2012-13 Spring Sports Media Guide

Northeast Mississippi Community College

2012-13 Spring Sports Media Guide

Northeast

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Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

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Table of Contents p. 4..............................................Presidential Greeting

p. 26-27 ............................................. Softball Preview

p. 5....................................................Board of Trustees

p. 28 ................................................ Softball Schedule

p. 6......................................Athletic Director Greeting p. 7..........................................AD David Robbins Bio. p. 8 ............................Baseball Coach Kent Farris Bio. p. 9 ...........Asst. Baseball Coach Richy Harrelson Bio. p. 10 ...................Asst. Baseball Coach Jake Mills Bio. p. 10.........................Head Golf Coach Nick Coln Bio. p. 11....................Head Softball Coach Jody Long Bio.

p. 29 ................................. Softball Roster/Team Photo p. 30-31 ...................................... Softball Biographies p. 32 ...................................................Tennis Schedule p. 33 .....................................................Tennis Preview p. 34 .................Lady Tiger Tennis Roster/Team Photo p. 35 ............................ Lady Tiger Tennis Biographies

p. 12.................Head Tennis Coach Ben Shappley Bio. p. 36 ......................... Tiger Tennis Roster/Team Photo p. 12...............Head Athletic Trainer Hope Barnes Bio. p. 37 .....................................Tiger Tennis Biographies p. 13....................................SID M. Joseph Miller Bio.

p. 38 ........................................................Golf Preview

p. 13..................................................... Mascot History p. 39 ......................................................Golf Schedule p. 14 .......................................2011-12 Year in Review p. 15 .................................................... Retired Jerseys p. 15 ........................................................... Fight Song p. 16 ............................................... Baseball Schedule p. 17-18 ........................................... Baseball Preview p. 19 .............................. Baseball Roster/Team Photo p. 20-22 ..................................... Baseball Biographies

p. 40 .......................................Golf Roster/Team Photo p. 41 ..................................................Golf Biographies p. 42 .....................................................All-Americans p. 43-44 .................2011 NEMCC Sports Hall of Fame p. 45 ....................................................... Social Media p. 46 ............................................. JucoWeekly.org Ad

p. 23 .................................. Diamond Girl Team Photo p. 47 ........................................................... Sodexo Ad p. 24-25 ............................. Diamond Girl Biographies p. 48 ............. Northeast Athletics Contact Information

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Letter from the President Dear Friends of Northeast: Thank you for your support of the athletic efforts of Northeast Mississippi Community College.

Each coach and each athlete has worked hard to ensure that our teams are ready to give performances that make you proud to be a “Tiger Fan.� Northeast exists to provide educational, recreational and social resources for students and supporters to grow and enjoy their accomplishments.

While you are on campus, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable visit. I trust you will use this opportunity to get to know our students, coaches and staff. We are always ready to assist you to enjoy your time with us.

Thank you for everything that you do to encourage and support our efforts. We are always glad to have you on our campus.

Sincerely, Johnny L. Allen President 4

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

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T. Jack Ramsey

Chairman Tenure of Service: 1983 Tishomingo County/ Banker

Ken Basil

Tenure of Service: 2008 Union County Superintendent of Education

Tonya Butler Farris

Tenure of Service: 2012 Alcorn County Businesswoman

Sam McCoy

Tenure of Service: 1988 Prentiss County Businessman

Troy Holliday

Vice Chairman Tenure of Service: 1964 Tippah County Businessman

John O. Cunningham Secretary Tenure of Service: 1995 Prentiss County Businessman

Alvie Blakney

Tenure of Service: 2011 Tishomingo County Retire Businessman

Douglas Jackson

Tenure of Service: 1995 Tippah County Retired Educator

Gina Smith

Tenure of Service: 2012 Alcorn County Superintendent of Education

Bill Breedlove

Tenure of Service: 1999 Prentiss County Businessman

Malcolm Kuykendall Tenure of Service: 2006 Tishomingo County Superintendent of Education

Luzene Triplett

Tenure of Service: 2002 Prentiss County Retire Educator

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Randle Downs

Tenure of Service: 2012 Prentiss County Superintendent of Education

Tracie Langston

Tenure of Service: 2004 Prentiss County Businesswoman

Vance Witt

Tenure of Service: 2007 Union County Businessman

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Letter from the Athletic Director Parents, Fans, Supporters, Alumni; On behalf of the Athletic Department at Northeast Mississippi Community College, I want to welcome you to this athletic event.

We hope that your visit today will create an interest that will encourage you to come back.

As we strive for excellence in the classroom and in the athletic arena, we would like to encourage every one of you to become involved in all aspects of our athletic department.

As we try to reach the highest level with all of our sports programs we must continue to work very hard to be the very best we can be.

We are looking for all avenues of resources to build on our already competitive programs.

Within the last five (5) years, we have steadily improved every one of our athletic teams.

We now have great leadership in all of our athletic programs and we are very excited about what the future holds for all of them. We would like to invite you to become a part of our Athletic booster club and help us as we strive to reach the highest level.

Our goal is to educate our student/athletes to a level that will put them at the very top in their perspective sport.

In addition, we want our athletes to be some of our most productive citizens.

Again, welcome to the NEMCC campus and we hope you have a very enjoyable visit and we welcome you back at any time either to visit our campus or to attend another athletic event.

Thanks!

David Robbins Athletic Director, NEMCC 6

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Athletic Director David Robbins

David Robbins When David Robbins accepted the position of head men’s basketball coach at Northeast in the spring of 2005, he enthusiastically accepted the challenge of returning the tradition-rich program to a place of prominence in the state and nation.

With an emphasis on doing things the right way on and off the floor, the Tigers (15-9) recorded their first winning season since the 1999-2000 season.

After stumbling in 2006-07 with nine freshmen and only four sophomores on the court, Robbins and company burst onto the MACJC scene in 2007-08.

The Tigers went 15-10, 7-5 during the regular season and captured a runner-up finish in the MACJC North Division.

After making semifinal runs in the State and Region 23 tournament, Robbins led the 2008-09 Tiger basketball team to a 1213 record, and the 2009-10 team to a 1211, 7-5 record.

On the hardwood in 2010-11, David Robbins led the Tiger basketball team to appearances in the MACJC State Tournament and the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament after finishing as the North Division runner-up with a 7-5 mark in the North Division and an 11-14 mark overall. The Tigers found the same opponent awaiting them in both the state and region tournaments – 19th-ranked Pearl River Community College – and the Tigers gave the Wildcats a run in the state tournament before falling in overtime 92-83.

Robbins’ team reached the national rankings during the 2012-13 season as the Tigers started the season strong and posted a 7-1 mark at the Christmas holiday break and carried a 10-2 overall record into the

Years Position School/Organization 2013-Present Dean of Students/Athletic Director NEMCC 2005-Present Head Men’s Basketball Coach NEMCC 2002-2005 Head Coach/Athletic Director Corinth High School 1991-2002 Head Men’s Basketball Coach Corinth High School 1987-91 Assistant Coach/ NEMCC

Assistant Director of Student Activities

January 18, 2012 NJCAA Top 20 poll where the Tigers were ranked thirteenth in the nation.

Northeast continued to build on its early success and finished the year with a 14-9 mark and tied for fourth in the North Division but lost out on a tiebreaker with Itawamba for a spot in the MACJC State Basketball Tournament.

However, the Tigers did have three players selected to the MACJC All-State team with Acie Vance (Ripley), Lavon Hooks (Atlanta, Georgia) and Jermaine Hollimon (Memphis, Tenn.) all being selected for postseason accolades.

Vance was the North Division’s leading scorer with 16.9 points per game and finished second in the MACJC while Hooks led the North Division and the MACJC with 8.6 rebounds per game.

Hollimon and Cedric Janes of Dyersburg, Tenn., were also selected to play in the MACJC North-South All-Star game in Decatur.

Before returning to his alma mater, Robbins spent 14 seasons as head boy’s basketball coach at Corinth High school.

During that time, Robbins led the Warriors to a 310-147 overall record, including four 30-win seasons, eight 20-win seasons, nine Alcorn County championships (seven straight from ‘99-’05), three North Half titles and three State Championship trophies. Robbins’ teams appeared in five State Tournaments and eight North Half Tournaments en route to a 44-15 record in post season play, a .745 winning percentage.

In only his second season at CHS, Robbins guided the Warriors to the State

Championship and a 36-5 overall mark, a school record for wins in a season. He became the winningest coach in Warrior history with win number 267 in 2003 and picked up win number 300 with a 50-46 victory over Ripley on Jan. 11, 2005 Robbins was named the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2003, and was selected to coach in the 2002 North/South All-Star Game.

Initially, Robbins also served as a physical education instructor, but left the classroom to become athletic director in 2002.

As AD, Robbins supervised every aspect of the athletic programs at Corinth High and Junior High Schools.

A Tippah County native, Blue Mountain High School graduate and former basketball player and team captain at Northeast Mississippi Junior College, Robbins worked at Northeast, assisting both former men’s basketball coach Harvey Childers and women’s basketball coach Ricky Ford (1987-89).

His duties included on-the-floor coaching and recruiting in-district as well as outof-state players. Robbins also worked as an assistant director of student activities at Northeast (1987-1991).

Robbins earned an Associate in Arts Degree from Northeast in 1985, a Bachelor of Science degree from Millsaps College in 1987 and a master’s degree from Mississippi College in 1989.

Robbins played two seasons for the Millsaps Majors and was selected the 1987 team captain.

David and his wife Pam have three children, Brandon, Mary Beth, and Brody.

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Head Baseball Coach Kent Farris

Kent Farris Ever since taking over the Tiger baseball program in 2007, Kent Farris has seen the Tigers steadily increase their prominence in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

During the 2011-12 season, Northeast finished 18-28 but 13-10 in the North Division and was the fourth seed from the division while eight Tigers went on to sign four-year scholarships.

With it’s fourth place finish in the division, Northeast secured a berth in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) state baseball playoffs for the fourth time in Farris’ tenure.

Northeast secured its playoff run with an mercy-rule win over rival Itawamba on Sophomore Day at Harold T. White Field in Booneville.

After falling behind 8-0 to the Indians, Northeast responded with 18 unanswered runs over its next four at bats in run-ruling Itawamba 18-8 in six innings. The 10-run win on Wednesday, April 25 springboarded the Tigers into playoffs where the Tigers played a marathon game one against Mississippi Gulf Coast that ended at 1 a.m. at Biloxi High School after the best-of-three series was moved to Biloxi due to inclement weather.

Farris and company posted a winning record during the 2010-11 season at 22-20 and finished the North Division with a break-even mark of 12-12.

In 2009-10, Farris’ team continued to make its mark as a premier sport for the Tigers by appearing in the MACJC State Playoffs for the third straight year. Farris’ club advanced as the third seed from the North Division and traveled to Hinds Community College to face the Eagles who was the south division runner-up. Northeast was unable to get by Hinds and finished the season with an overall record of 25-27.

In 2008-09, Farris led the Tigers to their second straight runner up finish in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division and helped the Tigers gain their first postseason host role for the first time since 1992. Northeast registered its first win over Itawamba since 2004 under Farris as the Tigers scored a 9-2 win against the Indians on the final game of the regular season in 2009 as the Tigers finished with a 33-14 record and a 17-7 mark in the league.

Farris led the Northeast Tigers baseball team to a 32-18 record, a runner-up finish in the MACJC North Division, and appearances in both the State and Region 23 tournaments. The veteran high school baseball coach and instructor made the jump back to the college level in 2006, when Northeast Mississippi Community College chose 8

Farris to be its new head baseball coach, replacing Ray Scott who had held the position since 1991.

Farris came to Northeast from Columbus High School (CHS) where he spent the last two seasons as the head baseball coach. Under Farris, the Falcons recorded an 18-11 record, won the 2006 Division II-5A championship and hosted a first round playoff series for the first time in school history. His 2005 team went 14-16, which was a 12 win improvement over its 2004 total.

During his tenure at CHS five players signed community/junior college scholarships and two players participated in the Crossroads Diamond Club State All-Star Game. He was named Columbus Commercial Dispatch Area Coach of the Year in 2006.

