the chores behind the plate are juniors Cortez Cole and Michael Bravo and sophomore Jorel Washington. While Cole (outfield) and Bravo (third base) contribute at other positions, Washington will look to log a majority of the backup innings behind the dish for JSU. The Tigers will get a slight overhaul of the pitching staff in 2009, as the team leader in wins and strikeouts (Charles Williams with 10 and 77, respectively), as well as the earned run average and saves leader (Enrique Quintero at 3.55 and seven saves), have exhausted their eligibility. Jackson State does have several options to pick up the slack for a team that had an ERA one run lower than its opponents in 2008. Senior Marlon Sommerville pitched primarily out of the bullpen last season but enjoyed a solid campaign, going 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA in 21 appearances. He struck out 33 in 48.3 innings and gave up only 46 hits. Last season’s No. 2 starter, Marquise Zachery, went 9-3 with a team high two complete games. The wild card for the Tigers could be senior transfer Josh Froneberger, who sat out last season after coming over from Alabama State. The former All-SWAC performer was among the top-50 in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings and has 232 in his career over 225 innings pitched.


“This year, we will look to making pitching a top priority of ours. Pitching has been a troubling problem of ours,” said Johnson, who will look to seniors Aljammi Davis and Chris Huggins (combined 4-1, one save, 38 strikeouts in 47.7 innings) for pitching depth. The Tigers are stable throughout the infield and outfield, looking only for a new starter at second base. “The chemistry should be great this year and I expect them to play together. This group has gelled better than most,” Johnson said. Brionne Jones will look to improve at first base after hitting just .214 with three home runs and 15 RBI. But Camper at shortstop (.341, 4, 39, team-high 65 runs, 15 stolen bases) and Tyes at third base (.343, team-highs with eight home runs and 50 RBI, 10 SB) are the hitters who will set the table for JSU. The outfield of Cole in center field (.332, 5, 42), Charles Brown in right field (.349, 1, 40, 10 SB) and Willie Wesley in left field (.341, 25 runs scored in 82 at-bats) will keep the Tigers on the prowl offensively. But Johnson said his team needs to improve its glove work. JSU committed 97 errors which led to 89 unearned runs. Tyes, Camper, Cole, and

roster

Thelwell each had at least 10 errors. “Most importantly, we have to play better defense. It will be our number one priority,” Johnson said. As a team, the Tigers logged 132 stolen bases, 37 triples, a .325 batting average and scored 490 runs, numbers that rival SWAC and national rankings. Johnson feels the team can improve upon those numbers in 2009. “We have to hit the ball better. We have a lot of physical players, we just have to channel that energy when we are at the plate,” Johnson said. This year’s schedule presents a rigorous slate for the Tigers as they spend more than half the season on the road. Jackson State will play in 17 series, making up 44 of 53 games scheduled along with just 24 home games. The Tigers will open the season on the road with a three-game series against Florida A&M, one of the top teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, followed by eight consecutive road games taking them to Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. “This year’s 55-game schedule is competitive, we are on the road for a month before we play at home.” Johnson said. “We are playing a competitive schedule that should be tough with

No. Name............................. Pos..................Yr...................................................... Hometown (Prev School) 1 Willie Wesley .................. IF/OF . .............JR ............................................................................ Pontiac, MI 2 Charles Brown................. OF...................SR...........................................................................Lemoore, CA 3 Cortney Nelson................ P......................JR...................................................................... Montgomery, AL 4 Braneric Holmes.............. C/1B................SR.............................................................................Belzoni, MS 6 Chad Hall......................... OF...................SR..............................................................................Tupelo, MS 7 Cortez Cole...................... C/OF................JR.......................................................................... Shannon, MS 8 Jerome Dunning ............. OF/1B..............JR...................................................................... Montgomery, AL 9 Frank Solis...................... 3B...................FR......................................................................Miami Lakes, FL 11 LaDerek Camper.............. SS....................SR........................................................................... Jackson, MS 12 James McCarty................ SS....................JR.......................................................................Moss Point, MS 13 Aljammi Davis.................. RHP.................SR............................................................................. Houlka, MS 14 Steven Collins.................. LHP..................SR...................................................................... Greenwood, MS 15 Chris Deans..................... RHP.................JR........................................................................... Jackson, MS 16 Brionne Jones.................. 1B...................JR................................................................................Butler, AL 17 Fred Atkins...................... OF...................JR............................................................................Oakland, CA 19 Samuel Cline................... RHP.................SR........................................................................... Jackson, MS 20 Marquise Zachary............ RHP/OF............SR...................................................................... Douglasville, GA 21 Marlon Sommerville......... LHP..................SR...............................................................................Arkon, OH 22 Jerome Tyes.................... INF...................SR...........................................................................Baldwyn, MS 23 Michael Bravo.................. 3B/C................JR............................................................................... Miami, FL 24 Jamaal Thelwell............... C.....................SR......................................................................Toronto, Canada 25 Marvin McWhorter Jr........ OF...................JR.....................................................................Blue Springs, MS 27 Josh Fronberger............... RHP.................SR.......................................................................... Riverdale, GA 28 Brandon Howard.............. OF...................JR.............................................................................Coal City, IL 30 Chris Huggins.................. RHP.................SR............................................................................. Houlka, MS 31 Luis Mila......................... INF...................FR .............................................................................. Miami, FL 32 Charles Epperson............. OF...................FR..................................................................... Minneapolis, MN 33 Quintavious Drains........... RHP/OF............FR............................................................................. Atlanta, GA 34 Lynn Lewis...................... SS....................FR..........................................................................Greenville, AL 35 Kemper Hardy.................. RHP.................SO............................................................................Oakland, CA 36 Jorel Washington............. C.....................SO........................................................................... Jackson, MS

schools like Ole Miss, University of Texas Pan America and University of Southern Mississippi. I think that will help us get ready for conference play. “I want the team to be better prepared than we were last year heading into the SWAC championship.” - MSM

schedule Feb. 20 ......................... @ Florida A&M (2) Feb. 21 .............................. @ Florida A&M Feb. 24 .................................@ Grambling feb. 25................. @ Concordia selma (2) Feb. 27.........................@ alcorn state (2) feb. 28.............................. @alcorn state mar. 4............. @ arkansas pine-bluff (2) mar. 7................................ centenary (2) mar. 10......................... rust college (2) mar. 11................ @ tougaloo collge (2) mar. 13.............................. alabama a&m mar. 14......................... alabama a&M (2) mar. 16................... @ texas pan-america mar. 17................... @ texas pan-america mar. 20................ @ mississippi valley st. mar. 21............. @ mississippi vlley st. (2) mar. 25......................tougaloo college mar. 27............................ alabama state mar. 28....................... alabama state (2) mar. 31.....................................@ ole miss apr. 3.............................alcorn state (2) apr. 4................................ alcorn state* apr. 7.............................. florida a&m (2) apr. 8................................... florida a&m apr. 10.................. southern university apr. 11................ @ southern university apr. 14.......................... @ southern miss apr. 15............................... concordia (2) apr. 17............................ @ alabama a&m apr. 18....................... @ alabama a&m (2) apr. 21..........................grambling state apr. 24..................mississippi valley st. apr. 25.............mississippi valley st. (2) apr. 28.............southeastern lousiana apr. 29..........@ southeastern louisiana may 2............................. @ alabama state may 3........................ @ alabama state (2) may 12.................@ northwestern state may 20-24.................. swac tournament# # - at baton rouge * - trustmark park, pearl Mississippi Sports Magazine - 35


delta devils

MISS. VALLEY ST.

2008 RECORD: 18-25; SWAC: 13-10 HEAD COACH: DOUG SHANKS (9th Year)

36 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

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ith the new school year Valley returns a healthy lineup of familiar faces and the fresh look of some unfamiliar ones. Along with an adition of Mike Greene, an assistant coach, from Seattle, WA MVSU is very optomistic about the upcoming season. Doug Shanks returns for his 9th season at Valley as head coach. After winning 4 consecutive eastern division titles the last two years coach Shanks has struggled through injuries to keep the Valley baseball team in the winning tradition, but look for the skipper to have his team back on top again this season. “We’ve really struggled the last two season with injuries and losses, but we have reloaded and are aiming not only for another eastern division title, but a SWAC championship,” commented Shanks. Assistant coach Aaron Stevens also returns for his 9th stint at Valley and is accompanied by Terry Smith, Sim Shanks, and newcomer Mike Greene to round out the coaching staff. Among the most promising returners are Seniors Sean Bard and Scott Reid. Both pre season all SWAC pics last year before being sidelined for the season with early injuries, recieveing medical redshirts. Reid, the staff ace from the 2007 Campaign, returns to bolster the already strong pitching staff of MVSU. Look for Valley to have 4-5 quality starters along with a deep bullpen. Reid joins Chris Mills, one of the premier pitchers in the conference last season, as top candidates for starting jobs. Others who will see plenty of time on the mound as starters are redshirt freshman Jeremy Breaux, JUCO transfer Britt Goodman, and Junior Justin Bautista. Battling for time in the bullpen are a four seniors Brandon Dotson, Jeff Squier, Derrick Townsend, and Anthony Edwards along with Junior transfer Jesus Aleman and Freshman Shane Corder. Bard, arguably the best offensive player in the SWAC in 2007, was selected as the 2008 pre season SWAC player of the year. With Bards healthy bat in the lineup look for the middle of the lineup to produce plenty of runs. To assist Bard in run production are returners Hogan Barnes and Willie Mays. Barnes, Bards replacement at first base last year, may be looked to at the hot corner this year. He batted .275 with 11 2b, 4 HR, and