Before taking over the Columbus program Farris was head baseball coach at Caledonia High School from 2002-2004. He worked as an assistant baseball coach at New Hope High School and head junior high baseball coach from 1996-2002, where he was also an assistant football coach and head soccer coach and ninth grade football coach. Farris’ most extensive head coaching experience came at Alcorn Central High School where he served as head baseball coach for both the junior high and high school from 1984 to 1995.

While at Central, Farris led the Golden Bears to a 265-162-7 record. His teams qualified for the 3A State Playoffs in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1990. Alcorn Central won the 3A State championship in 1988; the 3A North Half in 1988 and 1990; and the division title in 1988. He was selected Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Coach of the Year in 1988. Nineteen of his players from this era signed college scholarships and two signed professional contracts.

Farris was on the staff as an assistant baseball coach at the University of North Alabama (UNA) from 1983-84 and helped lead the Lions to the 1984 Gulf South Conference title for the first time in school history. That team also finished second in the NCAA Division II South Central Region and featured five players that signed professional contracts.

An active coach in American Legion Baseball during his career, Farris also began working as an associate scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates Professional Baseball Club in 1998.

Farris earned a Bachelor of Science degree from UNA in 1981 and a Master of Arts in secondary education from the same institution in 1983. He also completed teaching certification requirements in health from the Mississippi Department of Education in 1994 and in driver’s education from Mississippi State University in 2001.

Professionally, Farris is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, the Crossroads Diamond Club, the Baseball Coaches Association (national high school), the Mississippi Association of Coaches, the Mississippi Association of Professional Educators and is a founding member and board member of the Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association for Better Baseball (NEMCABB).

Farris’ other professional honors and awards include his being named a Crossroads Diamond Club All-Star Game coach in 1989, a MEMCABB All-Star coach in 1992 and 2002, and a Junior Sunbelt Classic coach in 1979-99 and in 2001.

Farris has one son, Keaton and is married to Joye Farris.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Assistant Baseball Coach Richy Harrelson

Richy Harrelson Northeast Mississippi Community College baseball fans saw a familiar sight in the dugout when the Tigers opened up the 2011-12 season as Richy Harrelson of Iuka returned to the Tiger coaching staff.

Harrelson was the Tigers pitching coach in 2008 and helped lead the Tiger baseball team to a 32-18 record alongside Northeast head coach Kent Farris.

During Harrelson’s year with the Tigers, Northeast notched a Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division runner-up finish and appeared in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Region XXIII Tournament.

“We are very excited to have Coach Harrelson returning to the program after being at USM the past three seasons,” said Farris.

“He has been vital to the success of the Golden Eagles for the past three years which included a trip to Omaha and the College World Series and participation in three NCAA Regional Tournaments.”

Following a successful stint with the Tigers, Harrelson helped guide the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles to its first-ever Super Regional against the University of Florida and thanks to a 7-6 win against the host Gators, the Golden Eagles also claimed their first-ever College World Series appearance.

Prior to his 2008 season with the Tigers, Harrelson was a successful varsity coach helping to guide the Lafayette County High School Commodores to a 105-80 record during his time there including 14 postseason victories and the 2006 Missis-

sippi High School Activities Association’s (MHSAA) Class 4A State Championship.

During his final year at Lafayette County, Harrelson led the Commodores to a 23-11 record while reaching the MHSAA postseason for a fourth straight year before falling to Neshoba Central in the Class 4A North State semifinals.

Harrelson made his mark on the northeast Mississippi baseball community during his prep career at Iuka High School in Tishomingo County.

During his high school career (1989-92), Harrelson put himself among the nation’s best.

Harrelson is still listed in the National High School Baseball Record Book for career hits (236), career runs batted in (226) and career wins (55) “Coach Harrelson brings a great deal of energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the game with him and we are extremely excited about him returning to this area and Northeast,” Farris said. “He is a very familiar face to this area and we know that he will be a positive influence for us in all aspects of our baseball program and Northeast.”

Harrelson began his coaching career as an assistant with the University of Mississippi in 1997, before moving to Hillcrest Christian School in Jackson in 1998 where he was assistant baseball coach, assistant football coach and taught world history until 2001.

At Southern Miss, Harrelson oversaw the Golden Eagle outfielders, worked with the USM hitters and coached first base.

Harrelson also helped Chad Caillet in leading an offensive attack the led Conference USA in each of the last 3 years in several categories. Those categories included: Base on Balls, Hit By Pitches, OB %, RBI’s, Sac Bunts, Sac Flies, and most important Runs Scores.

During his time at Ole Miss, Harrelson was a third baseman and pitcher for the Rebels from 1993- 96. He also played a season in the prestigious Cape Cod summer league in 1994 and one season as a professional in 1997.

Professionals Coached: bold indicates the school where the players were attending.

Harrelson is married to Hope Belk Harrelson of Weir, MS. He has two children, Gage and Mary Cille.

His mom and dad, Jerry and Lana, also live in Booneville.

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Assistant Baseball Coach Jake Mills

Jake Mills Jake Mills returns to his alma mater to help the Northeast Mississippi Community College baseball program reach new heights.

Mills was a member of the 2008-09 Northeast baseball team and was named to the second team Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State team as a first baseman following his sophomore season in Booneville.

During his final year with the Tigers, Mills led Northeast with a .444 batting average while playing first base and seeing time on the mound as a left-handed pitcher.

When not busy on the diamond at Northeast, Mills was active in the classroom as well and was a member of the Iota Zeta

chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

Following his time at Northeast, Mills went on to play of the Majors at Millsaps College under legendary Major coach Jim Page where the Northeast alumni was named a two-time AllSouthern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) honoree as a designated hitter and first baseman.

In 2011, Mills graduated with a degree in elementary education and headed straight for the baseball diamond again.

Mills accepted his first coaching position at Mississippi Delta Community College and helped lead the Trojans to their first playoff appearance in seven years.

Mills spent his varsity career under current Northeast assistant coach Richy Harrelson at Lafayette County High School where the duo helped lead the Commodores to the 2006 Mississippi High School Activities Association’s (MHSAA) Class 4A State Championship.

In his senior season at Lafayette County (2007), Mills led the Commodores to a 23-11 records and reached the MHSAA playoffs for the fourth consecutive season before falling to Neshoba Central in the Class 4A North State semifinals.

During his playing days, Mills was also active in senior legion baseball where he helped lead the 2010 Pontotoc Red Sox to the Mississippi state championship before falling in the region championship game in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Golf Coach Nick Coln

Nick Coln

One of northeast Mississippi’s most prolific scorers has joined Northeast Mississippi Community College men’s basketball coach David Robbins’ staff.

Former Tiger standout Nick Coln will now help the Tiger basketballteam alongside assistant coach Maurice Stafford.

Coln comes from Olive Branch where he led the Conquistadors to a 21-8 overall mark and a 4-2 record in league play during the 2009-10 season and advance the Conquistadors to the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Class 6A state basketball play10

offs.

Coln is a former Northeast Tiger and helped lead the Northeast men’s basketball team to the national tournament during his sophomore season in 1999-2000.

During his sophomore year at Northeast, Coln averaged 16 points per game, was 40-percent from beyond the threepoint arc and finished his sophomore season with an eight-assist per game average in 36 games with the Tigers.

However, it was in the friendly confines of the Alcorn Central High School gymnasium that Coln made a name for himself.

Coln, who played for Alcorn Central from 1992-97, became Alcorn County’s all-time leading male scorer with 2,364 points during his varsity career and while with the Golden Bears Coln also set school records for points (794) and three-pointers made (119) and set a single-game record with 52 points against Potts Camp during his senior season in 1996-97.

While at Alcorn Central, Coln also

excelled on the track and still holds the school record in the triple jump with a jump of 41-feet, 8-inches.

Coln returned to coach the Golden Bears after the graduating from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and led the Golden Bears to a 24-9 mark during the 2003-04 season.

While at the University of LouisianaMonroe, Coln earned his stripes and was the eighth-ranked junior in the nation in three-point field goals made per game and the twenty-sixth ranked player overall nationally with 3.0 three-pointers a game during the 2001 season.

Coln finished his two-year career with the Indians (Warhawks, now)fifth all-time with 157 three-pointers in 432 attempts and is second behind Larry Carr in players who registered just two years with the Warhawks.

When not on the hardwood at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Coln earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Health.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Head Softball Coach Jody Long

Jody Long Jody Long begins the 2012-13 season as Northeast’s leader in fastpitch coaching wins after passing David Carnell early in the 2011-12 season.

During the 2011-12 year, Long led the Lady Tiger softball team to top three finishes in both the Mississippi Association of Community/ Junior Colleges (MACJC) State Tournament and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII Tournament.

In the MACJC State Tournament at Fulton, the Lady Tiger softball team brought back the MACJC state runner-up trophy to Booneville.

Under Long’s guidance, Northeast finished the season with a 32-19 record and posted a school-record for North Division wins with 17.

During the course of the 2011-12 season, Northeast finished as the third team from the North Division but parlayed that finish into a state runner-up finish against Jones County at the MACJC State Tournament and then continued its postseason momentum as Northeast was one of the last three teams left standing at the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament in Clinton.

Long’s Lady Tigers not only did work on the field but were successful in the classroom as well with seven member of the Northeast softball team being selected for NJCAA Student-Athlete Academic Awards and the team as a whole was honored by the NJCAA for its academic work when the Lady Tigers were ranked as the thirteenth best team in the nation with a 3.42 overall grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale and was fifth in the nation by the National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association’s (NFCA) rankings.

Northeast’s highlight of the year came during it annual StrikeOut Cancer doubleheader that saw redshirt freshman Jaisa Fox (Cincinnati, Ohio) throw a perfect game against Mississippi Delta and freshman pitcher Erin Dixson (Amherst, New York) followed up with a no-hitter in the nightcap. By the end of the season, Northeast was receiving votes in the NJCAA Top 20 Softball Poll.

Long and the Lady Tigers turned the corner during the 2010-11 season when Northeast qualified for the 2010-11 MACJC State Tournament in Perkinston after missing out the year before. Northeast gave host Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College a run in the first round of the single-elimination tournament before seeing its season come to an end at 25-23 on the year.

Just a year prior, Northeast was able to collect wins during the second half of the season to close the 2009-10 year out on a positive note however, Northeast barely missed qualifying for the MACJC State Tournament by falling to the fifth spot in the final MACJC North Division standings.

Long took over the reins of the program from Carnell in 2006 and kept the Lady Tiger softball program going strong in his first years as head coach.

Following a postseason berth in both is first two years, Northeast’s 2008 team found its stride as the Lady Tigers plowed through the competition to 34-20 overall record including a 14-3 mark in division play that helped Northeast secure its seventh MACJC North Division title in the previous eight years.

In his first season as head coach, Long led the Lady Tigers to a 32-23 overall mark and their third straight TigerFest championship, a sixth consecutive North Division title and MACJC State and NJCAA Region XXIII runner-up finishes.

Northeast’s MACJC State and NJCAA Region XXIII runner-up finishes were the fourth and third years in a row that Northeast had finished in those respective positions. Long also finished as the runner-up in the voting for the MACJC Coach of the Year that year.

Long began working as an assistant softball coach at Northeast in 1997, and following the 2000 season, played a major role in the program’s switch to fast pitch competition.

Beginning with the 2001 season, the Tigers shared one North Division title (’01) and won the championship outright five times (’02, ’03, ’04, ’05 and ‘06). Northeast has hosted the State/Region 23 Tournament twice (’02 and ‘04) and battled through the loser’s bracket to win the Region 23 title and participate in the National Tournament in 2003.

Northeast’s softball team is the only team in Region 23 (Mississippi and Louisiana) to play in every championship game from 2001 to 2006.

I`n 2001, Long was named the All-Region/All American Director through the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Following the 2003 campaign, he was named NFCA Division II South Region Coach of the Year. Long has also served as the president of the MACJC Softball Coaches Association since 2003.

Long also serves as assistant director of event planning and resident life and is a Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsor.

After attending Northeast as a student and working as a manager/ trainer on the baseball team, Long of New Albany returned to Booneville in the spring of 1997 to complete an internship through the University of Mississippi.

He joined the Northeast family full time that summer as the director of the college’s commercial-style health and fitness center, which he planned and developed, and an assistant director of student activities.

Since then, Long has become an instrumental member of the Northeast athletic family, helping turn the Tiger softball program into a perennial powerhouse.

Prior to coming to Northeast, Long earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and leisure management (ESLM) from the University of Mississippi.

He was named the ESLM undergraduate of the year in 1997 with a 3.85 core grade point average. Long obtained a master’s degree in education administration in December of 2000.

Long is a member of the Booneville Church of Christ. Jody and his wife Wendy Sullivan of Pontotoc have two sons, Anderson and Thomas.

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Head Tennis Coach Ben Shappley

Ben Shappley Northeast will look for first year head tennis coach Ben Shappley to lead the way for the men and women’s tennis teams in 2013.

“I am enthusiastic and optimistic about

my first year as the coach of the NE Tennis Team. We have a very talented and athletically gifted team this year,” Shapley said.

“We are a fairly young team with only four sophomores but we are fortunate to have a group of very capable and determined freshmen coming in who were all solid performers at their respective high schools. This year’s team consists of nine men and seven women, all bringing different strengths and adding versatility to the team.”

“My decision to accept the position as tennis coach was primarily due to a desire to take a more active role in support of the Northeast athletic programs. I have

enjoyed tennis on a recreational level for years and have been involved with sports on various levels for approximately forty years, starting with the traditional little league activities through junior high and high school athletics and on into college and even intramural league sports while serving in the military.”

Shappley’s approach or philosophy toward coaching is holistic.

“I strive to instill dedication, discipline, integrity, pride, and a competitive spirit as well as enhancing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of each individual player and the team as a whole.”

“I am looking forward to a very successful season with Tiger Tennis.”

Athletic Trainer Hope Barnes

Hope Barnes

A north Mississippi native will begin her first year as Northeast Mississippi Community College’s athletic trainer starting with the 2012-13 academic year.

Hope Barnes, a native of Nettleton, has agreed to become Northeast’s head athletic trainer.

Barnes graduated from Nettleton High School in May 2009 and was a member of both the Lady Tiger cheerleading squad

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and powerlifting team, which helped set the stage for the Lady Tigers Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) powerlifting state championship just a year later.

After her varsity career, Barnes carried her talents to the University of Southern Mississippi where she helped with various Golden Eagle and Lady Eagle sports including the successful USM football team.

Before moving to Hattiesburg, Barnes was also awarded the Haskell Scholarship, which was named by Amory native and Hollywood veteran Sam Haskell for his mother and is given to a senior at each of the Monroe County schools plus selected seniors at Amory High School. The Haskell Foundation chooses Haskell Scholarship recipients and awards are based upon student achievement, academics, activities and other criteria.

At Nettleton High School, Barnes was

also a part of the nurse mentorship academy that partnered with the North Mississippi Medical Center to train certified nursing assistants (CNAs).

While at the University of Southern Mississippi, Barnes carried on her high academic standards and finished her degree in three years including all prerequisite work while splitting time with the Golden Eagle and Lady Eagle sports along with Oak Grove High School.

In May 2012, Barnes graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training.

At the USM, Barnes was a member of various clubs and organizations including Eagles for Life, the Legacy and the Student Sports Medicine Association.

Even after graduation, Barnes was instrumental in helping high school athletes by serving as one of the athletic trainers for the youth football camps at Southern Mississippi.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Sports Information Director Joseph Miller

Michael Joseph Miller of Milton, Fla., was hired August 25, 2008 to the Public Information Office as the Assistant Public Information Officer and Sports Information Director at Northeast Mississippi Community College.

After graduating from Milton High School in May of 1995, Miller joined the United States Navy in September of that same year and served in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as a Torpedomans Mate. Miller received an honorable discharge in 1998 along with the National Defense Ribbon from the Gulf War and the Good Conduct Medal for his faithful service to the country.

Upon completing his duty to the Navy, Miller decided to return to school and pursue his education and athletic aspirations.

He found his way to Northeast Mississippi Community College in the spring of 1999, and soon began his journey to fulfill his academic and athletics aspirations as a Tiger.

As a student-athlete for Northeast playing football for the Tigers, Miller was coached by head coach Laurin Collins during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Despite being plagued by knee injuries (torn ACL’s), he entered both seasons atop the depth chart at free safety.

Miller graduated early in the fall of 2000 and was on the Dean’s List with an associate’s degree in physical education from Northeast.

After Northeast, Miller went on to play football and pursue his higher educational

Joseph Miller

goals at Troy State University and lettered in Division I-A football in 2002-03. He graduated from Troy on the Dean’s List in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism mentoring in Media Relations and Sports Information.

Miller spent one year in the Sports Information Department at Troy as an intern for the Sports Information Director Tom Strothers. He also worked part-time for the Troy State Television Department as a studentreporter, cameraman, anchorman, master control room operator, and writer for three years before graduation. As part of his work with TSU-TV, Miller was chosen to represent Troy at the WAKA 8 television station in Montgomery, Ala., as a sports anchor for a contest of amateur sports anchors. He was selected as the third best anchor out of countless of contestants by the viewing audience in 2003.

Miller worked for the Unity Broadcasting Network in Booneville in 2004 as a master control operator, cameraman, anchor, reporter, writer, and as an advertising sales representative in the public relations department.

After his work in journalism, Miller spent four years from 2004 to 2008 working for the United States government at Miltec Missiles and Space A Ducommun Company in Iuka. He worked as a Missiles Mechanical Technician/Inventory Clerk and was also the Media Relations representative for the Iuka facilities reporting to the home office public relations department in Huntsville, Ala. Miller decided to get back to his first love, journalism, and came on board with Northeast Mississippi Community College in August of 2008.

His responsibilities at Northeast duties include working with members of the local media as they cover NEMCC sporting events and other campus happenings, constructing and sending press releases to local media outlets regarding NEMCC, and helping the Tigers’ coaching staff recruiting efforts, and keeping statistics, working for the associate vice president of Public Information Tony Finch.

Miller and his wife Sabrina have two children, Elias Jude and Lydia Diane,and are members of Calvary Apostolic/Holiness Church in Corinth.

“TIGERS”

When Northeast was founded in 1948, Bonner Arnold served as physical education instructor, men’ basketball coach and athletic director.

Arnold and legendary University of Kentucky Wildcat men’s basketball coach Adolph Rupp were friends and as a result of this friendship and the success of the Kentucky basketball program, Arnold wanted the school’s athletic teams to sport a similar nickname.

“Fighting Tigers” was adopted as the school’s mascot.

Arnold

Later, the school’s athletic program grew to include men’s and women’s varsity sports. “Fighting” was dropped and the teams became known as the “Tigers” and “Lady Tigers.”

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Northeast

Sports

Athletics prove to be among the best in 2011-12 Northeast athletics continued to prove that it was one of the best athletic programs in not just the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior College (MACJC) but in the nation as well. From the softball diamond, to the football gridiron to the basketball hardwood, Northeast’s athletic programs were continually ranked by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) as one of the best in the nation.

Leading the way during the 2011-12 season was the Lady Tiger softball team that brought back a MACJC state runner-up trophy to Booneville. Under the guidance of head coach Jody Long, Northeast finished the season with a 32-19 record and posted a school-record for North Division wins with 17. During the course of the 2011-12 season, Northeast finished as the third team from the North Division but parlayed that finish into a state runner-up finish against Jones County at the MACJC State Tournament in Fulton and then continued its postseason momentum as Northeast was one of the last three teams left standing at the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament in Clinton.

Long’s Lady Tigers not only did work on the field but were successful in the classroom as well with seven member of the Northeast softball team being selected for NJCAA Student-Athlete Academic Awards and the team as a whole was honored by the NJCAA for its academic work when the Lady Tigers were ranked as the thirteenth best team in the nation with a 3.42 overall grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.

Northeast’s highlight of the year came during it annual StrikeOut Cancer doubleheader that saw redshirt freshman Jaisa Fox (Cincinnati, Ohio) throw a perfect game against Mississippi Delta and freshman pitcher Erin Dixson (Amherst, New York) followed up with a no-hitter in the nightcap. For her effort, Fox was named the NJCAA Pitcher of the Week and by the end of the season, Northeast was receiving votes in the NJCAA Top 20 Softball Poll.

On the heels of the softball team’s success, Ricky Smither’s football team turned in a 6-4 record while playing one of the toughest schedules in the MACJC. During the course of the 2011 season, Northeast faced off against three teams that were ranked during the season including the eventual NJCAA national and MACJC state champion East Mississippi, sixth-place Mississippi Gulf Coast and Northwest Mississippi. After starting the season strong, Smither and crew were ranked as high as twelfth in the country during the October 4, 2011 NJCAA Top 20 football poll and capitalized on that 5-0 start to a place in the MACJC State Football Playoffs. Northeast carried South Division winner Mississippi Gulf Coast too overtime before falling on the Bulldogs’ home field 20-17. With the football team’s success, Northeast athletes were also selected for individual honors by the NJCAA. Deion Belue, a corner back from Tuscumbia, Ala., was named an NJCAA honorable mention All-American while Frankie Lee, a defensive back from Charleston, was picked as the NJCAA Player of the Week when the Tigers knocked off Northwest Mississippi in Senatobia behind Lee’s three interceptions.

Under first-year head coach Brian Alexander, the Lady Tiger basketball team finished 9-15 overall but qualified for the MACJC State Basketball Tournament in Fulton with a dramatic 104-102 overtime win against Mississippi Delta on Sophomore Night at Bonner Arnold Coliseum in Booneville. Led by sophomore Anna Brooke Page of Belmont and Amber Jackson of Tupelo, the Northeast Lady Tiger basketball team adapted to Alexander’s style of play and ended up giving CopiahLincoln a run during the first round of the MACJC State Tournament before falling 76-63 to the Lady Wolves. Under Page and Jackson’s leadership, the Lady Tigers not only became a force on the hardwood but also became stewards in the classroom as well with Page and Bree Harris of New Site being selected for NJCAA Student-Athlete Academic Awards at the end of the season.

In addition the NJCAA Student-Athlete Academic Awards, a handful of Lady Tigers were also members of the Iota Zeta chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and Page and Jackson signed to play on the four-year level at Blue Mountain College and William Carey University, respectively.

Under Kent Farris, Northeast’s baseball team once again advanced to the MACJC State Baseball Playoffs after knocking off rival Itawamba during a Sophomore Day doubleheader at Harold T. White Field in Booneville.

After falling behind 8-0 to the Indians, Northeast responded with 18 unanswered runs over its next four at bats in run-ruling Itawamba 18-8 in six innings.

The 10-run win on Wednesday, April 25 springboarded the Tigers into the MACJC State Baseball Playoffs where the Tigers played a marathon game one against Mississippi Gulf Coast that ended at 1 a.m. at Biloxi High School after the best-ofthree series was moved to Biloxi due to inclement weather.

On the year, Northeast finished 18-28 but 13-10 in the North Division and 14

was the fourth seed from the division while eight Tigers went on to sign four-year scholarships. Taylor Bonifacio (Hurley), Daymon Eriksen (Grand Prairie, Texas), Morgan McCarley (Vina, Ala.) and Eric Wilson (Southaven) each signed with the University of North Alabama while Beau Cummings (Myrtle), Corey Smith (New Albany) and Trae Allison (Hernando) all agreed to become Toppers at Blue Mountain College. Blake Littlejohn of Pontotoc signed to play for the Majors at Millsaps College in Jackson.