28 RBI’s in 2008. Mays returns to the outfiels this year after a 2008 season that saw him bat .275 with 9 HR, 27 RBI’s, and a SLG% of .569. Jeff Squier returns as the top hitter for the Delta Devils after batting .314 with 34 R, 11 2B, and 14 SB. With amazing athleticism, look for Squier to play multiple positions this year, but mostly roaming the outfield.Short Stop Paul Olsen returns after batting .288 with 25 R, and 8 2B last season. Olson worked diligently all summer to improve his swing and looks to be a spark to the Valley offense. Also returning to the infield is Sophomore Curtis Ford, who saw more time than expected last season and turned a corner this summer while playing for the Weyburn Beavers in the MCBL. Returning with a new confidence and great expectations Ford should do big things this year. Senior Greg Dees returns after being a regular in the MVSU lineup for three seasons to give the Devils some leadership on the infield. Freshman redshirt Denarvis Turner has been the most improved player since arriving at Valley last year. With big shoes to fill at first base with the loss of Bard this season, if he continues to improve he could prove to be a solid replacement. Don’t be surprised to see freshman Jacob Lopez get some playing time up the middle for the Devils. While Lopez is young, he is a great athlete and with his natural baseball ability along with hard work he could get some early playing time. Along with Squier and Mays in the outfield Brandon Dotson returns after seing alot of time in the outfield last season and stepping up multiple times in big situations. Dotson was called on to play the field after being primarilly a pitcher for the majority of his time at MVSU. However, Dotson, the record holder for hits at Louisville High School, has put in much time this summer on his offensive game and looks to earn a starting spot in the outfield along with his role on the pitching staff. Juco Transfer Chris Herron looks to add speed and maturity to the already veteran outfield. The Mississippi native is a talented player with many tools that puts him in the mix of the outfield race. Freshman Jarvis Smith rounds out the outfield prospects. Smith, a utility player, from Texas has a natural ability to hit the ball while running very well for his


size and will compete for playing time at many positions including third base and will see some time in the DH role. Behind the plate Valley returns the two catchers that split the time behind the plate last year, Quinn Axton and Cody Pride, along with Redshirt Freshman Nik Fangonilo. Pride and Axton are both solid defensive catchers and work the staff very well. Pride finished the season with a .271 BA and an OBP of .399. While Axton slumped at the plate last year he was a consistent run producer driving in 22 runs for MVSU while splitting time with pride. Look for Valley to be strong behind the plate again this year with the strides these two have made in the summer and will continue to make in the fall. Fangonilo, a tough young catcher from San Francisco, has matured well over his time at Valley

and has adjusted to the college catching game. With the loss of Pride and Axton after the season Fangonilo will be looking to hold the starting job for three seasons and his defensive abilities make him more than capable. Nik will also see some action competing for playing time in the outfield this season. With all the veterans returning to carry on the MVSU baseball tradition the newcomers will make the transition very quickly. Doug shanks had this to say about his 2009 squad. “This is the first season that I can remember that we have competition at every single position. We have a veteran core of returners and some very talented transfers and freshman that will make this a season to remember for MVSU baseball.” - MSM (Source www. hometeamsonline.com)

schedule

Feb. 21 ................... @ STEPHEN F. AUSTIN # FEB. 21...................@ NORTHWESTERN ST. # FEB. 22 ................. @ LOUISIANA MONROE # FEB. 25........................ @ MISSISSIPPI STATE FEB. 28......................ALABAMA A&M (DH) MAR. 1............................... ALABAMA A&M MAR. 3............@ SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA MAR. 4............................................... @ LSU MAR. 7.....................@ ALABAMA STATE (DH) MAR. 8............................ @ ALABAMA STATE MAR. 10.......................... @ BELMONT UNIVERSITY MAR. 11.....................................@ MURRAY STATE MAR. 13............................................... @ PURDUE MAR. 14..............................@ NORTHERN ILLINOIS MAR. 15.................. @ UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE

MAR. 17..................... TOUGALOO COLLEGE MAR. 18................................. DELTA STATE

roster

MAR. 21....................JACKSON STATE (DH)

No. Name............................. Pos..................Yr...................................................... Hometown (Prev School)

MAR. 24..........SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA

Justin Bautista................. P......................JR............................................................................. Danville, CA

MAR. 27..................................... @ ALCORN STATE

L.E. Carter....................... OF...................SO..........................................................................McComb, MS

MAR. 28..............................@ ALCORN STATE (DH)

Britt Goodman.................. P......................JR................................................................................. Mesa, AZ

MAR. 31................................@ MISSISSIPPI STATE

Ricky Heflinger................. 2B/SS..............JR............................................................................ Portland, OR

Jacob Lopez.................... 2B/SS..............FR.........................................................................New Iberia, LA

Jarvis Smith..................... OF...................FR.......................................................................... Memphis, TN

MAR. 22............................ JACKSON STATE

APR. 1...............................................@ ALABAMA APR. 4................................@ ALABAMA A&M (DH) APR. 5........................................@ALABAMA A&M APR. 7............................................. DELTA STATE

1 Curtis Ford....................... IF.....................FR.......................................................................... St. Louis, MO

APR. 8.............................................@ TOUGALOO

4

Paul Olson....................... SS....................JR................................................... Kelseyville, CA (Moorpark CC)

APR. 10............................ ALABAMA STATE (DH)

7 Brandon, Dotson.............. P......................RS-SO....................................................................Louisville, MS

APR. 11.................................... ALABAMA STATE

10 Quinn Axton..................... C-OF................JR..............................................................Laurel, MS (Jones JC)

APR. 14.............................................@ ALABAMA

11 Greg Dees....................... 3B/C................JR............................................................................. Winona, MS 15 Derrick Townsend............. P/1B................JR...................................................................... Baton Rouge, LA 16 Nick Fangonlio................. C/OF................FR................................................................... San Francisco, CA

APR. 15............................. @ STILLMAN COLLEGE APR. 18..............................@ WEST FLORIDA (DH) APR. 19..................................... @ WEST FLORIDA APR. 21...................................@ SOUTHERN MISS

20 Jeremy Breaux................. P/RF.................FR............................................................................... Rayne, LA

APR. 22............................... @ GRAMBLING STATE

21 Jeff Squier....................... IF/P..................JR................................................... Sterling, CO (NE Colorado JC)

APR. 24..................................... JACKSON STATE

22 Cody Pride....................... C.....................JR......................................................Gilbert, AZ (Eastern Arizona)

APR. 25............................. JACKSON STATE (DH)

24 Willie Mays...................... RF....................JR..................................................Lexington, KY (Sinclair CC, OH)

APR. 29............................... @ GRAMBLING STATE

25 Sean Bard....................... 1B...................SR..................................... Cape Girardeau, MO (Mineral Area CC) 27 Scott Reid........................ P......................SR............................................Billings, MT (Dickerson State Univ) 32 Chris Mills....................... P......................JR................................................. Cloverdale, CA (Mendocino CC) 35 Denarvus Turner............... 1B...................FR..........................................................................McComb, MS

MAY 2................................. ALCORN STATE (DH) MAY 3..........................................ALCORN STATE MAY 8........................... @ MIDDLE TENNESSEE ST. MAY 10......................... @ MIDDLE TENNESSEE ST. MAY 20-24.................................. SWAC TOURNEY*

44 Hogan Barnes.................. 3B/C................Jr.................................................. Salm, OR (College of Siskiyous) 47 Anthony Edwards............. P......................JR..................................................San Bruno, CA (Menlo College)

# - AT LOUSIANA MONROE; * - AT JACKSON STATE Mississippi Sports Magazine - 37


2008 RECORD: 48-11; GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE: 17-1 HEAD COACH: MIKE KINNISON (14th Year - 552-149) Photo Courtesy The Bolivar Commercial

By Donell Maxie The Bolivar Commercial

fightin’ okra

DELTA STATE

T

38 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

he 2008 Baseball season for the Delta State Statesmen started well but ended pre-maturely as the Statesmen rallied from the loser’s bracket to win the Gulf South Conference Tournament and also rallied from the loser’s bracket to get into the South Central Region Title game but fell short. Fatigue and a lack of depth in the pitching rotation proved costly as the Statesmen went a week between the Conference Tourney and the South Central Region Tourney and could not find the push to get past Ouachita Baptist and missed the College World Series by one game. As a result, head coach Mike Kinnison and his staff knew they needed to address the issue of pitching if they wanted to get back to the World Series. “Down the stretch last year we got into the conference tournament and fell into the loser’s bracket and played six games in five days, that’s 54 innings in five days. We won it but it really stretched our pitching staff. I think it took its toll a week later in the regional. The same thing happened, we fall in the loser’s bracket and we play five games in four days,” said Kinnison. Kinnison explained that as a result this year they have worked hard to have more depth on the pitching staff so there are more arms to go to. Kinnison enters his 14th season as the head man for the Delta State Statesmen. He is the seventh coach in Delta State baseball history and has been there since 1997. In his career the Benton native has an astounding overall record of 552-149 (.785) which gives him the best winning percentage of any active collegiate baseball coach in the country. Kinnison has guided the Statesmen to the 2004 NCAA National title, four College World Series appearances, nine NCAA South Regional appearances (1999-2005, 2007-2008), 10 GSC Western Division titles (1997-2005), three NCAA South Regional championships, and four Gulf South Conference titles. Last season, the Statesmen finished the season 48-11 overall and 17-1 in the Gulf South West Division en route to the program’s eleventh GSC championship. Kinnison will enter this season with a familiar face as assistant Rodney Batts returns for his ninth year as a full time assistant and 11th year

Senior Devin Goodwin

overall with the program. Batts serves as the infield and hitters coach and according to Kinnison he’s a very important part of the Delta State Baseball program. “Coach Batts is a hard worker and we could not have experienced the success we have without him. The guys love working with him,” Kinnison said. The former Delta State second baseman returned to his alma mater in 1998 after spending two seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies Minor League system. He was a two-time All-Gulf South Conference selection under Bill Marchant and was named to the 1996 All-South Central Regional Tournament team. Joining Kinnison and Batts on the staff this season will be assistant coach Stephen Waggener and graduate assistants Jason Cooper and John Walker. Waggener enters his first season as an assistant coach on the Delta State University coaching staff. Waggener comes to Delta State from the University of Indianapolis where he was an assistant for head coach Gary Vaught. Cooper begins his second season as a graduate assistant under Kinnison. Cooper will be working primarily with the infielders. Cooper is a graduate of Union University in Jackson, Tenn., earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He started at second base earning the TranSouth Atlantic Conference Golden Glove Award his senior campaign, as well as Honorable Mention All-TranSouth Conference in 2006. Walker begins his second season as a graduate assistant coach on Kinnison’s staff at Delta State


Photo Courtesy Delta State University

Gulf South Conference Champs

Senior Clay Sartain

Photo Courtesy The Bolivar Commercial

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 39


schedule

Feb. 4.........................................belhaven feb. 6......................@ N. Georgia college Feb. 7...................... @ pfeiffer univeristy feb. 8......................@ n. georgia college

feb.10................................... montavello feb. 11.................................. montavello feb. 12.................................. montavello feb. 14..............................@ west florida feb. 15..............................@ west florida feb. 18............................ @ william carey

Junior Cody Kelley

feb. 20....................... florida southern feb. 21............... florida southern (dh) feb. 24..................@ alabama-huntsville feb. 28..............................west alabama mar. 1...............................west alabama mar. 3...............................west alabama mar. 4...............................west alabama mar. 6.............................pace university mar. 7.............................pace university mar. 8.............................pace univeristy mar. 10..................kentucky state univ. mar. 11..........kentucky state univ. (dh) mar. 14.................... @ ouachita basptist mar. 15.................... @ ouachita basptist mar. 17...........................west alabama# mar. 18............mississippi valley state mar. 21.................christian braothers mar. 22 .................. christian brothers mar. 28........................................ harding mar. 29........................................ harding apr. 1................................ william carey apr. 4........................ @ henderson state apr. 5........................ @ henderson state apr. 7............. @ mississippi valley state apr. 10................arkansas-monticello apr. 11................arkansas-monticello apr. 14...............................@ montavello apr. 15...............................@ montavello apr. 18.......................... @ arkansas tech apr. 19.......................... @ arkansas tech apr. 21................................... @ belhaven apr. 25................. @ southern arkansas apr. 26................. @ southern arkansas MAY 2-6...........................GSC Tournament may 15-17............... ncaa south regional # - at trustmark park, pearl 40 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

Photo Courtesy The Bolivar Commercial

University. Walker, a 2002 graduate of Delta State with a bachelor’s degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation, began his coaching career in 2003 at Water Valley High School as the assistant varsity baseball coach. During the 2004 season, he served as the interim head coach while leading Water Valley to the Regional Championship game. As an assistant during the 20052007 seasons, Walker helped guide the Blue Devils to three consecutive Region Championships. In 2006, Water Valley finished the season with a 3A State Championship Game birth. In 2008 the Statesmen ranked second in the conference in team batting with a .430 average trailing only Southern Arkansas who led the league with a .353 average. Delta State also ranked in the top five in the conference in team pitching with an ERA of 4.37 good for fourth. Kinnison said as the season approaches he is excited about the opportunity to get back in the fight for the World Series and added that last year’s defeat left a bitter taste in the team’s mouth. “We played our worse game at the wrong time last year. The guys will definitely be motivated to go out and rebound from our collapse last season,” Kinnison said. “I think we have some good senior leadership and good returning leadership on this team that will not let us forget what happened last season,” said Kinnison. Even though it was painful last year hopefully it’s something that gives us a little extra incentive this year,” he added.