Under David Robbins, Northeast men’s basketball team started the season strong and posted a 7-1 mark at the Christmas holiday break and carried a 10-2 overall record into the January 18, 2012 NJCAA Top 20 poll where the Tigers were ranked thirteenth in the nation. Northeast continued to build on its early success and finished the year with a 14-9 mark and tied for fourth in the North Division but lost out on a tiebreaker with Itawamba for a spot in the MACJC State Basketball Tournament. However, the Tigers did have three players selected to the MACJC All-State team with Acie Vance (Ripley), Lavon Hooks (Atlanta, Georgia) and Jermaine Hollimon (Memphis, Tenn.) all being selected for postseason accolades.

Vance was the North Division’s leading scorer with 16.9 points per game and finished second in the MACJC while Hooks led the North Division and the MACJC with 8.6 rebounds per game. Hollimon and Cedric Janes of Dyersburg, Tenn., were also selected to play in the MACJC North-South All-Star game in Decatur.

Under the tutelage of first-year head coach Lynn Smither; the Tiger and Lady Tiger tennis teams saw a variety of success. In just her second match as tennis coach, Smither helped both the Tigers and Lady Tigers sweep nationally-ranked Hinds in Raymond and set the tone for the rest of the season.

Northeast’s Lady Tiger tennis team finished with a 5-8 overall mark but advanced deep in the MACJC State Tennis Championships in Tupelo thanks to momentum from the last three matches of the regular season. Northeast finished the regular season with a three-match winning streak dispatching Holmes twice and East Central in a 10-day span.

On the men’s side of the nets, Northeast’s Tiger tennis team posted a 3-10 overall record but came within one point of winning three other matches on the year dropping 5-4 decisions to Holmes, Copiah-Lincoln and nationally-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast. During the season, the Tigers helped secure the sweep of nationally-ranked Hinds early in the year and completed the season sweep ofEast Central with 6-3, 8-1 decisions over the Warriors.

Under first year head coach Mike Anderson, Northeast’s golf team recorded its highest finish of the year when it mattered the most. Northeast finished fifth at the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament at Big Oaks in Tupelo -- an event the Tigers hosted.

During the 2012 season, the Tigers started and capped their seasons with fifth place finishes – their best finishes of the year. In the opening Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) tour stop of the year hosted by Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Tigers finished in a tie for fifth and in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII Golf Championships Northeast also brought home a fifth place finish.

In between the two fifth place finishes, Northeast carded a seventh place finish at the second MACJC tour stop of the year hosted by Hinds Community College, a sixth place finish at the third tour stop of the year hosted by Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Northeast also came away with a seventh place finish at the fourth tour stop of the year hosted by East Mississippi Community College held at the Mississippi State University golf course and in their final regular season match, the Tigers rallied on the second day to finish sixth in the Northwest Invitational. At Riverbirch in Amory, Northeast marked a seventh place finish in the MACJC State Golf Championships hosted by Itawamba Community College before moving on to region.

Under the direction of Jennifer Johnson, the 10-member Northeast cheerleading squad continued to show support for Tiger and Lady Tiger athletics and serve as an ambassador for the Northeast athletic program. From on the sidelines of a football game to the hardwood of a gymnasium, Northeast cheerleaders were on hand to cheer on the Tiger and Lady Tigers and actively engaged crowd support for the Northeast teams. Correl Hoyle of Tiplersville was chosen as the Tiger mascot “Spirit” for the 2011-12 team and engaged the crowd.

Northeast’s cheerleading squad was not just limited to sporting events, Cheerleaders were a vital part of being an ambassador for Northeast athletics -- from Northeast Now, to the annual “Friends of the Tiger” golf tournament to the Booneville Christmas parade, Northeast cheerleaders were on the forefront of showing the community Northeast athletics.

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Retired Jerseys

Northeast athletic department officials have announced the retirement of nine jerseys worn by former Tiger athletes who played or are currently playing on the professional level.

88

10

25

33

David “Nub” Strickland (‘55) Holly Springs Denver Broncos (NFL)

Adrian Smith (‘56) Kirksey, KY Cincinnati Royals (NBA)

Mike Williams (‘81) Atmore, AL Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)

Jackie Perry (‘86) Jackson, TN Int’l Women’s Basketball League

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14

32

88

20

Jerome Woods (‘93) Memphis, TN Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)

Mitch McNeely (‘94) New Albany Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)

Dontae Jones (‘95) Nashville, TN New York Knicks (NBA)

Michael Boireau (‘98) North Miami, FL Minnesota Vikings (NFL)

Qyntel Woods (‘02) Memphis, TN Portland Trailblazers (NBA)

Boa-Viagem, Portugal

Go, Fight, Win “Go --- Tigers, We’re behind you.

Fight --- till the battle’s over.

Win --- for --- the pride of Northeast Gain the Victory!

Go!.........................

Fight!.....................

Win!.......................

N.E.M.C.C. Lyrics by former Northeast director of bands and ‘74 alumnus Ricky Bishop.

Sung to the tune of “The Victors,” (L.Elbel) the University of Michigan fight song.

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2012-13 Tiger Baseball Schedule

OCTOBER 6

17 FEBRUARY 17

19 26 MARCH 1 2 5 9

12 16 18 20 23 26 29 APRIL 3 6 9 13 15 17 20 23

27 ^ Scrimmage 16

at Meridian^ East Central^ Belhaven Tournament^

Southeastern (Iowa) Arkansas Baptist Calhoun (2) Southwest Tenn. (2)

10 a.m.

1 p.m.

TBA

at Hinds Tournament (2) at Hinds Tournament (2) Calhoun$ (2) Ellsworth (Iowa) East Central Holmes* (2) East Miss.* (2) at Southwest Tenn. (2) at Northwest* (2) at Coahoma* (2) Itawamba* (2) Copiah-Lincoln (2)

at Miss. Delta* (2) at Holmes* (2) at East Miss* (2) Northwest Miss.* (2) Arkansas Baptist% (2) Coahoma* (2) at Itawamba* (2) Baton Rouge# at Copiah-Lincoln Mississippi Delta* (2)

TBA TBA 3 p.m.

10 a.m.

4 p.m.

Noon 1 p.m.

3 p.m.

4 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

$ at Muscle Shoals, Ala.

* North Division

1 p.m.

4 p.m.

Noon Noon

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

4 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

2:45 p.m.

5 p.m.

1 p.m.

% at University of Arkansas-Little Rock # at Wesson

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Tigers plan on winning the right way Northeast Mississippi Community College head baseball coach Kent Farris has a saying about results.

“Winning is not a goal of ours,” Farris said. “Winning is the results of doing things right way.”

For Farris, doing things the right way has come in the form of a 144-141 overall record during his first six year as the head signal caller for Northeast after taking over for Ray Scott in 2007.

During that time, Northeast has qualified for the playoffs in four of the veteran coach’s six years in Booneville.

Now, the Tigers, coming off a Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) state playoff berth in 2012, are looking to go deeper into the postseason.

“We don’t talk a lot about winning,” Farris said. “Our goal is to make the playoffs and go as deep as we can into them. Our schedule is really demanding.”

A demanding schedule is something that nearly 20 returning players understand. In the 2012 season, a tough start to the season strengthened the Tigers for a late season push that saw Northeast go 8-4 over its last 12 regular season games and qualify of the MACJC state playoffs.

Northeast understood the demanding schedule concept when the Tigers faced an 8-0 disadvantage to the nation’s eighth-ranked team on April 25, 2012 and rebounded with 18 straight runs to mercy-rule Itawamba at Harold T. White Field in Booneville.

That win helped the Tigers seal a berth in the MACJC state playoffs and head to Biloxi for a date with host Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Northeast showed its resolve when the Tigers were able to take the hosts to the limit in the opening game of the best-of-three series that saw the game moved to Biloxi High School and be delayed for almost three hours before falling to the Bulldogs well after midnight on May 6.

Now, the 2013 sophomores are set to finish what was started.

Alcorn Central’s Jake Beck returns behind the plate for the Tigers. Beck saw action during the 2012 season while backing up Pontotoc’s Blake Littlejohn.

Milton, Georgia’s Chris Aichinger returns for the Tigers and is back at first for Northeast.

While Aichinger is manning first, the Georgia native is also slated to help the Tiger pitching staff and hit in the middle of the Northeast lineup on offense.

Northeast also returns on of its key cogs to its middle infield in team captain Ethan Estes. Estes worked himself into the Tigers’ starting lineup during the 2012 season and came up big in a weekend sweep of Coahoma Community College where the Biggersville native hit three home runs against the visiting Tigers. Dillon Payne serves as the other team captain for the Tigers.

Josh Mills, a Lafayette County graduate, returns at the hot corner for the Tigers.

“Josh has been one of our leaders on the field,” Farris said. “He is a take charge kind of guy on the infield.”

With the most of the infield secure with sophomores, Farris is looking at locking up the outfield with second-year players as well.

Falkner’s Will Robertson returns to the Tiger outfield after seeing most of his time during the 2012 season there. Robertson, after taking a year off from pitching, will also be called on by the Tiger coaching staff to provide valuable innings on the mound.

Justin Neal and Dalton Sims are also expected to be in the outfield for the Tigers. While Roberston mans the centerfield spot, Neal will face off in left field and Sims, a DeSoto Central alum, will look to lock up the right field starting spot.

Booneville’s Tre Welch is also slated to see time in the outfield for the Tigers as well as the middle infield.

“He has probably made more improvement than anyone we have,” Farris said, “and is probably the most athletic guy on the team.”

Farris will also turn to some second-year players on the mound during the early part of the year.

Booneville’s Kyle Stephenson, Hopkinsville, Kentucky’s Josh Drake, Ripley’s Jonathan Morrison are all scheduled to see time on the mound for the Tigers.

North Pontotoc’s Kyle Robbins offers Farris and the Tiger coaching staff a rarity on the mound as the left-hander came on late for the Tigers in 2012 and can be plugged into a variety of places in the lineup from starter, middle relief to closer.

A few players took the 2012 season off for various reasons but stayed with the baseball program and their hardwork has paid off in the 2013 season.

New Albany’s Drew Wray is expected to see time on the Tiger infield at third and second while Corinth’s Blake Frazier will help out with the catching duties.

Oxford’s Hunt Halford provides the Tiger pitching staff with another left-hander on the mound.

Tanner McCollum of Ingomar will be looked upon to provide depth at first base when Aichinger is called on for pitching or other duties while Mantachie’s Chance Cooley will help the Tiger outfield.

Ben Hellums, a 6-7 right-handed pitcher from Ripley, returns off a redshirt year in 2012 and will be looked on for significant time on the mound for the Tigers.

While the sophomores will be looked upon to keep the Tigers in contention early, Farris knows that it will take a talented group of freshmen to help Northeast reach the playoffs in the 2013 season.

Lafayette County’s Luke Stanley is expected to fight for playing time on the Tiger infield and according to Farris, “may be the best defensive guy since I have been here.”

New Albany’s Riley Alef and Lake Cormorant’s Blake Harwell will content with the trio of sophomore for time behind the plate While Easton Hall will help the Tigers with their middle infield depth.

Heath Wood, a product of the Kossuth High School team that made it to the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 3A State Championship series will see time in the middle infield and has made an impression on the Tiger coaching staff.

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Northeast In addition to Wood, Farris was also to get another member of the Kossuth state runner-up team when David Gibson agreed to become a Tiger.

While Hellums towers as the team’s tallest player at 6-7, Montgomery, Alabama’s Beck Vann will give the Ripley native a challenge on the mound as Vann, a right-handed pitcher, challenges for playing time win the Tiger pitching rotation.

Mason Maxey of New Albany will also look for time in the Tiger pitching corp while Farris and the Tigers were able to get a pair of quality pitchers from Mississippi State.

Boykin was the winning pitcher in the state championship game two years ago as Ridgeland knocked off Long Beach but after a year away from the sport, Boykin has returned to the mound.

Farris also received an early Christmas present when Baldwyn native and former Tiger signee Tanner Gaines decided to come back to Prentiss County.

After signing with the Tigers three years ago, Gaines walked on at Mississippi State and redshirted one year before seeing quality time in the Bulldog pitching rotation that helped Mississippi State University win the Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship in 2012.

“He has a tremendous work ethic,” Farris said. “He has been a shot in the arm for us.”

Just like in 2012, Farris has loaded the non-division part of the Tigers schedule in order to prepare for division play – where a new

18

Sports rule has changed the game.

During the second round of the MACJC divisional doubleheaders, teams will now play one nine-inning game and then a seveninning contest instead of the two seven-inning affairs that the two teams will compete in the first time through the division.

“I think it is a great thing,” Farris said. “When you get to the playoffs, all games are nine innings and two innings may not sound like much but it is. Everything changes; it is more about coaching, managing your pitching and substitution changes. You coach a lot differently in a nine-inning game than a seven-inning game.”

While the nine-inning game will add two extra innings to division games the second time through, Farris knows that the season will be a long one no matter what but with preparation, the Tigers should be ready.

“We purposely make out our schedule to help us prepare for the division,” Farris said. “Some will start early and spread things out.

We hope to develop depth. We have 23 doubleheaders – which doesn’t sound like a lot – but to play with the speed, intensity and focus we demand, it wears your body out.”

Farris hopes that the season runs out before his players’ bodies do and that the Tigers will be able to finish the playoff run they started in 2012 with an even deeper run into the MACJC state baseball playoffs in 2013.

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2012-13 Tiger Baseball Team

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 25 27 28 30 31 32 33 35 36

Name Drew Wray Tanner Gaines Heath Wood Tre Welch Kyle Robbins Luke Stanley Josh Mills Hunt Halford Riley Alef Kyle Stephenson Ethan Estes Jake Beck Chance Cooley Josh Drake Jonathan Morrison David Gibson Will Robertson Dillon Payne Dalton Sims Easton Hall Ben Hellums Mason Maxey Tanner McCollum Blake Frazier Ben Boykin Beck Vann Chris Aichinger Blake Harwell Justin Neal

Position Infield RHP Infield Outfield LHP Infield Infield LHP Catcher RHP Infield Catcher Outfield RHP RHP RHP Outfield LHP Outfield Infield RHP RHP Infield Catcher RHP RHP Infield Catcher Outfield

B/T R/R R/R R/R R/R R/L R/R R/R L/L R/R R/R R/R L/R R/R R/R R/R R/R R/R L/L R/R L/R R/R L/R R/R R/R R/R R/R R/R R/R L/R

Class Fresh Soph.

Fresh.

Soph.

Soph.

Fresh.

Soph.

Fresh Fresh.

Soph.

Soph.

Soph.

Fresh.

Soph.

Soph.

Fresh.

Soph.

Soph.

Soph.

Fresh.

Fresh.

Fresh.

Fresh.

Fresh.

Fresh.

Fresh.

Soph.

Fresh.

Soph.

Height 5-8 6-0 5-9 5-8 5-9 5-7 5-9 6-0 5-11 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-9 6-1 5-11 6-1 5-10 5-11 5-11 6-0 6-7 5-10 6-1 5-11 5-10 6-6 6-3 6-0 5-9

Weight High School 139 New Albany 172 Baldwyn 147 Kossuth 158 Booneville 221 North Pontotoc 143 Lafayette County 178 Lafayette County 180 Oxford 226 New Albany 152 Booneville 168 Biggersville 186 Alcorn Central 185 Mantachie 228 Hopkinsville (Ky.) 201 Ripley 202 Kossuth 215 Falkner 186 Saltillo 186 Desoto Central 202 New Albany 174 Ripley 150 New Albany 261 Ingomar 192 Corinth 178 Ridgeland 168 Montgomery Academy (Ala.) 182 Milton (Ga.) 183 Lake Cormorant 183 Southaven

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2012-13 Tiger Baseball Team

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No. 1 Drew Wray Infielder Sophomore New Albany HS

No. 2 Tanner Gaines Right-Handed Pitcher Sophomore Baldwyn HS

No. 3 Heath Wood Infielder Freshman Kossuth HS

No. 4 Tre Welch Outfielder Sophomore Booneville HS

No. 5 Kyle Robbins Left-Handed Pitcher Sophomore North Pontotoc HS

No. 6 Luke Stanley Infielder Freshman Lafayette County HS

No. 7 Josh Mills Infielder Sophomore Lafayette County HS

No. 8 Hunt Halford Left-Handed Pitcher Freshman Oxford HS

No. 10 Riley Alef Catcher Freshman New Albany HS

No. 11 Kyle Stephenson Right-Handed Pitcher Sophomore Booneville HS

No. 12 Ethan Estes Infielder Sophomore Biggersville HS

No. 13 Jake Beck Catcher Sophomore Alcorn Central HS

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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2012-13 Tiger Baseball Team No. 16 Chance Cooley Outfielder Freshman Mantachie HS

No. 17 Josh Drake Right-Handed Pitcher Sophomore Hopkinsville (Ky) HS

No. 18 Jonathan Morrison Right-Handed Pitcher Sophomore Ripley HS

No. 19 David Gibson Right-Handed Pitcher Freshman Kossuth HS

No. 20 Will Robertson Outfielder Sophomore Falkner HS

No. 21 Dillon Payne Left-Handed Pitcher Sophomore Saltillo HS

No. 22 Dalton Sims Outfielder Sophomore DeSoto Central HS

No. 23 Easton Hall Infielder Freshman New Albany HS

No. 25 Ben Hellums Right-Handed Pitcher Freshman Ripley HS

No. 27 Mason Maxey Right-Handed Pitcher Freshman New Albany HS

No. 28 Tanner McCollum Infielder Freshman Ingomar HS

No. 30 Blake Frazier Catcher Sophomore Corinth HS

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2012-13 Tiger Baseball Team No. 31 Ben Boykin Right-Handed Pitcher Freshman Ridgeland HS

No. 32 Beck Vann Right-Handed Pitcher Freshman Montgomery Academy(Ala.)

No. 33 Chris Aichinger Infielder Sophomore Milton (Ga) HS

No. 35 Blake Harwell Catcher Freshman Lake Cormorant HS

No. 36 Justin Neal Outfielder Freshman Southaven

Commuter Meal Tickets Whenever hunger strikes...

10 meals for $50, 20 meals for $98 or 30 meals for $145.50

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Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Sports

2012-13 Diamond Girls

Name Haley Brown Katie Garvin Chelsey Hall Haley Hopkins Sara Jenkins Morgan Jones Sarah Grace Jones Lyndi Kidd Molly Koon Abby Little Blake Marlar Devin McCalla Raven McCalla Megan McDonald Lakin Potts Bradi Reader Brooke Smith Destiny Sowell Lauren Stevens Alie Trim Devin Tucker Claire Wilkerson Paige Witt

Classification Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Hometown Tishomingo County Kossuth Kossuth East Union Baldwyn Booneville Alcorn Central Ingomar Wheeler Corinth Alcorn Central Kossuth Kossuth Ingomar Ingomar Kossuth New Albany Kossuth Hamilton Kossuth Baldwyn New Albany New Albany 23

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Sports

2012-13 Diamond Girls

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Haley Brown Freshman Tishomingo County HS

Katie Garvin Sophomore Kossuth HS

Chelsey Hall Sophomore Kossuth HS

Haley Hopkins Sophomore East Union HS

Sara Jenkins Sophomore Baldwyn HS

Morgan Jones Sophomore Booneville HS

Sarah Grace Jones Sophomore Alcorn Central HS

Lyndi Kidd Sophomore Ingomar HS

Molly Koon Sophomore Wheeler HS

Blake Marlar Sophomore Alcorn Central HS

Devin McCalla Sophomore Kossuth HS

Raven McCalla Freshman Kossuth HS

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Sports

2012-13 Diamond Girls Megan McDonald Freshman Ingomar HS

Lakin Potts Sophomore Ingomar HS

Bradi Reader Sophomore Kossuth HS

Destiny Sowell Sophomore Kossuth HS

Lauren Stevens Sophomore Hamilton HS

Alie Trim Sophomore Kossuth HS

Devin Tucker Sophomore Baldwyn HS

Claire Wilkerson Sophomore New Albany HS

Paige Witt Sophomore New Albany HS

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Sports

NEMCC begins new year with new identity

Lady Tigers enter 2013 fresh off an MACJC State runner-up finish Northeast Mississippi Community College women’s softball program is coming off one of the most successful fast-pitch seasons in school history.

During the 2011-12 season, the Lady Tigers brought the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) state runner-up trophy back to Booneville and under the guidance of head coach Jody Long, Northeast finished the season with a 32-19 record and posted a school-record for North Division wins with 17.

In addition to its MACJC State Runnerup finish, Northeast finished as the third, team from the North Division but parlayed that finish into a state runner-up finish against Jones County at the MACJC State Tournament in Fulton and then continued its postseason momentum as Northeast was one of the last three teams left standing at the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament in Clinton.

Long’s Lady Tigers not only did work on the field but were successful in the classroom as well with seven member of the Northeast softball team being selected for NJCAA Student-Athlete Academic Awards and the team as a whole was honored by the NJCAA for its academic work when the 26

Lady Tigers were ranked as the thirteenth best team in the nation with a 3.42 overall grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.

However, Long said while the accolades of the past year’s team will stand the testament of time; the 2012-13 team is a “New year with a new identity.”

“Last year is gone. It’s in the history books,” Long pointed out. “We can’t go back and change those things. We have to move forward. We have to understand this is 2013 and we have to bring a positive attitude every day.”

Gone are the 12 sophomores that helped propel the Lady Tigers to their state and region runs and only four sophomores dot the 2012-13 season – with three of them seeing significant playing time during the 2011-12 season.

Buffalo, New York’s Erin Dixson, New Albany’s Ellen Tarrant and Ackerman’s Andrea Cutts along with Kossuth’s LeeAnna Nelms are the only members of the 2011-12 team left.

Long did pick up a foursome of transfers during the offseason to help offset the loss of a dozen second-year players.

Riverside, California’s Bianca Chagolla decided the join the team after originally

signing with Alcorn State University while Wallace State-Hanceville’s Erin Frazier of Corinth, Mooreville’s Victoria White, who originally signed with East Mississippi and Jackson State (Tenn.) Community College’s Mirah Terry of Itawamba came back closer to home to help the Lady Tigers.

“Bianca had an outstanding fall against Ole Miss,” Long said. “She is one of those athletes that has a passion for the game. She comes to practice and works hard. We have kids that want to be partnered and paired with her every day.”

However, it might be the addition of Frazier that Long was looking forward to the most.

After moving high school catcher and Booneville native Emily Horn to the middle infield and White having shoulder problems, the Lady Tigers were looking for a key part of the softball battery.

“It was one of those things that we were searching for a catcher and God put Erin Frazier in our lap,” Long said. “She has big-time potential. She has the build, the frame and the strong arm. If she improves offensively, she has the ability to play at the next level.”

Terry joined the Lady Tigers and will give

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast Northeast a boost to the running game.

“She is very fast,” Long said. “If nothing else, she will help us as a runner and on defense.”

Nonetheless, whether it is a sophomore, a transfer or one of a dozen freshmen on the Lady Tigers 2012-13 team, Long knows that each player has a role to play.

“Every kid on our roster fits in as a piece of the puzzle somewhere and have a reason that they are on this team,” Long said.

“Obviously, you can’t have but nine starters we have some kids that have to buy into what their roles if we are going to be to be successful.”

Adding to the puzzle are freshmen McKinley Ragan and Dana Glissen of Kossuth, Erica Clifton and Becky Robinson of Walnut, Haleigh Moffett of West Lauderdale, Kiana Judon of Myrtle and Gracie Michael of Booneville.

However with just four players returning from last year’s team, Long knows that the first few games of the season will mold the Lady Tigers but the veteran Lady Tiger mentor does not want to hear any excuses about his team being made up of a dozen freshmen.

“This year’s team can’t rest off what we did last year or what we did 10 years ago,” Long said. “It’s a new year, it’s a new identity.

We aren’t going to make excuses that we are young, that we have lost some people along the way. We are going to work hard every day, we are going to play hard and battle. We are not ever going to be a team that gives up. We have a lot of individual quality players.”

Battling is what the Lady Tigers do best. Since the early on-set of fast-pitch at Northeast, the Lady Tigers have not backed away from tough non-division play in order to make the team better for the latter stages of the year.