The most notable players the Statesmen lost from last season are pitcher Kenney Smalley and catcher Rickey Noland. Smalley was drafted in the 25th round by the Oakland Athletics and Noland graduated and is playing in rookie league ball for the St. Louis Cardinals. “He (Smalley) was our velocity guy last year who could dominate and we may not have a guy of that caliber this year but this pitching staff has more depth and perhaps is more solid in what I call, ‘pitchability’.” Kinnison feels that this team will be one that throws a lot of strikes and change speeds well. “This will be a pitching staff that I think will have to have good defensive support. They may not pile up the strike outs but I think they will give us a really good chance to win,” said Kinnison. Returning on the hill this season for Delta State will be Korey Cunningham, Cody Kelley and Levi Bishop. Cunningham (6’2”, 210) is a senior from Clinton and finished 10-2 last season with a 2.61 ERA. Kelley (5’10”, 204) is a junior from Louisville. Last season Kelley was 5-0 with three saves and a 3.20 ERA. Bishop was 4-1 last season and the Statesmen’s primary closer. He recorded nine saves and had a 3.05 ERA. In addition to those three, Kinnison has brought in some other guys who should prove to be very beneficial to the Statesmen pitching staff. David Mooney is a left handed pitcher from Hinds Community College and is a dual position guy who will DH for Delta State. Last season at Hinds,


Mooney was 4-5 with a 5.22 ERA. “He has been impressive in the fall in a lot of ways,” said Kinnison. Jake Morgan is a junior left handed transfer from Merramac Community College in St. Louis who Kinnison is very high on. “I think both Mooney and Morgan are two good left handers we have added that can give us some balance to our leftright pitching staff. Kinnison also believes Brandon Martin, a right hander transfer from Hinds will also be an impact player on the hill. “Brandon is a big strong right hander who should do well for us this season,” Kinnison said. Last season Martin was 3-3 for Hinds with a 5.1 ERA. He struck out 36 batters and walked 18 in 42.1 innings of work. In the field the Statesmen will have several guys Kinnison will expect to be instant contributors. Cade Hoggard (6’3”, 215) junior Oxford native transferred from Mississippi State and will help out the Statesmen at first base and the outfield. Kinnison described Hoggard as being an impact player. He also feels that T.J. Hitt will be that same type of player. Hitt (6’1”,190), will play catcher for the Statesmen. He is a junior transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. “He has had a good fall and he gives

roster

No. Name

Pos.

Yr.

us what we thing we need to have in a good two catcher system with Anthony Palasini,” said Kinnison. Last season Palasini was a DH and backup catcher. Kinnison said with Palasini and Hitt they have two catchers who should play very well. In 2008 Palasini recorded a .371 average with 43 hits, two of them being homeruns. He also had 38 RBI. The Statesmen’s most positive piece to the 2009 season will be the return of Devin Goodwin and Clay Sartain. Goodwin plays short stop and Sartain, who was on the ABCA All-America Team, is a second baseman for the Statesmen and they both will be entering their senior seasons. “We are pleased to have the middle of our infield back for another season. We are fortunate to have those caliber of performers back this year although Sartain missed most of the fall with a shoulder injury,” said Kinnison. Looking at the situation with Sartian, Kinnison is optimistic that he will be ready to go as the season nears. One of the most important aspects of the team’s focus this season will be the hitting of the team. Kinnison believes that what the team was able to show in the fall is an indication that hitting should be a plus for the team. “This team will have the ability to hit. I think they demonstrated that in the fall

during the practice period and I think hitting is so much about competivness and confidence and I see that in a lot of these guys,” said Kinnison. Kinnison added that Goodwin, Sartain, Palasini and Michael Niemann should all be in a good position both with confidence and their competitive nature to do special things at the plate this season. Niemann started 42 games as a freshman for the Statesmen last year and he will move over to play center field this season. “These guys have a lot of experience and know what to expect and they know what’s going to happen out there. Kinnison said as a whole he and his staff have worked diligently to address all the needs they felt needed addressing to give the team the best chance to get back to the World Series. “Truthfully last year we’re in the championship game in regional and one game away from getting into the World Series and we ran out of gas,” said Kinnison. Overall Kinnison said fall work was good and the overall attitude and work ethic of the team is good. “We feel real positive about how the team will respond when we start the season. If we stay healthy I think we have a shot to have a good club and a good product for people to see.” - MSM

Hometown (Prev School)

25

1

Billy Ray Todd...............OF .......... Jr...............................Bartlett, Tenn. (Southwest Tenn. CC)

26

Patrick Strack.............OF........... So................................... N. Little Rock, Ark. (Catholic HS)

2

Trey Capers..................3B/SS...... So................................Sugar Land, TX (Houston-Victoria)

27

Trey Griffin..................P............. Jr....................................... Houston (Northeast Miss. CC)

3

Chase Blanchard...........OF/2B...... Jr........................................Plaquemine, La. (LSU-Eunice)

28

Josh Gordon...............1B/OF...... Jr.................................................... Vicksburg (Hinds CC)

4

Nathan Hardy................P............. So...........................................Madison (Madison Central)

29

Anthony Palasini.........C............. Sr. ..............................................Leland (Miss. Delta CC)

5

Brancy Cummins..........2B/SS...... So................................................Drew (North Sunflower)

30

Levi Bishop.................P............. Sr. .................................................Saltillo (Itawamba CC)

6

Devin Goodwin..............SS........... Sr................................... Russellville, Ala. (Demopolis HS)

31

Spencer Brunson........1B........... So...................................... Starkville (Starkville Academy)

7

Will McGinnis................OF........... Jr...............................Springdale, Ark. (Crowder (Mo.) CC)

32

Jake Morgan.............. P............ Jr........................................St. Louis, Mo. (Merramac CC)

8

Korey Cunningham........P............. Sr. .....................................................Clinton (Clinton HS)

34

Joey Haston................ P............ Sr......................... McMinnville, Tenn. (Volunteer State CC)

9

Sean Nichols................3B/OF...... So....................................... Bastrop, La. (Arkansas State)

35

Steven Oswald............1B/OF...... Sr.................................... Springfield, Ill. (Lincolnland CC)

10

Cody Kelley.................P............. Jr................................................ Louisville (Louisville HS)

36

Matthew Little.............OF........... Sr...................................................... Brandon (Hinds CC)

11

Brock Mosley . ...........OF........... Jr. ...........................................Collinsville (East Miss. CC)

37

Ricky Ware.................C............. Fr...................................................Houston (Houston HS)

12

Clay Sartain................2B/3B...... Sr............................................. Horn Lake (Horn Lake HS)

38

Cade Hoggard............OF/1B...... Jr..............................................Oxford (Mississippi State)

13

Brandon Hall . ............ P............ Jr. ............................... Water Valley (Northwest Miss. CC)

39

Cesar Rodriquez.........P............. Sr........................... Miami, Fla. (Jackson State (Tenn.) CC)

14

Toby Easterly.............. P ........... Jr.................................... Amite, La. (Southwest Miss. CC)

40

James Denton............P............. Sr.................................................... Troy, Ill. (Wabash CC)

15

Zac Secoy..................P............. Jr............................... East Praire, Mo. (Shawnee (Ill.) CC)

41

Brandon Martin...........P............. Jr.................................................... Brandon (Hinds CC)

16

Michael Niemann . .....OF........... So................................................ Yelm, Wash. (Yelm HS)

42

Marcus Wilson............P............. Sr. ...................................... Arthur, Ill. (Kaskaskia (Ill.) CC)

17

Pate Shackelford .......OF........... Fr..................................North Carrollton (Pillow Academy)

43

Seth Bratton...............C............. Fr......................................Ponchatoula, La. (Ponchatoula)

18

David Mooney............. P............ Jr........................................................ Clinton (Hinds CC)

44

Chase Barber..............1B........... Fr................................................. Mobile, Ala. (St. Paul’s)

20

Jason Coats...............P............. Jr. ............................................. Starkville (Meridian CC)

45

Brett Warren...............1B........... Fr.............................................Canton (Canton Academy)

21

Chris Ferriss...............P............. Jr. ...................................................... Clinton (Hinds CC)

46

Zac Smith................... 2B/3B..... Fr........................................ Locust Fork, Ala.(Locust Fork

22

Brent Hallmark . .........P............. Rf . .......................................... Columbus (New Hope HS)

47

Logan Willis................P............. Jr.............................. Tallahassee, Fla.(Central Florida CC)

24

Jordan Moore ............P/3B........ Fr...................................... Calhoun City (Calhoun City HS)

T.J. Hitt . ....................C............. Jr.................................. Vancleave (Gulf Coast (Miss.) CC)

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 41


choctaws

MISS. COLLEGE

2008 RECORD: 24-17; AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE: 18-10 HEAD COACH: BRIAN OWENS (2nd Year - 24-17)

42 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

The 2008 season was a successful first year for Mississippi College Head Coach Brian Owens. Owens, who led the Choctaws as the interim coach in 2007, opened his career as the official head of the program with a with a 1-7 record in the first few weeks, but under his leadership the Choctaws reversed their fortune to finish 2417 and in second place in the tough American Southwest Conference East Division. For his efforts, Coach Owens earned ASC East Division Coach of the Year honors, joining five of his players to receive postseason honors from ASC coaches. Only one of those five players return this season, out fielder Brannon Walls, as the Choctaw coaching staff reloads for another run at an ASC title. There is little doubt where the strength of the 2009 Choctaw team will lie, in the outfield. The group was impressive in Fall practice led by junior Brannon Walls who earned All-ASC Second Team honors a year ago after batting a team high .383 with three homeruns and 23 RBI. Walls also has one of the best outfield arms in the conference, giving the Choctaws one of the top all-around outfielders in the league. Former Pascagoula High School standout Andy Smith received limited playing time as a true freshman, but has all the skills for a breakout season. Newcomers have the inside track to fill outfield spots in center and left field after solid Fall practice showings. Mississippi Gulf Coast transfer Bo Bell had a great junior college career and could anchor the lineup for MC. Bell led MS Gulf Coast in homeruns and should provide pop for the Choctaws. Delta State transfer Chase Herrin is another multi-talented player who should offer a solid bat and good outfield defense. Herrin is one of the fastest players on the roster and is expected to lay claim to the starting position in centerfield. Three starters return from a year ago on the infield. Junior shortstop Dakota Bodree, senior third baseman Reed Prewitt and senior second baseman Tim Bruss all played important roles last season. Bodree batted just .206 but did finish second on the team with seven doubles. His value is in the field where he provides one of the surest gloves in the ASC. Bruss served as his double play partner for much of a season in which he batted. 279 and drove in twenty runs. Prewitt played several positions last season but spent significant time at third base. The Clinton, MS native batted .286 and was second on the

Photo Courtesy Mississippi College

Pitcher Tyler Seaman

team with six homeruns and 25 RBI’. Prewitt could fill several positions for the Choctaws in 2009. Senior Gabe Gattis also makes a return after missing last season. Gattis had a great junior college career but has battled injury for two years at MC. He suffered an eye injury during the 2007 season then missed the 2008 campaign with an arm injury. He could find a spot at second base or third. Junior Charlie Lane will also battle for the third base job. Lane had a solid career at Mississippi Delta Community College and will compete for the starting nod. The first look behind the plate will go to Matthew Quick. The senior from Richland, MS batted 2.43 last season in a designated hitter role and is expected to be the opening day starter for the Choctaws. The two biggest losses for the Choctaws are at first base and behind the plate. Max Parks and Paige Hodges were both All-ASC First Team selections a year ago and anchored the lineup for the Choctaws. Parks was lost to graduation and Hodges transferred to ASC rival UT-Tyler, leaving big holes to fill. Gone is Jonathan Russell who enjoyed a great two-year run with the Choctaws. Russell was 9-2 a year ago as the Friday night starter after a tenwin season in 2006. Tyler Williams also was lost to graduation after a 6-1 season. Senior Jack Craven is the top returning starting pitcher. Craven started ten games for the Choctaws in 2008, going 4-5 with a 5.34 earned run average. Craven had a great career in junior


college earning All-State honors before joining the program last year and should be ready for a breakout season. Senior Brett Hinson also returns after making two starts last season. Hinson did have the second best earned run average on the team at 4.28 in over 30 innings of work. He will be counted on for innings. Senior Matt Jordan is a wildcard for the Choctaws. Jordan has great talent and could be ready for a breakout season when he finds his groove. The left-hander has a fastball in the 89-92 range and has arguably the best stuff on the staff. One newcomer is expected to impact the staff immediately. Tyler Seaman was a workhorse for Jones County Junior College last year and will be one of the more talented pitchers in the ASC. Expectations for the Pascagoula, MS native are high. Robby Ashley is another new face for the Choctaws, though he is not a newcomer. Ashley earned innings as a true

freshman in 2007 but sat out last year. He has a lively arm and will fit somewhere in the regular rotation. Senior Josh Denson returns after serving as the closer last year. Denson saved six games for the Choctaws and allowed opponents a .265 average. He posted a 4.35 earned run average in over 20 innings of work. Junior Ben Adcock also returns after earning relief work in his first season. Adcock did not have great numbers, but he is talented and should make major improvements this year. The Choctaws need to replace most of a starting rotation that was dominant in ASC play a year ago. But the bulk of the lineup does return, complimented by a very talented group of transfers. If a couple pitchers emerge as legitimate ASC winners, the 2009 season could be another successful one for Mississippi College. - MSM

roster

No. Name............................. Pos................... Yr.................................................... Hometown (Prev School) 1 Ryan Cobb....................... IF/OF................ Sr............................. Jackson, MS / Holmes Community College

schedule

feb. 10.................................... @ belhaven Feb. 13........................................spalding feb. 14................................spalding (DH) feb. 17......................................... milsaps feb. 20..............................howard-payne feb. 21......................howard-payne (DH) feb. 24.......................................belahven feb. 27..........................@ texas lutheran feb. 28.................. @ texas lutheran (DH) mar. 6................................... letourneau mar. 7............................letourneau (DH) mar. 9.....................................blackburn mar. 10.................................... @ millsaps mar. 13.................... @ louisiana college

2

Dakota Bodree................. IF..................... Jr........................................ Robertsdale, AL / Faulkner State CC

mar. 14.............@ louisiana college (DH)

3

Matthew Quick................. OF................... Sr.......................... Richland, MS / MS Delta Community College

mar. 16......................... illinois weslyan

4 Tim Bruss........................ IF..................... Sr............................................ Oxford, MS / Oxford High School 7 Conner Douglas............... RHP................. Sr................................... Clarksdale, MS / Delta State University

mar. 20.............................. texas-dallas

8 Reed Prewitt.................... RHP/IF.............. Sr................................... Clinton, MS / Hinds Community College

mar. 21...................... texas-dallas (DH)

9

mar. 24................................... @ belhaven

Jack Craven..................... LHP.................. Sr......................................Pearl, MS / Hinds Community College

10 Josh Denson.................... RHP................. Sr..................... Carthage, MS / East Central Community College 11 Matt Jordan..................... LHP.................. Sr................................... Clinton, MS / Hinds Community College

mar. 28................................. @ emory (DH)

15 Brett Hinson..................... RHP/OF............ Sr............................... Vidalia, LA / MS Delta Community College

mar. 31..................................... tougaloo

17 Andy Smith...................... LHP/OF............ So...............................Pascagoula, MS / Pascagoula High School

apr. 1......................................... rust (DH)

20 Brannon Walls.................. RHP/OF............ Jr..................................... Madison, MS / Ridgeland High School 23 Clay Crosswhite............... IF..................... So........................... Brandon, MS / Madison Ridgeland Academy

apr. 3.....................@ east texas-baptist

26 Ross Pine........................ IF..................... Sr..........................................Watson, LA / Live Oak High School

apr. 4...............@east texas-baptist (DH)

29 Adam McQueen............... RHP................. Sr................................................Hurley, MS / MS Gulf Coast CC

apr. 7......................................... millsaps

30 Chris Forsyth................... OF................... So....................................... Kenner, LA / Christian Life Academy 31 Ben Adcock..................... LHP.................. So............................ Madison, MS / Madison Central High School

apr. 9.............................................ozarks

33 Cody Gullick..................... IF..................... Sr....................... Clarksdale, MS / Coahoma Community College

apr. 10...................................Ozarks (dh)

37 Dann Griffin..................... RHP................. So............................Meadville, MS / Franklin County High School

apr. 14...................................... tougaloo

38 Michael Hindman............. OF................... So.......................................... Louisville, MS / Winston Academy 40 Don Thomas.................... 1B................... So...................Farmington Hills, Michigan / Cornerstone Christian 41 Randall Miller................... OF/C................ So....................................... Roseland, LA / Oak Forest Academy

apr. 17............. @ univ. of texas at tyler apr. 18...... @ univ. of texas at tyler (dh) Mississippi Sports Magazine - 43


2008 RECORD: 29-18; SCAC: 8-8 HEAD COACH: JIM PAGE (21st Year - 499-296-3)

majors

MILLSAPS

A

44 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

play at the plate in the championship game of the 2008 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament is how close Millsaps was a year ago to their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in six years and first since 2006. After forcing a decisive second championship game against rival Trinity with a 10-5 win earlier in the day, the Majors surrendered four runs in the second game’s final inning that allowed the Tigers to steal a 6-5 come-from-behind win and knock the Majors out of postseason play. A diving effort by TU freshman Kevin Jackson at the plate in the bottom of the ninth off a twoout, two-RBI double capped the thrilling finish for the Tigers. On the other hand, the 2008 season had its share of memorable highlights, including Quinn Salmon’s breakout weekend in the inaugural Wilson/DeMarini Baseball Classic in Jackson when he went 7-for-10 with 12 RBIs, eight runs, three homeruns (grand slam) and two doubles and Bogue’s heroic performance in an elimination game at the SCAC Divisional Playoffs when he pitched four shutout innings to help Millsaps rally from a 5-0 deficit to a 6-5 win. Also, in the midst of a season-ending loss to Trinity, senior Hunter Abrams became the school’s career hits leader with 240 after going 2-for-5 on the day. Eight starters and 11 letterwinners are gone from last year’s 29-18 squad, including four members of the Majors’ pitching staff in Travis Bogue, Jay Hollenbeck, Brandon Ingram and John David Childs who combined for a 4515 record on the bump during their stay. Also lost to graduation were DH Derrik Boland, OF Joe Blades, 1B Quinn Salmon and 3B Hunter Abrams. “As this season approaches, our goals aren’t necessarily to win this many or do this many, but to make sure we make it to the conference tournament and see what happens,” 21st-year head coach Jim Page said. “Losing what we’ve lost the last two years, we’ll make sure to try and improve day-by-day and continuously work hard. Based on our youth, we may have to learn a little bit more and focus more on doing the little things right first.” Seven starters return to the field this season and a total of 21 letterwinners, together with the entire outfield, while there will be a little shakeup in the infield and on the mound. Four of the Majors’ top five hitters return with averages over .317, including two-time ABCA and D3baseball.com All-American standout

Photo Courtesy Millsaps College

OF/LHP Tait Hendrix

Hunter Owen who batted .388 (.756 SLG%) with a school record 16 home runs a year ago and carries a 12-game hitting streak into 2009. The senior-to-be also grabbed 121 total bases, which ranked third in single-season history, and stole 23-of-26. Also returning to the starting lineup is sophomore Josh Ordeneaux who hit safely in his first 18 career games en route to a .323 clip. Senior Billy Murphy will move from second to short after the departure of Abrams, whereas Ordeneaux will man second if he can hold off up-and-coming freshman Todd Barnthouse. A plethora of names are in the hunt for spots on the corners and in the designated hitter spot, with Bryant Palmerton, Will Hawkins, Hayes Brian, Tyler Berry and Russ Boyd all having good fall outings. The Majors also gained a pair of transfers in the offseason that could find their names in the daily rotation, RHP Shelby Robertson from Northeast JC and 1B Andrew Evans from Gulf Coast CC. On the mound, Millsaps returns left-handers Tait Hendrix and Max Berry in addition to righthanders Andrew Fleming, Drew Maddox, Aaron Williams, Boomer Hudson, Phillip de Kozan, John Marshall Pemberton and Andrew Pearce. The Majors will also get a boost from redshirt sophomore Josh Conlee, who is coming off a shoulder injury. Hendrix made good of his 12 starts with a 6-4 mark and 3.31 ERA, striking out a team-high 72 batters in just 70.2 innings, while Williams was 5-2 with a 3.67 ERA. They combined for five of the Majors’ six complete games on the year. Behind the plate, expect the senior Boyd to


earn the starting spot where he’s been exceptional the past two seasons, while both Brian and T. Berry will likely split time. Three-time All-American hopeful Hunter Owen will be the leader of the outfield, where he has had two breakout seasons after stepping in for standout Garner Wetzel in 2007. Owen set a school record with 23 doubles in 2007 and followed that up with a record 16 home runs in 2008. He will be joined by swift sophomores Jeremy Aliff and Tony Malaschak who started a combined 58 games a year ago and also grabbed eight stolen bases apiece. If he’s not on the hill, Hendrix, a multi-dimensional player, could also be in the outfield where he hit .317 with four doubles and two bombs. Jim Page will enter his 21st season as the Majors’ skipper in 2009 one win shy of 500 for his career (499-296-3). Page will vie to become the first Millsaps coach and just the 30th in NCAA Division III

roster

baseball history to accomplish the feat when the Majors open the season with the Wilson/DeMarini Baseball Classic on Feb. 6-8 at Twenty Field. Millsaps was 4-1 last year against Top 25 opponents, with a 5-1 win at No. 5 Emory University on Feb. 16 topping the list. This year’s schedule features more of the same, with Emory, Piedmont, Rhodes, Illinois Wesleyan and Trinity all likely to be in the D3baseball.com Top 30 come opening day. The Majors open the season on Feb. 6-8 with the second annual Wilson/DeMarini Classic in Jackson where they will once again welcome LaGrange, Rhodes and the University of the Ozarks to town. Millsaps swept the tournament last year with a 3-0 record. The conference slate will open on Feb. 14 against Hendrix, with a change in the SCAC scheduling from four weekend games to two and three. The quest for the Maloney Trophy opens on Feb. 17 at Mississippi College