“People say, ‘You don’t want to play all these tough teams early and just demoralize your team.’” Long said. “My philosophy and Northeast softball’s has defied that. I remember the year we won

Sports the region; we went to Florida and started 0-8. I just keep telling the team this is going to make us better.”

This year’s team will not be any different than those in the past.

Northeast opens with Calhoun (Ala.) Community College on Tuesday, February 12 in Booneville before heading to Meridian to take part in the Rush Invitational on Friday, February 15 and Saturday, February 16.

After four games in the Rush Invitational, the Lady Tigers return home for their own TigerFest Tournament and Long said, “Our tournament is as strong as it has ever been. We have only two schools from Mississippi – us and Pearl River.

“Our biggest thing that we are looking at right now is that we have the opportunity to have 13 games before we open conference play on March 8,” said Long.

Northeast hosts Northwest Mississippi on March 8 to open North Division play and only has four non-division dates after that – at Calhoun on March 14, host Dyersburg State on April 10, travel to Jackson State (Tenn.) on April 15 before hosting the Lady Generals on April 29.

“Obviously, we are not playing 13 NCAA Division I schools but you want to play people that you know will be competitive and maybe even better than you are to get you prepared for conference games,” Long said.

Long knows that to be successful in the league; it is not about the make-up of the team nor is it about the quality of the opponent that the Lady Tigers play. It’s about how well the team can focus on softball and block out everything else.

“Our main goal is to get these young kids to believe in what I am trying to do,” Long said.

“We have to control the controllables. We aren’t going to spend a lot of time on what we do not have a lot of control over. As always there is something bigger out there than softball. When the chalk lines go down and the umpire says, “Play ball,” that has to be our focus.”

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2012-13 Lady Tiger Softball Schedule

SEPTEMBER 21 OCTOBER 19 21 NOVEMBER 5 6 7 8 9 FEBRUARY 12 15-16 22-23 27 MARCH 6 8 13 14 16 19 26 APRIL 3 6 9 10 13 15 17 23 27 29 * North Division 28

UT-Martin Fall Play Day^

TBA

Ole Miss Fall Play Date^ Alumni Game^

3 p.m.

1 p.m.

Black-and-Gold Scrimmage^ Black-and-Gold Scrimmage^ Black-and-Gold Scrimmage^ Black-and-Gold Scrimmage^ Black-and-Gold Scrimmage^

Calhoun (2) Rush Invitational (Meridian) TigerFest Tournament at Southwest Tenn. (2)

1 p.m.

TBA TBA 2 p.m.

at Dyersburg State (2) Northwest Miss.* (2) at Holmes* (2) at Calhoun (2) Mississippi Delta* (2) at East Mississippi* (2) at Itawamba* (2)

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

2 p.m.

1 p.m.

Noon 3 p.m.

3 p.m.

at Coahoma* (2) at Northwest Miss.* (2) Holmes* (2) Dyersburg State (2) at Mississippi Delta* (2) at Jackson State (2) East Mississippi* (2) Itawamba* (2) Coahoma* (2) Jackson State (2)

Noon 1 p.m.

2 p.m.

1 p.m.

Noon 1 p.m.

3 p.m.

3 p.m.

Noon 1 p.m.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

^ Scrimmage

Northeast

Sports

2012-13 Lady Tiger Softball

No. 2 3 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 21 22 23

Name

Erin Dixson McKinley Ragan Bianca Chagolla Dana Glissen Gracie Michael Erin Frazier Andrea Cutts Emily Horn Erica Clifton Haleigh Moffett Becky Robinson Ellen Tarrant Victoria White Kiana Judon LeeAnna Nelms Mirah Terry

Position Pitcher Outfield Infield Utility Catcher Catcher Utility Utility Pitcher Infield Outfield Infield Infield Outfield Utility Outfield

Classification Sophomore Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Sophomore Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Sophomore Freshman Freshman Sophomore Freshman

Hometown

Amherst, NY Corinth Riverside, Calif.

Walnut Booneville Corinth Ackerman Booneville Walnut Bailey Walnut New Albany Tupelo Myrtle Kossuth Itawamba

Northeast Mississippi Community College

High School

Amherst Kossuth Riverside Poly Kossuth Wheeler Corinth Ackerman Booneville Walnut West Lauderdale Walnut New Albany Mooreville Myrtle Kossuth Itawamba 29

Northeast

Sports

2012-13 Lady Tiger Softball

30

No. 2 Erin Dixson Pitcher Sophomore Amherst, NY

No. 3 McKinley Ragan Outfielder Freshman Kossuth

No. 5 Bianca Chagolla Infielder Freshman Riverside, Calif.

No. 6 Dana Glissen Utility Freshman Kossuth

No. 7 Gracie Michael Catcher Freshman Wheeler

No. 10 Erin Frazier Catcher Freshman Corinth

No. 11 Andrea Cutts Utility Sophomore Ackerman

No. 12 Emily Horn Utility Freshman Booneville

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Sports

2012-13 Lady Tiger Softball No. 13 Erica Clifton Pitcher Freshman Walnut

No. 14 Haleigh Moffett Infielder Freshman West Lauderdale

No. 15 Becky Robinson Outfielder Freshman Walnut

No. 17 Ellen Tarrant Infielder Sophomore New Albany

No. 18 Victoria White Infielder Freshman Mooreville

No. 21 Kiana Judon Outfielder Freshman Myrtle

No. 22 LeeAnna Nelms Utility Sophomore Kossuth

No. 23 Mirah Terry Outfielder Freshman Itawamba

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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2012-13 Northeast Tennis Schedule

February Feb. 18

at Itawamba Community College

1 p.m.

Feb. 27

at Jones County Junior College

1 p.m.

Feb. 28

at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College *

Noon

March Mar. 1

at East Central Community College

2 p.m.

Mar. 4

Hinds Community College

1 p.m.

Mar. 7

at Meridian Community College

2 p.m.

Mar. 22

Copiah-Lincoln Community College

2:30 p.m.

Mar. 25

Itawamba Community College

2 p.m.

Apr. 1

East Central Community College

2 p.m.

Apr. 5

at Holmes Community College *

1 p.m.

Apr. 8

Meridian Community College

2 p.m.

Apr. 11

at Northwest Mississippi Community College

1 p.m.

April

BOLD Denotes Home Matches All home tennis matches are played at the Northeast Tennis Courts adjacent to the Haney Union 32

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Sports

Tennis set to open against MACJC champion Northeast Mississippi Community College men and women’s tennis teams will take to the court for the first time against the reigning Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) state and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII runner-up on Tuesday, February 19.

Northeast is set to travel to Fulton to take on the Indians and Lady Indians to begin their first season under first-year head tennis coach Ben Shappley.

After the tussle with the reigning state champions, Northeast continues its road trek and heads to south Mississippi for a threeday, three-match span that includes stops at Jones County (February 27), Mississippi Gulf Coast (February 28) and East Central (March 1).

Northeast’s first home match of the year is set for March 4 when Hinds Community College comes to Booneville.

After traveling to Meridian on March 7, the Tigers and Lady Tigers settle in for four-straight home matches following the Spring Break holidays.

Holmes Community College comes to Booneville on March 19 while Copiah-Lincoln Community College heads to the City of Hospitality on March 25.

After swapping its season-opening site with Itawamba, the Indians and Lady Indians will now pay Northeast a visit on March 25.

Northeast opens up the month of April with its final home match during the streak as East Central visits on April 1.

Northeast will travel to Holmes on April 5 before hosting its final home match of the year against Meridian on April 8.

Shappley’s crew will wrap up its final regular season match of the year when the Tigers and Lady Tigers head to Northwest Mississippi on April 11.

After making strong runs in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) State Tournament last year, Northeast sends four sophomores to the court during the 2013 season – three of which that saw significant playing time during their freshman years.

“We are a fairly young team with only four sophomores,” Shappley said. “We are fortunate to have a group of very capable and determined freshmen coming in who were all solid performers at their respective high schools.”

On the men’s side, Alcorn Central’s Drew Gann and Andrew Ferrell return for the Tigers and sophomore Matt Lorick joins from North Pontotoc.

Corinth’s Elizabeth Mitchell is the lone sophomore on the Lady Tigers’ tennis team as six freshmen dot Northeast’s roster.

Houston’s Nikki Baird, New Albany’s Maegan Trexler and Southaven’s Madison Rust join the Belmont trio of Valerie Mitchell and twins Allison Wiltshire and Emily Wiltshire in making out the Lady Tiger roster.

On the men’s side, Belmont’s Wesley Brandon and Micah Page join Alcorn Central’s Ande Mills, Olive Branch’s Bren Ransom and DeSoto Central’s Hunter Seeley as first-year players on the team.

While the young team is learning the ropes, Shappley hopes to instill a holistic approach to the game in his players as well.

“I strive to instill dedication, discipline, integrity, pride, and a competitive spirit as well as enhancing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of each individual player and the team as a whole,” the first-year head coach said. “I am looking forward to a very successful season with Tiger tennis teams.”

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Sports

2012-13 Northeast Lady Tiger Tennis

Name

2012-13 Lady Tiger Tennis Class

Hometown

Nikki Baird

Fresh.

Houston

Houston

Elizabeth Mitchell

Soph.

Corinth

Alcorn Central

Valerie Mitchell

Fresh.

Belmont

Belmont

Madison Rust

Fresh.

Southaven

Maegan Trexler

Fresh.

New Albany

Allison Wiltshire

Fresh.

Belmont

Belmont

Emily Wiltshire

Fresh.

Belmont

Belmont

34

Northeast Mississippi Community College

High School

Southaven New Albany

Northeast

Sports

2012-13 Lady Tiger Tennis Nikki Baird Freshman Houston

Elizabeth Mitchell Sophomore Alcorn Central

Valerie Mitchell Freshman Belmont

Madison Rust Freshman Southaven

Maegan Trexler Freshman New Albany

Allison Wiltshire Freshman Belmont

Emily Wiltshire Freshman Belmont

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Sports

2012-13 Northeast Tiger Tennis

Name

2012-13 Tiger Tennis Class

Hometown

Wesley Brandon

Fresh.

Belmont

Belmont

Andrew Ferrell

Soph.

Corinth

Alcorn Central

Drew Gann

Soph.

Corinth

Alcorn Central

Matt Lorick

Soph.

Pontotoc

North Pontotoc

Anderson Mills

Fresh.

Corinth

Alcorn Central

Micah Page

Fresh.

Tishomingo

Belmont

Bren Ransom

Fresh.

Olive Branch

Olive Branch

Hunter Seeley

Fresh.

Olive Branch

DeSoto Central

36

Northeast Mississippi Community College

High School

Northeast

Sports

2012-13 Tiger Tennis Wesley Brandon Freshman Belmont

Andrew Ferrell Sophomore Alcorn Central

Drew Gann Sophomore Alcorn Central

Matt Lorick Sophomore North Pontotoc

Anderson Mills Freshman Alcorn Central

Micah Page Freshman Belmont

Bren Ransom Freshman Olive Branch

Hunter Seeley Freshman DeSoto Central

Northeast Mississippi Community College

37

Northeast

Sports

Tiger golf set for successful season Northeast Mississippi Community College men’s golf team will be the first spring sports team to tee it up when the Tigers make their initial appearance of the spring on February 2-3.

Northeast’s golf team is slated for a two-day event on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to start the 2013 season.

Northeast opens the year at the Diamondhead Country Club’s Pine Golf Course on February 2-3 before taking a month off before its next event.

Under first-year head coach Nick Coln, the Northeast golf team is scheduled for a two-day event at the Eagle Ridge Golf Club on March 2-3 before embarking on a one-day stop at the Wolf Hollow Golf Course in Wesson on March 17.

Northeast’s stop at Wolf Hollow will be a long day for the Tigers as the one-day stop will see the Tiger linksters play a 36-hole oneday affair.

Coln’s crew returns to north Mississippi for its fourth tour stop of the year when the Tigers make the short trek over to Southaven and Olive Branch on March 25-26.

On March 25, the Tigers will play an 18-hole affair at the North Creek Golf Club before heading over to Wedgewood Golf Course

in Olive Branch on March 26 to wrap up the two-day event.

Northeast’s fifth Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) tour stop of the year will see the Tigers stay above the Interstate 20 corridor as Coln and company head to East Mississippi for two days on the Mississippi State University Golf Course in Starkville April 7-8.

Following its tour stop on April 7-8, the Tigers will have a week to prepare for the MACJC State Tournament hosted by Jones County Junior College.

This year’s state tournament is slated for April 14-15 at Dixie Golf Course in Laurel with the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII Tournament following the next week on the Azaleas Golf Course at the Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia.

Northeast returns a pair of sophomores to the golf team as Ty Lindsey and Jordan Wilson, both of Baldwyn, are back for their second year with the program.

Joining Lindsey and Wilson are Corinth’s Blake Farris, Booneville’s Jay Swinney, New Albany’s Peyton Dunlap and Cleveland, Alabama’s Stephen Standridge.

Check out the all-new nemccathletics.com

38

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Sports

2012-13 Northeast Golf Schedule

FEBRUARY

MS Gulf Coast

February 2-3

MARCH

MACJC Event #1

March 2-3

MACJC Event #2

March 17

March 25-26

APRIL

Raymond

MACJC Event #3*

Wolf Hollow Golf Club

MACJC Event #4

North Creek/Horn Lake

Copiah-Lincoln

Northwest

Wedgewood/Olive Branch

MACJC Event #5

April 14-15

Eagle Ridge Golf Club

Hinds

April 7-8

Diamondhead CC/Pine Course

MACJC State Championship

April 22-23

NJCAA Region XXIII Championship

MSU Golf Course

East Mississippi

Jones County

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club

Starkville

Dixie Golf Course Laurel

Azaleas Golf Course

Philadelphia

BOLD Denotes Home Matches * Denotes One-Day, 36-hole event

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Northeast

Sports

2012-13 Tiger Golf

Name

Class

Hometown

Peyton Dunlap

Fresh.

New Albany

Blake Farris

Fresh.

Corinth

Ty Lindsey

Soph.

Baldwyn

Stephen Standridge

Fresh.

Cleveland, Ala.

Jay Swinney

Fresh.

Booneville

Jordan Wilson

Soph.

Baldwyn

40

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Sports

2012-13 Tiger Golf Peyton Dunlap Freshman New Albany

Blake Farris Freshman Corinth

Ty Lindsey Sophomore Baldwyn

Stephen Standridge Freshman Cleveland, Ala.

Jay Swinney Freshman Booneville

Jordan Wilson Sophomore Baldwyn

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All-Americans

Throughout the history of Northeast Mississippi Community College, superior athletes have been named to the All-American team, the highest honor bestowed upon any player.

Recipients of this honor are chosen by the 23 regional directors of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Their selection for the All-American team, second team and honorable mention are made only after careful evaluation of the hundreds of nominations which are submitted by community/junior college coaches from across the country.

We are proud to salute those who brought honor to themselves as young men and women and to Northeast Mississippi Community College for the time to come.

2007

Baseball

Shanika “Boo” Randle Outfielder NFCA All-American Houston

2008

Chase Porch Designated Hitter Third Team East Union

2007

2001

2002

Callie Weaver Shortstop NFCA All-American Houston

Golf 1990

Football

Jessica Spain Shortstop All-American NFCA Louisville Slugger Booneville

Craig Lauderdale All-American Booneville

1956

Jerry King Running Back All-American Chattanooga, Tenn

2003

Jocelyn McGolrick Pitcher NFCA All-American Richmond, BC, Canada

2007

Chase Williams All-American Corinth

1969

Johnny Buskirk Quarterback Honorable Mention New Albany

2003

Brandi Vondenstein Third Base Honorable Mention NFCA All-American Rayne, La.

1969

2003

Charity Graham Outfielder NFCA All-American 2nd Team Mantachie

2004

Donnie Clayton Tight End Honorable Mention Ripley

1977

Larry Parker Running Back Honorable Mention Rogersville, Ala.

1977

Josie Lindgrin Pitcher NFCA All-American 2nd Team Vancouver, BC, Canada

Barry Todd Defensive Back Second Team Memphis, Tenn.

2004

Maury Hill Defensive Back Second Team Ripley

1979

Paige Wright Shortstop All-American Southaven

1980

2004

42

2011

Deion Belue Defensive Back Honorable Mention Deshler, Ala.

2008

Lori Wilson First Base All-American Blue Mountain

Paul Rhodes Defensive Lineman Second Team Kossuth

1980

Anthony Norman

2010

Antonio Foster Offensive Lineman Honorabal Mention Valdosta, Ga.

Kelly Hankins Infielder Distinguished Academic All-American Mooreville

Fast-Pitch Softball

Staranna Fraizer Outfielder Third Team NFCA All-American 2nd Team New Albany

Running Back Honorable Mention Morrow, Ga.

2010

Blake Hatfield All-American Booneville

Men's Basketball 1950

Gene Garrett Guard All-American LaCenter, Ky.

1951

Ken Lindsey Forward All-American Booneville

1954

Charles “Doodle” Floyd Forward All-American Water Valley, Ky.

1956

Adrian “Odie” Smith Guard All-American Kirksey, Ky.

1959

Vincent Del Negro Forward All-American

Springfield, Mass.

1968

Gaylon Baird Forward All-American Myrtle

Women’s Basketball 1986

1982

Jackie Perry Forward All-American Jackson, Tenn.

1984

Kunshinge Sorrell Point Guard All-American Booneville

1989

Sherry Slayton Forward All-American Belmont

Maurice Stafford Forward Honorable Mention Biggersville Anthony Anderson Guard Second Team New Albany Anthony Gamble Forward All-American Booneville

1989

Clay Johnson Guard All-American Booneville

1995

Dontae Jones Forward All-American Nashville, Tenn.

1998

Tim Cole Guard All-American Memphis, Tenn.

1986

1987

1987

Phyllis Stafford Center All-American Biggersville

1988

Evelyn Thompson Forward All-American LaGrange, Ga.

1998

Tiffany Sitton Forward All-American Glen

2001

2000

Tamica Pierce Forward All-American Decatur, Ga.

2002

Marqueciqa Thomas Forward All-American Jackson

Eric Batchelor Forward All-American Memphis, Tenn.

Qyntel Woods Forward All-American Memphis, Tenn.

Slow-Pitch Softball 2000

Stephanie Stubblefield Infielder All-American Ecru

Northeast Mississippi Community College

2004

2006

Jessica Hooker Forward All-American Brownsville, Tenn.

2006

Krystal Robinson Forward All-American Covington, Tenn.

Northeast

Sports

NE welcomes five into Sports Hall of Fame

Northeast celebrated a pair of firsts when its fifth Sports Hall of Fame class was inducted on Saturday, October 20 during Homecoming 2012 festivities.

Northeast saw its first softball player to be enshrined into the Sports Hall of Fame and also see first athletes from the 2000s inducted.

With nomination and induction criteria stating that former Northeast coaches and athletes have to be out of collegiate athletics for at least five years before induction, a pair of athletes from the early 2000s will make the hall in 2012.

Joining the already 25 former coaches, athletes and athletic contributors in the Northeast Sports Hall of Fame will be women’s basketball player Audrey Covington, men’s basketball players Guy Gardner and Freddie Copeland, softball player BrandiVondenstein Dannelly and alumni Malcolm Kuykendall.

Covington, Gardner, Copeland, Vondenstein Dannelly and Kuykendall will join an illustrious cast of Northeast Sports Hall of Fame inductees.

In 2011, Northeast saw Ricky Ford, Jim Drewry, Johnny Buskirk, Vincent Del Negro and Sherry Slayton Holland all enshrined into the hall of fame. Drewry and Buskirk are both former football players for the Tigers while Ford, Del Negro and Slayton starred on the hardwood for the Tigers and Lady Tigers. Ford, who guided the Lady Tiger basketball program for 30 years, also serves as athletic director and dean of student services for the college.

During the 2010 induction, former Tiger football and baseball player Mike Grier, former Tiger basketball player Jack Martin, former Lady Tiger basketball players Kunshinge Sorrell Howard and Phyllis Stafford Dilworth and former football and softball coach and athletic director David Carnell all became members of the Sports Hall of Fame.

In its second year (2009), Northeast Sports Hall of Fame inducted five members to join the initial 10 inductees with former basketball players Gerald Caveness, Clyde Jones, Evelyn Thompson, and football player Larry Parker along with former Tiger basketball coach Harvey Childers all inducted during the second year.

Northeast’s inaugural inductees of ten former coaches, players and supporters of Northeast Mississippi Community College athletics included Harold T. White, W.B. ‘Bill’ Ward, Ken Lindsey, Chuck ‘Doodle’ Floyd, Gene Garrett, Adrian Smith, Kenneth ‘Cat’ Robbins, David ‘Nub’ Strickland, Earline ‘Woodsie’ Woods and Bonner Arnold.

Biographies:

Audrey Covington (Women’s Basketball 1986-87, 1987-88) Audrey Covington starred on the hardwood during one of the most successful periods for the Lady Tiger basketball team.

During her first year, Covington helped lead Ricky Ford’s Lady Tigers to the 1986-87 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship with a perfect 34-0 record.

In Covington’s first year, Northeast swept through the regular season and knocked off Northwest Mississippi Community College 80-78 in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) State Championship before heading to the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament.

In the Region XXIII Tournament, Northeast earned a return trip to the national tournament in Senatobia by dispatching Utica (Hinds) in the championship game and the Lady Tigers rode that momentum to a four-game winning streak in the Division I women’s national tournament – including knocking off St. Gregory’s in the national championship game 68-64.

In addition to winning the NJCAA national championship, Covington was a two-year starter under Ford and was named to the MACJC All-State and the NJCAA All-Region teams during her time in Booneville.

Following her career as a Lady Tiger, Covington stayed with the Tiger theme when she signed to play with Memphis State University for a pair of seasons in 1988-89 and 1989-90.

Benjamin Guy Gardner (Men’s Basketball 1998-99, 1999-2000) Benjamin Guy Gardner helped lead the Northeast Tiger basketball team

back to the national tournament during his time in Booneville.

Gardner, a two-time Tiger Award recipient, was captain of the 2000 Tiger basketball team that captured the Mississippi Association of Community/ Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division, the MACJC State Championship and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII championship en route to a NJCAA national tournament appearance under former Tiger basketball coach Mike Lewis.

During his sophomore year in Booneville, Gardner finished the year second in assists and steals and was named to the MACJC All-State first team and the NJCAA Region XXIII team as well.

Following his sophomore campaign, Gardner was selected to play in the MACJC Mississippi JUCO All-Star game in Decatur.

When not busy on the hardwood for the Tigers, Gardner was selected as Mr. Northeast Mississippi Community College and was also honored as an inductee into the Northeast Student Hall of Fame.

Gardner was also elected as a Student Government Association (SGA) freshman class favorite during his first year at Northeast and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Gardner parlayed his successful Tiger career into a career with the Mississippi State University Bulldog basketball team where he helped the Bulldogs win the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament championship in 2002.

Gardner helped lead the Bulldog basketball team to 27 wins – the most ever at that time – and was awarded the coveted Babe McCarthy Award at Mississippi State University.

Gardner also excelled in the classroom for the Bulldogs as well and was named to the All-SEC Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll and was a member of the Dean’s and President’s list while earning his Master’s in Education in Educational Administration in Starkville.

Freddie Copeland (Men’s Basketball 1973-74, 1974-75) Freddie Copeland was one of the Tiger basketball team’s most prolific scorers during the mid-1970s.

Copeland donned the Tiger black and gold in 1973-74 and 1974-75 and became a mainstay in the statistical categories for Northeast. Copeland led the Tigers in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage during his time as a Tiger.

Copeland was also honored with the prestigious Tiger Award during his time in Booneville and was named to the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State basketball team.

Against Coahoma Community College on February 8, 1975, Copeland showed his scoring prowess by dropping 46 points against the Tigers in a 113-89 win over Coahoma.