No. Name............................. Pos..................Yr...................................................... Hometown (Prev School) 1 Dylan Bryan..................... OF...................Fr.........................................................................Brandon, Miss. 2 Tyler Berry....................... C.....................Jr.........................................................................Brandon, Miss. 3 Todd Barnthouse.............. INF . ................Fr.........................................................................Brandon, Miss. 4 Hayes Brian..................... C ....................Sr......................................................................Baton Rouge, La. 5 Billy Murphy..................... INF . ................Sr......................................................................Baton Rouge, La. 6 Jason Riggins.................. RHP ................So...........................................................................Dallas, Texas 7 Josh Ordeneaux............... INF . ................So.....................................................................Baton Rouge, La. 8 Bryant Palmerton............. INF . ................Sr.........................................................................Houston, Texas 9 Russ Boyd....................... C ....................Sr.......................................................................Columbus, Miss. 10 Drew Maddox.................. RHP ................Sr......................................................................... Jackson, Miss. 11 Jeremy Aliff..................... OF ..................So......................................................................... Covington, La. 12 Josh Conlee..................... RHP ................So............................................................................ Monroe, La. 13 Ryan Zemke.................... OF/LHP ...........Fr......................................................................Baton Rouge, La. 14 Tait Hendrix..................... OF/LHP ...........Sr......................................................................... Jackson, Miss. 15 Tony Malaschak............... OF ..................So........................................................................Mandeville, La. 16 Drew Respess.................. INF...................So..................................................................Olive Branch, Miss. 18 Zach Moore..................... INF...................Sr.......................................................................Columbus, Miss. 19 Tanner Woodson.............. C ....................So......................................................................Vicksburg, Miss. 20 Andrew Evans.................. INF...................Fr.......................................................................... Winona, Miss. 21 Aaron Williams................. RHP ................So......................................................................... Covington, La. 22 Sam Scheibal................... OF/P................Fr.......................................................................... Covington, La. 23 Hunter Owen................... OF...................Sr......................................................................... Jackson, Miss. 24 Steven Comeaux.............. RHP ................Fr................................................................................Slidell, La. 26 Shelby Robertson............. RHP ................Jr.......................................................................Ridgeland, Miss. 27 Will Hawkins.................... INF...................So....................................................................... Nettleton, Miss. 28 Mac Thompson................ OF...................Fr......................................................................Baton Rouge, La. 30 Boomer Hudson............... RHP ................Jr.......................................................................Douglasville, Ga. 31 Ronnie Wheat.................. OF...................Sr...................................................................... Vancleave, Miss. 32 Nathan Pearce................. RHP.................Fr.......................................................................... Alabaster, Ala. 33 Max Berry........................ LHP..................Jr.........................................................................Mandeville, La. 34 Billy Orth......................... INF...................So........................................................................Houston, Texas 35 Philip de Kozan................ RHP.................Jr.......................................................................Gulf Breeze, Fla. 36 Andrew Fleming............... RHP.................Jr................................................................Ocean Springs, Miss. 37 Andrew Pearce................ RHP.................So......................................................................... Alabaster, Ala. 38 Peter Rafferty................... RHP.................So......................................................................Ridgeland, Miss. 39 Alex Granier..................... RHP.................Fr......................................................................Baton Rouge, La. 41 Eli Ladnier....................... RHP.................Fr..........................................................................Gulfport, Miss. 42 Matt Mozingo................... RHP.................Fr..........................................................................Gulfport, Miss. 44 John M. Pemberton.......... RHP.................So............................................................................Roswell, Ga. 45 Frederick Wiley................ OF...................Sr................................................................ Pass Christian, Miss. 47 Andrew Jones.................. LHP..................Fr.........................................................................Houston, Texas 48 Matthew Stewart.............. INF...................Fr......................................................................Baton Rouge, La.

when the Majors travel to Clinton to open a 7-game road swing which features games at Southwestern, Emory, LaGrange and Rhodes. March features 9 of 10 mid-month games on the road before closing out the regular season in Jackson with six-straight from April 1019. This year’s SCAC Baseball Tournament moves back to Jackson and Smith-Wills Stadium for the first time since 2002, coming to town from April 23-26. MSM

schedule

Schedule FEB. 6.....................................LAGRANGE# FEB. 7...............................OZARKS (ARK.)# FEB. 8.........................................RHODES# FEB. 9.................................... @ PIEDMONT FEB. 10.................................. @ PIEDMONT FEB. 11.................................HUNTINGDON FEB. 14...................................... HENDRIX* FEB. 15...................................... HENDRIX* FEB. 17...............................@ MS COLLEGE FEB. 21................@ SOUTHWESTERN* (DH) FEB. 22....................... @ SOUTHWESTERN* FEB. 27......................................... EMORY% FEB. 28....................................LAGRANGE% MAR. 1.........................................RHODES% MAR. 3...................................... BELHAVEN MAR. 7.................................. AUSTIN* (DH) MAR. 8..........................................AUSTIN* MAR. 10.................................MS COLLEGE MAR. 11............................@ HUNTINGDON MAR. 14....................................@ TRINITY* MAR. 15....................................@ TRINITY* MAR. 17......................ILLINOIS WESLEYAN MAR. 20..................................@ HENDRIX* MAR. 21..................................@ HENDRIX* MAR. 22..................................@ HENDRIX* MAR. 28.................................... @ AUSTIN* MAR. 29.................................... @ AUSTIN* MAR. 31.................................@ BELHAVEN APR. 4............................SOUTHWESTERN* APR. 5............................SOUTHWESTERN* APR. 6................................@ MS COLLEGE APR. 7.................................@ LA COLLEGE APR. 10...........................................EMORY APR. 11...........................................EMORY APR. 14..................................... BELHAVEN APR. 18 ................................TRINITY* (DH) APR. 19........................................ TRINITY* * Denotes SCAC Game # Denotes Wilson/DeMarini Classic % Denotes Rhodes College Classic Mississippi Sports Magazine - 45


2008 RECORD: 41-17; GCAC: 23-10 HEAD COACH: HILL DENSON (9th Year - Belhaven - 268-211) Photo Courtesy Belhaven College

By Kirk McDonnell-Director of Sports Information

blazers

BELHAVEN

T

46 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

he Belhaven baseball team is gearing up for another season after a successful 2008 campaign. The Blazers finished with an overall record of 41-17, made their fourth trip to the NAIA Region XIII tournament in the last five years, and reached the NAIA Top 25 for the third consecutive. Belhaven finished third in the always tough Gulf Coast Athletic conference with a league record of 23-10. The GCAC will be strong once again in 2009 with the Blazers challenging for the top spot. The Blazers look to reload in 2009 with an outstanding group of returning player’s, transfers, and incoming freshman at various spots around the diamond. Infielder Brent Hudson returns for his senior season after a solid 2008 campaign. Hudson played in 55 games last year driving in 37 runs while hitting at a .348 clip at the plate. He collected 62 hits and was on base 45 percent of the time. Hudson also received GCAC and NAIA Region XIII Rawlings Gold Glove awards for efforts last year. Outfielder Charlie Edwards was Belhaven’s top run producer last season, driving in 51 runs. Edwards made 209 trips to the plate and had 63 hits for a .301 batting average. As a senior, he will be looked upon to help anchor the Blazer offense and provide leadership in 2009. Senior catcher Brian McCormick led the team with eight homeruns in 2008 and will provide some pop at the plate and handle the Blazer pitching staff behind the plate. The eight homeruns ranked him 6th in the GCAC last season. McCormick also drove in 34 runs in 148 plate appearances and collected 10 doubles last season for the Blazers Lake Eiland enters his second season in a Blazer uniform after making a big impact in 2008 as a freshman. In 34 games, Eiland was able to drive home 19 runs while recording four doubles and three triples. Eiland showed a lot of promise in 2008 and the coaching staff hopes the valuable experience he gained as a freshman will pay off in the upcoming season. Senior outfielder Chad Howard and senior outfielder Austin Fagan had some quality at bats in 2008 and will be looked upon as valuable roles players for the 2009 season. In the offseason, the Blazers were able to boost their offense with some very good transfer and freshman players. Belhaven Head Coach Hill Denson said “One of our goals was to add power, and it’s something that we were able to go out and

Senior OF Chad Howard

do.” Craig Wescott will play his senior season at Belhaven after transferring in from the University of West Florida. Wescott will provide power from the left side of the plate. He will see time at first base, DH, and will be a part of the pitching staff. Wescott is a hard throwing left hander and will give opposing batters a different look in the batters box. Junior Timmy Foster comes to Belhaven by way of Copiah Lincoln Community College in Mississippi. Foster is slated to see time at first base and in right field for the Blazers. Foster had a .390 batting average and pounded nine homeruns for the Wolfpack. Junior Craig Dean is another Junior College transfer that will be expected to make an impact for Belhaven in 2009. Dean hit over .400 and drilled 12 homeruns during his sophomore season at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Junior Chanse Cooper is another exciting junior college transfer for the Blazers. Cooper played his first two collegiate seasons at Holmes Community College prior to arriving at Belhaven for 2009. Cooper will add speed to the outfield and replace Shawn Anderson who graduated after last season. Pitching has been a major strength for the Blazers over the last couple of seasons and it should be again in 2009. “We are excited about this year’s pitching staff,” says Denson. “We have more quality on this year’s team than we have ever had.” Riley Galloway will be on the hill for his junior season after having a good year in 2008. Galloway


worked in 17 games making nine starts with a record of 8-3 and an ERA of 3.72. Redshirt junior Paul Faulkenberry will look to rebound in 2009 after his season was cut short by injury in 2008. Senior Kyle Medley anchored the backend of the Blazer bullpen last season recording 10 saves which was good for fifth in the NAIA. Opposing batters had a combined batting average of .160 against Medley in 2008. He will bring great experience to the mound late in the game for the Blazers this season. Like the position players, the Blazers have a talented incoming class of freshman and transfer players for 2009. Golden Grasse is a sophomore transfer from East Mississippi Community College. He is a hard throwing right hander and will be competing for a spot in the weekend rotation. Brandt Hinton is a junior in his first season in a Blazer Uniform. Hinton comes to Belhaven from Copiah Lincoln

roster No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 44 45 46 47

Community College in Mississippi where he completed his sophomore season with a 2.26 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 75 innings of work. Kyle Hunt will be making his Belhaven debut in 2009 after spending two years at Northwest Mississippi Community College. The junior right hander is being looked at as either a starter or a reliever. Chris Bennett is another right handed pitcher who is slated to work out of the bullpen this season. Bennett is a junior transfer from Itawamba Community College. The competition in the GCAC will be fierce once again this season. It should be another tight battle for the top four spots in the conference between the University of Mobile, LSU-Shreveport, Belhaven, and William Carey University. Mobile took the conference crown last year with a 30-5 GCAC record followed by LSUShreveport at 26-10, Belhaven at 23-10, and William Carey at 23-13. Spring Hill