After his time at Northeast, Copeland used his basketball talents to help guide the University of North Alabama Lions to one of its best seasons in school history.

In his junior season at UNA, Copeland helped the Lions post a 19-6 overall mark and a 9-4 record in the Gulf South Conference.

UNA’s 19 wins was one of the best seasons in school history and the Lions’ 12 home wins set a school-record for most wins by a Lion basketball team at that time.

Not only did Copeland help transform his basketball teams offensively, Copeland was a threat on the defensive side of the ball as well. Under Lion head coach Bill Jones, Copeland and the Lions held the opposition to just 65 points a game during his junior season.

While at UNA, Copeland led the team in field goal percentage and rebounds while being named a small college honorable mention All-American and the Most Valuable Player of the Gulf South Conference.

Brandi Vondenstein Dannelly (Softball 2001-02, 2002-03) Brandi Vondenstein Dannelly becomes the first Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) softball player to be inducted into the college’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Under Vondenstein’s guidance, Northeast’s softball team reached the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Northeast Sports Hall of Fame 2008

David ‘Nub’ Strickland, Football W.B. “Bill” Ward, Football coach/Athletic Director Kenneth “Cat” Robbins, Basketball Coach Kenneth Lindsey, Men’s Basketball Chuck “Doodle” Floyd, Men’s Basketball Gene Garrett, Men’s Basketball Adrian Smith, Men’s Basketball Bonner Arnold, Basketball Coach/Athletic Director Harold T. White, Football/College President Earline “Woodsie” Woods, Supporter

2009

Harvey Childers, Men’s Basketball Coach Gerald Caveness, Men’s Basketball Clyde Jones, Men’s Basketball Larry Parker, Football Evelyn Thompson, Women’s Basketball

2010

Phyllis Stafford Dilworth, Women’s Basketball Jack Martin, Men’s Basketball

David Carnell, Sr., Softball Coach/Athletic Director

Ricky Ford, Women’s Basketball Coach/Athletic Dir.

Jim Drewry, Football

Kunshigne Sorrell Howard, Women’s Basketball

2010 David “Nub” Strickland, Football

2009

Johnny Buskirk, Football

Vincent Del Negro, Men’s Basketball

Harvey Childers, Men’s Basketball Coach

2008

Sherry Slayton, Women’s Basketball

2012

Audrey Covington, Women’s Basketball

Benjamin Guy Gardner, Men’s Basketball Bandi Vondenstein Dannelly, Softball Malcolm Kuykendall, Alumni

during her final year in Booneville.

During her two years in Booneville, Vondenstein led the Lady Tiger softball team to a combined 58-29 and remarkable 28-4 record in the North Division.

In the 2003 season, Northeast finished the year 32-17 and perfect in the North at 12-0 while winning the North Division title, the NJCAA Region XXIII championship and appeared in the NJCAA National Tournament in Dodge City, Iowa.

Vondenstein became a hard ‘out’ for the opposition and struck out just two times in 129 at bats during her sophomore season – an average of one strikeout per every 64.5 at bats for the Lady Tiger third baseman.

In addition to helping lead the Lady Tigers to the national tournament, Vondenstein was named an National Fast-Pitch Coaches’ Association (NFCA) All-Region Louisville Slugger, an NJCAA All-American, an MACJC All-State selection and was picked to be part of the NFCA’s AllSouth Region team following her sophomore year.

In 2003, Vondenstein also served as team captain of the Lady Tiger softball team and was named an NJCAA Academic All-American.

After her time at Northeast, Vondenstein donned the black and green for Delta State and became an All-Gulf South Conference player at third base for the Lady Statesmen.

During her two years at Delta State, Vondenstein started 112 of 115 games for the Lady Statesmen and was on the Gulf South Conference’s AllAcademic Team and was honored by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning with the Hollbrook Award for Academic Distinction in 2005.

Vondenstein later led the Bayou Academy Lady Colts to a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) state championship in softball in 2006 – and had an 83-18 record with the Lady Colts. Vondenstein’s state championship in 2006 helped set the stage for five-consecutive state championships by the Lady Colts.

Malcolm Kuykendall (Alumni) Former Tiger Malcolm Kuykendall came to Northeast Mississippi Junior College in 1966-68 and spent the rest of his professional life in education.

Since transferring from Northeast in 1968, Kuykendall went on to get his Bachelor’s of Science in Education from Delta State University in 1970 and his masters of education from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 1977.

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2011

Freddie Copeland, Men’s Basketball

Michael Grier, Football Kunshigne Sorrell Howard, Women’s Basketball

MACJC Sports Hall of Fame

Kenneth Lindsey, Men’s Basketball Harold T. White, Football/College President

2007 Adrian Smith, Men’s Basketball Bonner Arnold, Basketball Coach/Athletic Director W.B. “Bill” Ward, Football Coach/Athletic Director

However it was the time that Kuykendall spend on the hardwood and as a high school and school district administrator where the former Tiger left his mark.

After a two-year stint at Nettleton High School (1970-72), Kuykendall relocated to Pine Grove and it was between Pine Grove and Belmont (198295) where Kuykendall brought back eight state championships and four state runner-up finishes to the northeast Mississippi region.

During his 10 years at Pine Grove (1972-82), Kuykendall won three state championships in 1977, 1981 and 1982.

At Belmont (1982-95), Kuykendall found his calling with five state championships and four state runner-up finishes.

Kuykendall captured the state championship in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988 and in his final year 1995 and finished as the state runner-up in 1984, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

During his coaching career, Kuykendall compiled a 669-139 record while coaching women’s basketball and a 348-182 mark while coaching men’s basketball. Kuykendall was named the Mississippi Coach of the Year four times – 1981, 1985, 1988 and 1993 – and was his district’s coach of the year eight times.

Kuykendall was inducted into the Mississippi Association of Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 2000, the Delta State University Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001 and was a member of the inaugural class of inductees for the Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.

In addition to his coaching time, Kuykendall was also an assistant principal and principal in the Tishomingo County Special Municipal Separate School District for almost a quarter of a century where he helped the district reach new heights as it was recognized with some the highest accountability rankings according to both Mississippi and federal standards.

Kuykendall wrapped up his educational career as the Superintendent for the Tishomingo County Special Municipal Separate School District where the district had one of the best graduation and dropout rates according to Mississippi Accountability Standards.

Under Kuykendall’s leadership, the Tishomingo County Special Municipal Separate School District was recognized as a High Performing District each year.

Kuykendall was a member of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents (MASS) Board of Directors in 2011 and 2012 and was named the 2012 Mississippi Superintendent of the year.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Sports

Social media

For fans that cannot make it to the games in Booneville or away contests, Northeast athletics and individual teams have made it easier for family, friends and fans to keep up with their favorite sport via various social media accounts.

Baseball:

To keep up with the Tiger baseball team: Follow @NEMCCBaseball on Twitter or search for the hashtag #TigerNation

Softball:

To keep up with the Lady Tiger softball team: Live play-by-play updates will be broadcast via GameChanger at http://gc.io/team-511120445f829b26e037f875 Fans can also follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter at @NETigerSB or via their Facebook page at http://ww.facebook.com/#!/ pages/Northeast-Mississippi-Community-College-Softball-Team

Golf:

To keep up with the Tiger golf team: Follow @NEMCCGolf on Twitter

General Athletic News:

General athletic news from Sports Information Director M. Joseph Miller can be found by following Northeast athletics on Twitter at @NEMCC_Athletics or @NEMCC_SID

General Information:

As a reminder, general information about the college can be found at the Northeast website at http://www.nemcc.edu

Athletic News:

while athletic news will be posted at http://www.nemccathletics.com

Videos:

For those wishing for those wishing to view videos highlights of Northeast athletics, videos can be found at http://www. youtube.com/nemcctigers while news articles can be found at http://www.youtube.com/nemcctv

Photos:

Small snippet photos can be found via Instagram at @nemcc_tiger or at the web address http://www.instagram.com/ nemcc_tigers Photos from athletic and campus events can be found on the college’s SmugMug site at http://nemcctigers.smugmug.com

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Your One Source for Mississippi Junior College Scores, Statistics & News • • • • •

MACJC School News MACJC Team Rosters MACJC Sport Schedules MACJC Coaching Bios MACJC League Statistics

• • • • •

In-Game Score Updates Instantaneous Final Scores Post-Game Statistics Post-Game News Release Game of the Week Coverage

Log onto www.jucoweekly.org and join our Facebook page and view photos of your Tigers and Lady Tigers Coahoma • Copiah-Lincoln • East Central • East Mississippi • Hinds • Holmes Itawamba • Jones County • Mississippi Delta • Mississippi Gulf Coast • Northeast Mississippi Northwest Mississippi • Pearl River • Southwest Mississippi www.jucoweekly.org 46

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Sports

A proud sponsor of Northeast Mississippi Community College Athletics.

Go Lady Tigers and Tigers!

Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Sodexo cafeteria staff invites the public to stop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner Monday-Friday Breakfast 7-9 a.m.

Lunch 10:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Dinner 4:30-6 p.m.

Sunday lunch buffet open to the public every Sunday from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Don’t forget to call for your catering needs 662-720-7260 Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Northeast

Sports

Quick Facts about Northeast Athletics Location........................................................................................................................................................Booneville, MS Founded.........................................................................................................................................................................1948 President..........................................................................................................................Dr. Johnny L. Allen, Ed.D.(7226) jlallen@nemcc.edu Athletic Director................................................................................................................................David Robbins (7241) wdrobbins@nemcc.edu Sports Information Director.........................................................................................................M. Joseph Miller (7300) mjmiller@nemcc.edu Athletic Trainer................................................................................................................................... Hope Barnes (7286) hdbarnes@nemcc.edu Head Football Coach.........................................................................................................................Ricky Smither (7890) resmither@nemcc.edu Asst. Football Coaches...Travis Macon (7587), Deljuan Robinson (7351), Jonathan Webster (7575), Greg Davis (7580) ttmacon@nemcc.edu; dcrobinson@nemcc.edu; jjwebster@nemcc.edu; gadavis@nemcc.edu Head Men’s Basketball Coach.........................................................................................................David Robbins (7241) wdrobbins@nemcc.edu Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach......................................................................................................... Nick Coln (7505) tncoln@nemcc.edu Head Women’s Basketball Coach.................................................................................................Brian Alexander (7887) bcalexander@nemcc.edu Women’s Assistant Basketball Coach..........................................................................................Maurice Stafford (7161) mdstafford@nemcc.edu Head Baseball Coach..............................................................................................................................Kent Farris (7309) wkfarris@nemcc.edu Assistant Baseball Coaches..............................................................................Richy Harrelson (7344), Jake Mills (7344) rwharrelson@nemcc.edu; jcmills@nemcc.edu Head Softball Coach................................................................................................................................Jody Long (7305) jwlong@nemcc.edu Golf Coach................................................................................................................................................Nick Coln (7241) tncoln@nemcc.edu Tennis Coach.......................................................................................................................................Ben Shappley (7242) bshappley@nemcc.edu Cheerleading Coach................................................................................................................Karri Davis (870-403-6980) kedavis@nemcc.edu Athletic Phone..............................................................................................................................................(662) 720-7302 Athletic Office Fax.......................................................................................................................................(662) 728-1165 Football Stadium...........................................................................................................................................Tiger Stadium Basketball Arena..........................................................................................................................Bonner Arnold Coliseum Baseball Field...................................................................................Harold T. White Field/Booneville Westside City Park Softball Field............................................................................................................Field 1/Booneville Westside City Park Golf Home Course........................................................................................................................Booneville Country Club Tennis Courts.................................................................................................................................Northeast Tennis Courts Athletic E-mail...................................................................................................................................... rgford@nemcc.edu National Affiliation......................................................................National Junior College Athletic Association/Region 23 State Affiliation......................................................................Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Colors..............................................................................................................................................................Black & Gold Mascot...........................................................................................................................................................................Tiger (All numbers carry a 662 area code and are led by a 720-prefix unless otherwise noted)

Northeast Mississippi Community College