Name............................. Pos..................Yr...................................................... Hometown (Prev School) Russell Turnage.............. OF..................JR...................................................... Chalmette, LA/Delgado CC Shayne Odum................. INF..................R-SO.................................... Horn Lake, MS/ Jackson State Univ. Chad Howard.................. OF..................SR................................................... Biloxi, MS/MS Gulf Coast CC Justin Hill....................... INF..................FR.................................... Pelham, AL/Shades Mountain Christian Mark Gray...................... OF..................R-SO.................................................... Crossett, AR/Crossett HS Daniel O’Brien................. OF..................SO......................................................... Port Allen, LA/ Brusly HS Shawn Diehl................... INF..................R-JR.............................................. Huntsville, AL/N.W. Shoals CC Eric Hare........................ P.....................R-JR........................................ Childersburg, AL/ Childersburg HS Riley Galloway................. P.....................JR.......................................... Madison, MS/ Madison Central HS Chanse Cooper............... OF..................JR............................................... Ocean Springs, MS/Holmes CC Austin Fagan................... INF..................SR.................................................. Shreveport, LA/ Loyd Star HS Andy Kuehn.................... P.....................JR....................................................... Jackson, MS/ St. Joseph Paul Hoffman.................. P.....................R-JR.......................................... Jacksonville, AL/ Jacksonville HS Josh Bennett.................. INF/C..............SO............................................................ Vidalia, LA / Vidalia HS Chris Bennett.................. P.....................JR........................................................ Tupelo, MS/Itawamba CC Golden Grasse................ P/OF...............SO.................................................. Baton Rouge, LA/East MS CC Kyle Hunt........................ P.....................JR................................................ Olive Branch, MS/N.W. MS CC Mackenzie Woods........... INF..................SO............................................. Monticello, MS/Lawrence Co. HS Andrew Gipson................ C....................R-FR.................................................... Oneonta, AL/ Oneonta HS Jordan Scott................... P.....................R-SO............................................. Lucedale, MS/ George Co. HS Brandt Hinton.................. P.....................JR..................................................... Brookhaven, MS/Co-Lin CC Charlie Edwards.............. OF..................SR.................................................. Water Valley, MS/N.W MS CC Lake Eiland..................... INF..................SO............................................... Collins, MS/ Simpson Academy Timmy Foster.................. INF..................JR.......................................................... Natchez, MS/Co-Lin CC Sean Steverson............... P.....................JR...................................................... Brandon, MS/ Brandon HS Craig Dean..................... INF..................JR................................................... Cold Water, MS/N.W. MS CC Brent Hudson.................. INF..................SR................................................... Biloxi, MS/MS Gulf Coast CC Kyle Feazell.................... C....................FR............................................................. Elmer, LA/Oak Hill HS Joe Patterson................. P.....................SR................................................. Morton, MS / East Central CC Paul Faulkenberry........... P.....................R-JR..................................................... Bastrop, LA/ S.W. MS CC Kyle Medley.................... P.....................SR...................................... Springfield, KY/ St. Catharine College Ethan Rodgers................ P.....................JR.............................................................. Milton, FL/ Milton HS Josh Young..................... P.....................SR..................................................... Citronelle,AL/Bishop St. CC Asai Adame.................... C....................FR................................................ Houston, TX/J. Frank Dobie HS Chris Hartfield................. P.....................SR........................................................ Biloxi, MS/Pearl River CC Alan McHenry................. P.....................SO....................................... Medowvale Secondary, Ontario, CAN Brian McCormick............ C....................SR........................................... Davidsonville, MD/N.W. Shoals CC Jordan Bennett............... P.....................SO................................................... D’Iberville, MS/D’Iberville HS Craig Westcott................ P/INF...............SR.......................................... Chalmette,LA/Univ. of West Florida Brett Mason.................... P.....................R-FR..................................... Oakland Park, FL/ Westminster Aca. Matt Carter..................... P.....................FR.......................................................... Pearl, MS / Richland HS Joe Diecidue................... P.....................SR.................................................... Covington, LA / Delgado CC

College, Loyola University, and Tougaloo will look to improve in the standings this season. Four of the seven teams in the GCAC are ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll. Belhaven will open the regular season and conference play on Friday January 23rd at Spring Hill College in the first game of a three game weekend series. The first pitch of 2009 is slated for 4 PM. - MSM

schedule jan. 23 . ............... @ spring hill college jan. 24.................. @ spring hill college jan. 30................ @ loyola-new orleans jan. 31................ @ loyola-new orleans Feb. 3...................................@ delta state Feb. 6.............................lsu-shreveport feb. 7............................. lsu shreveport feb. 10...................mississippi college# Feb. 13.................... @ tougaloo college feb. 14.................... @ tougaloo college feb. 17............................bethel college feb. 20.................. mCkendree college* feb. 21.................. mckendree college* feb. 22............................ berry college* feb. 24................. @ mississippi college# feb. 27................. @ university of mobile feb. 28................. @ university of mobile mar. 3..................... @ millsaps college# mar. 6............................... william carey mar. 7............................... william carey mar. 11...........................lsu-alexandria mar. 13................... spring hill college mar. 14................... spring hill college mar. 16....................... @ union university mar. 17..................@ lambuth university mar. 18.........................@ bethel college mar. 20................. loyola-new orleans mar. 21................. loyola-new orleans mar. 24..................mississippi college# mar. 27........................ @ lsu-shreveport mar. 28........................ @ lsu-shreveport mar. 31..................... millsaps college# apr. 1............................union university apr. 3.........................tougaloo college apr. 4.........................tougaloo college apr. 7...................... lambuth university apr. 9....................east texas baptist u. apr. 14................... @ millsaps college# apr. 17.................. university of mobile apr. 18.................. university of mobile apr. 21................................... delta state apr. 24........................... @ william carey apr. 25........................... @ william carey apr. 29-may 4............gcac tournament% may 12-15.......................... naia regionals may 22-29...................naia world series† # - cowboy maloney series; % - hattiesburg; † - Lewiston, Idaho;

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 47


Q&A with Delta State Head Coach Mike Kinnison been the biggest highlight, describe how it felt to finally reach that mountain top? Kinnison: Without question winning the national championship was the missing ingredient or the missing award we needed. In the time I played here we finished third in the World Series my junior year and second my senior year. As a player we lost that game but having the chance to get there as a coach was special.

Photo Courtesy Delta State University

Kinnison discusses his faith, his career, his goals, and his love of the game By Donell Maxie, The Bolivar Commercial What makes Delta State baseball so special? Kinnison: One of the things that help us is tradition that we’ve had here. I was fortunate to come to a program that already had a strong tradition of winning. That foundation was laid by Coach Dave “Boo” Ferris and coach Marchant. We have good facilities, good administrative and community support and we have a great alumni and fan base out there. All those things weave together to help us be successful. Can you put in perspective the lessons learned playing for legendary coach Boo Ferriss and how those lessons have shaped the way you approach coaching? Kinnison: Having played here and then having a chance to come back and coach where I played is special. Playing for Coach Ferriss was a great experience. The values of the program then is 48 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

what I would love for it t o be now. I learned making sure you take care of your academic business, doing the right thing on and off the field. Playing for him was an opportunity to learn a true love of the game. Coach had the unique ability to teach the game and he engrained in us a love and respect of the game and that’s what I’ve tried to continue as coach of this great program. When did you fall in love with baseball? Kinnison: I’ve always loved the game even in my little league days I had that genuine love of the game. Playing at Delta State simply enhanced my love. Seeing Coach Ferriss and the career he had and coming in contact with the former professional players, scouts and other associates helped us to experience the game on another level and it wet our appetites a little bit. When you look over your career, obviously winning the National Championship has

One of the greatest images of that championship game was you handing the National Championship Trophy to Coach Ferriss. How special was it to have a chance to share that with a man who was instrumental in putting DSU baseball on the national map? Kinnison: It meant a lot to me to be able to share that moment with Coach. I just thought it was important to connect and recognize him with what we had done. He was and still is such an important part of the program. He laid the foundation and had so many things in place for the coaches who followed him to be successful. The uniqueness of his relationship with players was so special I just felt like that was something that every player who had played for him here really would have love the opportunity to do so it’s something or a moment of satisfaction for me. I wanted it to represent the appreciation at all the players who had played for him and all the ones who have worn this uniform had for his contributions to this program. What is it that drives former players to stay connected to Cleveland, Delta State and Statesmen baseball? Kinnison: There is a strong since of family here. For so many of us once we came here and played we really never left it. We’ve stayed connected, we’ve stayed attached and that’s due to the experiences we had here. Every year we have a Bi-annual event where former


come through this program will play here and move on to being a husband, father or business man and that academic background and values learn in athletic will helped them become better husbands, fathers and business men.

Photo Courtesy Delta State University

players come back and those guys bring their families to campus, they visit with their teammates and coaches. I see how all the different generations have been consistently connected and they see how each one has a love and passion for Delta State and Delta State Baseball. Do you put much stock in having a career winning percentage of .785? Kinnison: I don’t dwell on that because it’s because of good players that we’ve been able to do that. I don’t see that as a personal accomplishment as much I do a program accomplishment. How important is it to have had a long standing assistant in Rodney Batts by your side for 11 years? Kinnison: Having had someone like Coach Batts here has been big for the success for this program. Having someone like him to share the coaching responsibility has been good for this program. It’s been special because he played here and I had the opportunity to coach him. We have always been on the same page mentally and with goals and objectives for the team. We think alike and we have the same approach to the game as it relates to our goals, objectives and the teaching part of it. He’s been a great assistant and in so many roles a great recruiter. He’s an equal partner and we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish

any of this without him. Through your success here at Delta State you have received several offers to bigger schools. What has kept you from leaving for bigger schools and potentially more money? Kinnison: Well, some of those situations have come up and you can say, “Well it’s a bigger school”, “it’s a division one school” or “It’s more money” but I think there are so many things that go along with this job that you can’t put a price tag on. How this university and this community has accepted my family. Between my wife and my two children we are woven into this community and Delta State. My wife and I both went to school here and it makes it easy to stay. What is it outside of the diamond that you and your staff try to instill in your players as men? Kinnison: Sometimes I feel this studentathlete thing is a little old fashion but I’ve never been one to give up on that. I feel like the true spirit of the college athletes is that spirit of being a student-athlete. I think that’s what separates it from the professional game and a different level from the high school game. I do believe that success in the classroom and self discipline academically enhances those same qualities athletically. The bottom line is that 95 percent of the players who

Being a man of faith what role do your beliefs play in coaching these young men? Kinnison: I would like for it to shape every decision that I make. You asked me earlier about turning down some offers and staying here, when it comes right down to making that decision I don’t think God is through with what he wants me to do here at Delta State. On a daily bases I want this program to bring some glory and honor to Christ. I think that every vocation or occupation can be a chance to minister. I know that as coaches we have a rare opportunity through action, encouragement and discipline to show players principles that are Christ like. Some days I feel like a miserable failure at that but that desire to improve on the next day and be better is key. Sometimes coaching can bring out the side in you that you’re not proud of but there’s always that foundation to go back to. How has your coaching career impacted your family life? Kinnison: My work here at Delta State has been a family affair. The demands of college coaching are so time consuming. Truthfully from January-June it’s seven days a week. The only way we’ve been able to balance family with my job is with them being so involved with the program. My wife Cindy coordinates our diamond girl group here. She helps me in so many ways with administrative things. She is a liaison with the parents and she has been a great coach’s wife. Our girls have grown up around the program. Mary Claire and Kate were in the first and second grade when I came back to Delta State and they were kids climbing around on the dugouts and they have grown up knowing every player here, they know their numbers and their names. Delta State baseball has allowed them to travel with me and stay with me at times so I haven’t had to be separated from them as much at times. They are the first ones who want to know if we won or loss. - MSM

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 49


MS GOLF - TUNICA Photo Courtesy Tunica CVB

An aerial view of Tunica National Golf Course

Take me to Tunica!

The South’s Casino Capital sees changes to three Championship Courses and Indoor Tennis By Claire Pitman, Tunica CVB

F

or a gaming, golf, and tennis destination, you can say, “Take Me Away to Tunica!” Located 30 minutes south of Memphis, Tunica’s three championship golf courses and indoor tennis facility will keep you playing by day, and nine casinos will keep you entertained at night. Golfers playing Tunica’s courses will see considerable changes on the courses this season, and tennis players will see updated courts at the South’s only indoor clay hydro-grid, Har-Tru courts. New 50 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

trees, homes, landscaping, and classes are planting the future for golfers to try the new course conditions and tennis players to improve their game. Bob Wolcott, general manager of Tunica National Golf and Tennis and former PGA tour player, says this spring, more than 110 mature trees were added to the golf course. “The trees that are new to the course are having a profound effect,” he explained. “They lay out a border and frame many of the holes providing a nice backdrop to

the greens.” Located in the casino resort area on U.S. Highway 61 North in Tunica, Tunica National, named by Golf Digest Magazine in 2007 as one of the best golf course in the country not owned by but nearby a casino, features an 18hole public golf course, six-hole parthree practice course, 20,000-squarefoot clubhouse, circular driving range, and Golf Training Academy. The Mark McCumber designed course is in its sixth season and is one of the most challenging golf courses in the area, but with the new changes, it makes it easier for golfers to judge the approach shots. Also adding dimension to the golf courses is Tunica National—A Master Planned Community, a $25 million mixed use project which is bringing new homes to surround the golf course. The development is the largest residential development in the history of Tunica County with 600-700 new homes and 600 apartments/condominium units planned for construction. Complimenting the housing development, on the 268 acres surrounding the Tunica National Golf and Tennis facility, will be a town center commercial development featuring retail shopping and office space. “Tunica National now has the feel of a much more mature course,” Wolcott said. “The new trees, homes, and other improvements we’ve made propel us five to six years of growth in one year.” Director of Tennis and Former ATP Pro Keith Evans, has been growing Tunica National’s tennis program, too, getting ready for his busiest time of the year. Har-Tru clay, the type of clay on Tunica National’s courts, is a granular surface that acts as a shock-absorbing cushion, allowing players to slide into their shots, preventing joint-jarring stops. One of the most impressive aspects of the technology is the sub-surface irrigation and the ability to control humidity indoors. Evans says in addition to leagues and groups playing often on the courts,


Photo Courtesy Tunica CVB

Photo Courtesy Tunica CVB

Indoor tennis facilites at Tunica National

individuals can prevent winter weight gain by coming to Tunica National. “We’ve also added new weekly classes, including cardio tennis, the best way to stay or get in shape this winter,” Evans said. “Men’s and women’s yoga classes, offered several times a week at Tunica National, are also a great indoor way to keep muscles flexible for tennis and golf during colder months.” The Links at Cottonwoods, owned by Harrah’s Casino and located less than five minutes from Tunica National, has recently completed several upgrades designed to add more challenge. These changes have optimized course conditions at this Hale Irwin Signature Design course which was voted a Top-40 Casino Course in the U.S. by Golf Digest Magazine. Stan Genty, course architect with Hale Irwin Golf Design, recently developed a plan to return the course to its original design while improving the course conditions and golf experience. The course was designed as a true links layout with extremely minimal tree plantings. This year, the Links at Cottonwoods selectively removed trees and planted additional native areas consistent with the original links design. “With the completion of the course renovations, we removed 90% of the trees and added 60 acres of native grasses providing players with a true links golf experience,” said Director of Golf Matt McNeil. In addition to those changes, McNeil and Golf Course Superintendent James Harris oversaw the conversion of Cottonwood’s greens from Bentgrass to Champions Bermuda. The new greens now add another level of complexity to

the course while providing a playing surface consistent with links golf. Measuring 7,000 yards from the back tees – but frequently playing longer thanks to the often balmy and blustery breezes – the par-72 course is defended additionally by multiple sand bunkers and water hazards. The water hazards come into play on several holes, requiring players to think long and hard when deciding how much carry to borrow when gauging the prevalent, hardy crosswinds. Another upgrade to Links at Cottonwoods occurs at the 15th hole. Now players will be able hit driver without worrying about finding the canal. “The hole has been shortened to proper lengths so that all players will be able to carry the water with their tee shot,” says McNeil. “In addition to the new tee boxes, several pot bunkers will be added to the hole to challenge players at the shorter yardage.” Located on Casino Strip Boulevard near Sam’s Town Casino, Hollywood Casino, and Resorts Casino, River Bend Links is the only true Scottish Links course in Tunica. Nestled comfortably in the Mississippi Delta, River Bend Links is the perfect escape for anyone looking to relax and enjoy golfing in a lush, serene setting. Built in 1998 and designed by Clyde B. Johnston, ASGCA, the course continues to offer a fresh opportunity for great golf to local enthusiasts and tourists alike. The course is a par 72, 6,900 yard golf course featuring lakes, sand, and grass bunkers and strategically placed mounds. Jesse Weeks, the River Bend Links General Manager and Director of Golf, says with professional, championship, senior, and regular tees, the course is

Riverbend Links Golf Club

challenging and fun for players of all levels. “With the best prices to play a round of golf with our stay and play packages at Hollywood Casino, Sam’s Town Casino, and Resorts, our course offers affordable and enjoyable options for individuals and groups,” Weeks said. The plantation-style clubhouse features a pro shop, light meals and cool drinks with a grand view of the picturesque course. Built next to the Mississippi River animals still inhabit the area, during the round you may see deer, fox, or wild turkey. So when you’re looking for a course that combines rich history, legendary beauty and plenty of excitement, there’s no place quite like River Bend Links. “If people haven’t played our three golf courses, I’d invite them to experience the championship level courses and try our tennis facility, which is one of the best in the country,” Webster Franklin, president and CEO of the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau, said. “For visitors who’ve played in Tunica, I invite them to come again to be amazed at the differences.” Located 30 minutes south of Memphis, Tunica is The South’s Casino Capital. Be Taken Away by the nine world-class casinos, 6,000 luxurious hotel rooms, fine dining restaurants and buffets, headline entertainers, championship golf and tennis, award-winning museums, lavish spas, and outlet/antique shopping. Come see why everyone is saying, “Take Me Away to Tunica!” Call 1-888-4-TUNICA to request a value-packed Winner’s Guide, or visit www.tunicamiss.com for travel information. - MSM Mississippi Sports Magazine - 51


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52 - Mississippi Sports Magazine PUBLISHING


ne x t issue Here’s a peek a what to look for in the March/April Issue...

2009

RECRUITING WRAPUP

The “First Ladies” of Mississippi Basketball An interview with Peggy and Jennifer Gillom

In the Woods

Camp Tanzy in Woodville is the oldest active hunting camp in Mississippi and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Mississippi’s Hottest new Authors With the success of thier books “Magnolia Gridiron” and “Y’all vs. Us” the Frascogna family is becoming the official story tellers of Mississippi High School Football

A tribute to “Booty”

Legendary Clinton and Tupelo High School head football coach James Sloan is roasted in Clinton.

THINK SCHOLAR-ATHLETE. 1701 NORTH STATE STREET • JACKSON, MS 39210-0001 800.352.1050 • www.millsaps.edu

Mississippi Sports Magazine - 53


ON THE TRACK Photos by Greg Pevey

Off-raod racing is popular at the dirt track located on Flowood Drive behind River Oaks Hospital.

ZOOM, ZOOM

RC racing is a great way for families to share a hobby

M

y how times have changed in the world of remote control racing. Growing up I’m sure most of you had a battery operated Tyco race car you would run up and down the street or in the local sandlot only to crash it in a tree or run it down the nearest storm gutter. Today however, the RC scene is more than just a battery operated race car or monster truck. RC racing has become big business, not quite to the scale of the NASCAR circuit, but to the men, women and kids who take part in this hobby they race for keeps. R/C cars started in the mid-sixties. Pioneers made 1/8th scale pan cars using .19-cubic-inch 2-stroke model airplane engines. Around 1967, companies like WEN, Model Car Enterprises, Dynamic Models, and Associated started to produce car “kits”. Powering these cars to incredible speeds were two-stroke, internal combustion engines mounted on an aluminum

54 - Mississippi Sports Magazine

chassis. These engines used fuel made of a special blend of nitrogen, methanol, and lubricant. Electric powered cars started to emerge in 1974. WorkRite and Leisure were some of the companies that produce these electric powered cars. Cars in the 70’s were designed to run on-road, such as smooth parking lots or custom built tracks. The release of the Tamiya Rough Rider in 1979 brought a new dimension to the hobby. The car was capable of running in off-road conditions such as dirt, rocky terrain, and water. It had a die-cast suspension system and large rubber tires. These off-road cars could be run anywhere. In backyards, rough parking lots, or baseball fields. Little did anyone know that this would start the R/C craze in the 80’s. There was a downside to faster speeds. Batteries, motors, tires, and cars became more advanced. Money became an issue,

and to an extent, a necessity to win races. To make racing more affordable and fun, parking lot races were organized. It was a move back to the origins of R/C car racing of the 80’s. Fun was the name of the game. Daryl Lane of Hobby Town USA in Flowood tells us, “Despite the cost of some of these vehicles (they can rang anywhere between $300 all the way up into the thousands) it is a great hobby for dads and sons and even mothers and daughters to take up.” Lane also goes into detail about how racing is taking off here in Mississippi. “We try to promote having fun with the hobby. It’s not so much about winning and losing as it is about but just having fun. It is a great way for families to get out together and spend quality time with each other.” Lane has been involved with RC racing for about 20 years now. He has seen the ups and downs of the sport and is very enthusiastic about how racing is taking hold here in Mississippi. RC racing is not just a hobby for the guys either. Local racers Wendy and Jacqueline Driver from Brandon say there is a place for women in RC racing too. Wendy tells us how she got involved, “I got started back in November 2007 just playing around with the Traxxas T-Max. My husband Jody Driver wanted to get into the racing scene, so he began racing truggy (truck and dune buggy combination). Well another member of the track let me run his buggy just to see how I liked it. I was hooked, so before long I had a truggy all


These drivers are matching their skills at the Hobby Lobby races on Lakeland Drive in Flowood.

Wendy and Jacqueline Driver or Brandon.

my own. Then I began racing. I like to race because it is a family affair. It is something we enjoy doing together. We plan to get all our children involved in racing. Since I have started racing, Kari Dayton (a family firend) and my daughter, Jacqueline Driver have started racing to.” “We are the women that race at the track. I hope there will be more women racing next season. As a woman in a mostly male dominated sport, I was surprised at how welcomed I was. I have been told countless times by the other racers how they wish their wives and daughters would get involved in racing.” “To all women thinking about R/C racing do not get discouraged the more practice you get the better driver you will become.” “It’s all about having fun, R/C racing is a place I can go to forget all my worries and have a ton of fun!” I can vouch for Driver about being a fun event myself. I have attended several of these racing events in the area while doing some research for this article and I can tell you that RC racing is an exciting hobby.

It will definitely bring the kid out in you. Watching my son get exciting watching these vehicles scooting around the track at speeds up to 60mph and seeing his face light up is enough to get us wanting a RC kit ourselves. To get started Lane tells us the offroad vehicles may be the way to go for beginners. “The cars are more durable for the beginners. They handle the elements a lot better and when the vehicles take a spill, the damage is little to none.” Some of you may be thinking, “$300 is a lot of money to put into one of these vehicles if they are going to be out in the elements or crashing into to walls, rails and other cars. Are they durable enough to take that type of beating?” Lanes answers that questions by telling us, “If the beginners will read the information provided with the vehicles there is really no problem at all with maintaining the car. There is a little studying and research you need to do of course with any new hobby whether it’s photography, painting, whatever it may be. You need to know what you are getting into to make the best of your experience.”

Lane’s goal for RC racing in the state is to get the communities involved to help provide more racing tracks in the state. “We have hundreds of people come out to watch these races every other weekend. We want the fans to be able to see what RC racing is all about. Let them experience the full effect of the races. If we can get the city developers to come out and witness these events we think they would be willing to help support and promote what we do. We want to be up to par with the racing events in other states.” To check out one of these events for yourself, you can always find a race at either the Hobby Lobby parking lot on Lakeland Drive on Sundays or at the dirt track located at the corner of Dexter Street and Flowood Drive. If you would like more information about getting involved in RC racing or wanting to know when and where the next racing event will be held, you can always call or visit Hobby Town USA on Lakeland Drive or call (601) 919-8697. The staff there will be willing to answer any questions you might have. - MSM Mississippi Sports Magazine - 55


SPORTS BIZ

World Class Athletic Surfaces, Leland Photos by Greg Pevey

David Simmons (l) and Andre DuBois of World Class Athletic Surfaces.

T

here’s a little town in the Delta just 14 miles west of Indianola called Leland which really isn’t known for much more than being the birthplace of “Kermit the Frog”. What most of you don’t know either is that there is a world-wide company there that has been around for 20 years now that has made a name for itself in the world of sports. World Class Athletic Surfaces specializes in field paint and design that makes this company tops in it’s field. Tra Dubois, a Belhaven graduate and former Blazer tennis star, started this company mainly with the goal of producing tennis court paints but with a twist of fate 18 years ago got into something that really wasn’t in the plans of his business concept. “Tra really wasn’t thinking about painting 58 - Mississippi Sports Magazine 56

football fields when he started this business up,” says Plant Manager David Simmons. “It all started about 18 years ago when Mississippi State had a dilemma with the company who was supposed to be providing the paint for Scott Field. State was playing a huge game on national TV and the truck was delayed and would not be able to deliver the paint in time to get the field ready. The MSU athletic department called Tra and asked if they could help them out.” “We mixed up the paint they needed. Got it delivered to campus in time and the finished product was unbelievable. The athletic department was so pleased with how beautiful the field looked for the game that they started using us from then on.” “The product Tra came up with was not the norm compared to what the other companies were using. This was high quality

custom paint that was developed in their plant in Leland. The field just popped! You walked out from the tunnel under the stands and the people were just blown away at how beautiful the field looked.” With the success of the Scott Field experiment came more and more calls from other schools and professional teams who wanted World Class Paints on their fields. “Grounds keeping in the world of sports is really a big business. They all work together and trade ideas and help each other out. After the success at Mississippi State our name began to spread throughout that field and more and more people began to contact us,” Simmons explains. Field design is becoming a huge branding process these days. Colleges and professional sports teams want their fields to look impressive to the fans, the players and the television audience. Believe it or not, people do care what the fields look like. You hear some people talk about a logo on a field is too big or is not the right color. Some even complain when it’s not painted enough. “We have developed a great relationship with the NFL and Major League Baseball. We have done the paints for several Super Bowls and World Series as well as bowl games and we have a contract with the Georgia Dome as well.” By now, some of you may be wondering how all this works. How to they get such detailed artwork to look so good on a grass field? Basically, the customer sends the artwork


(logos) they want on the field to World Class and the graphic artist will use a field template to lay the design out on the computer. “Sometimes we’ll we go through 10 layouts with the customer to finally get the look they want with their field.” Says Andre DuBois (Tra’s brother and production manager). After the field design has been approved the artwork is sent to a computer RIP station which processes the art and allows the crew to blow the artwork up to size. It is then printed on a 50’ long printer on a vinyl material in several pieces. The pieces are then spread out on the floor where the another crew cuts the guide holes in the templates indicating where the grounds crew will cut out the pattern and it also indicates which color goes where. This crew will also paint the template to indicate which color will go as it is being painted as shown in the photos above. Simmons tells us also that there is a difference in some fields as well. “With the advent of the new artificial turfs these days most field designs are woven into the fields

in the factory and the field is complete after it is installed. Most of the surfaces are only used for one sport.” “Now when you go somewhere like the Georgia Dome where the field is a multipurpose surface, the artwork can be changed in a matter of hours between events. We were a part of the a huge weekend at the Georgia Dome where they had to paint the field for three events in three days. They held a high school all-star game on Saturday, the Peach Bowl of Sunday and the Falcons played there on Monday night. What was interesting that weekend was the Atlanta Journal Constitution put a camera up in the rafters at the top of the dome and filmed the whole process. It was fun watching the time-lapse video of the whole process of getting the field ready for each event over that weekend.” “What a sight it was to watch them paint the field for one event and then wash the field, paint it again, wash it, etc.” For those of you who wonder “how they do that in such a small window of time ?” Simmons tells us that the paints used are all

water soluble so that they can be removed quite easily. What they use for that process is a giant Zamboni-type machine that washes and vacuums up the paints in a matter of a few hours. Simmons explains that grass surfaces are not that simple. When multiple events are played outdoors basically each design per event is made larger than the first. It’s like covering up a tattoo. You just paint over the previous artwork with a larger version of the next one. I’m sure many of you have seen a game where the logo in the middle of the field is gigantic. Well, basically, it is covering up the logo from the previous NFL game or college game. When it comes to field painting and design, World Class Athletic Surfaces in Leland is definitely tops in it’s field. They are just one of the many home-grown businesses in our great state that has a global impact in the world of sports today. Keep an eye out for who we find next to spotlight in our “SportsBiz” profile. You just might be surprised to see what else is happening right next door. - MSM Mississippi Sports Magazine -57


SPORTS E X T R A

Major Blowout Third-ranked Millsaps racked up 565 yards of total offense and scored on its first five possessions, and for the first time in 33 years, they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs with a 51-26 win against LaGrange College November 22 at Harper Davis Field.

WR Daniel Whitmore

58 - Mississippi Sports Magazine


Coach Mike DuBose

RB Shane Bowser

Mississippi Sports Magazine -59


TIME O U T WITH YOLANDA MOORE

Yolanda Moore Guest Columnist

Achieving Success through Balance B

alancing sports and academics is harder for student-athletes today more than ever. They feel pressured on all sides to be both a top athlete and top student. For high school student-athletes, the NCAA adds to that pressure each year by setting more rigorous academic entrance standards and requiring higher scores on college entrance exams and expectations are even higher for those studentathletes who are considered to be among the elite in their sport. Once they get to college, the stakes are even higher. No matter how much pressure and no matter how high the expectations, it is possible for student-athletes at both the high school and college level to achieve success both on the court, field, and in life. The key is having balance. Balance is achievable only if you have the desire to be the best student and athlete that you possibly can be, but you have to work at it. In order to find that balance you first have to set a goal. I set goals for myself throughout my basketball career. Goal setting is simply visualizing where you want to be and then taking the necessary steps to reach that point. I especially did this back in 1997 when I decide to try out for the Houston Comets just four months after having my second child. You start by writing down what it is that you want to achieve – your goal. Then write down your plans on how to get there. For example, let’s say you want to get a better grade in a class. You would simply write down the name of the class, the grade that you currently have, and the grade that you want to have. Next, you write down the things you need to do in order to get that grade. These things might include increasing your study time, doing extra credit assignments, or asking a

teacher to tutor you outside of class. Then, you set aside time to do these things either on a daily or a weekly basis. Finally, you put that plan into action. Balance requires organization. And in order to have organization you must prioritize. Determine what things are necessary to help you achieve your goal and focus on doing them in order of importance. Eliminate anything from your life that is a distraction or that could ultimately hinder your progress. Time is something that you cannot get back so spend it wisely. The next step to creating balance is having a good support team. It is so critical in life that you have people who support what it is that you’re trying to do. For student-athletes, a good support team may consist of family members, coaches, teachers, and peers. Make sure that each person who is a part of your support team has your best interest at heart. These are the people who want you to succeed and are willing to (legally and ethically) do whatever it takes to help you get to where you want to be. Surrounding yourself with positive people helps to create an environment for success. Finally, to have balance you have to have a good attitude. No matter how focused and determined you are, sometimes things just don’t work out. It is in those times that your character is formed. When things go bad in a game, you can’t just quit. It’s the same in life. You have to be positive and have a good attitude if you have any hope of being successful. I truly believe that if you set a goal for yourself, get organized, surround yourself with a good support team, and have a positive attitude, that you can have balance in your life and be a successful student-athlete. - MSM

Yolanda Moore is a Port Gibson, Mississippi native, former Lady Rebel basketball player, two-time WNBA Champion, author, and an independent sports college planning consultant. You can contact Yolanda for assistance or additional information at yolandamoorebasketball@gmail.com. 60 - Mississippi Sports Magazine


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