Support your hometown high school sports team because these players and coaches put forth a lot of effort and hard work to be the best they can be and by going to their games you show them that you appreciate their efforts. If you want to have an added incentive, go to the game to see if you can find a prospect I can put on this page. I want your input to make this page the best it can be.
| 1997 | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Jan | Feb |
03/31/98 - Here is a reminder to all H.S. Baseball Coaches: Today is the last day to mail in ballots for the Crossroads Diamond Club High School Baseball All-Star team. This year the games will be held on June 6th at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Ballots will not be accepted after April 1st, 1998. Coaches can nominate players from their teams and from their opponents teams.
03/31/98 - Did you know that Natchez HS's junior wide receiver Greg Carter (5-11, 165) ran a 10.4 100 meters and a 21.4 in the 200 meters in the Wordy Hicks Relays this past weekend? Watch this kid this coming football season. He could be one of the best in the state.
03/31/98 - In the how is he doing now category: Former New Hope HS baseball player Scott Atwood, who is in his freshman year at North Florida CC, is hitting over .400 with 14 home runs and 40 RBI for the season.
03/31/98 - Look for Indianola Academy's Katherine Gantz to be strongly considered for The Clarion-Ledger's Dandy Dozen next year. She averaged in the 25 to 28 ppg range this past season. Just to show you what kind of athlete she is, she has thrown the discus 106' and is also a very good tennis player. She and her sister Julia are one of the best double teams in the state of Mississippi.
03/31/98 - Another athlete at Indianola Academy that bears watching is Noah Bryant, a 6-5, 250 freshman, who, according to my source, has the potential to be a great basketball player. In track, he is already throwing the discus 150+ feet.
03/29/98 - New Hope HS has two juniors who showed home run power in their Friday night game against Itawamba HS: Jaron Andrews hit a home run and triple (off the top of the wall) and Chris Ball hit a grand slam.
03/29/98 - Here is a Tishomingo Couty HS baseball update:
"The TCHS Braves continue to play good baseball behind the leadership of Robert Brown. Brown is 5-0 going into Saturday's game againt Ripley. He earned his last win against a very good West Point team, BTW, he and fellow Brave sophomore Jared Robinson (another very talented young player) were clock in the mid-80's against West Point. Brown has three HR's on the year after hitting one against Aberdeen last night: he is batting in the .375-.425 range. Junior catcher Bryan Robinson continues to gun down those who dare to run against him. He is also constantly showing his power at the plate, while batting in the high .300's."
03/29/98 - Here is some info from the Rebel Relays last night at George County HS:
"Vancleave's Sam Forehand (LSU football signee) won the shot put (48' 9 1/2") and discus (153' 7"). He set a meet record in the discus and won by more than 30 feet.
"George County's Christy Fairley, a freshman, won three individual events: 100-meters (12.02 sec.), 200 (25.59) and 400 (1:02.11). She was also a part of three winning relay teams (4x100, 4x200, 4x400). The times in all six races were meet records in the four-year old event. Fairley was one of Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd last October for winning state Class 4A high school championships in all six of those events last year as an eighth grader. Her 57.2 in the 400 last year was the best by a Mississippi female."
03/26/98 - Tuesday night, Amory junior pitcher Brian Reed struck out 23 batters in a 9 inning game against South Pontotoc.
03/26/98 - Here is an excellent Kosciusko HS baseball update:
"Just an update on Kosciusko HS Baseball. Currently ranked #6 by Clarion-Ledger poll this week, their record is 13 -1. The only loss coming vs. West Point, there. This Saturday, West Point, ranked #5, visits Kosciusko for the rematch.
"Delta State scouted last Friday's game as Anthony Rawson pitched Kosciusko to a 6 - 1 win over Neshoba Central in a Division game. Rawson and Ben Dew, senior 1B-P, played on the Mississippi Stars traveling team last fall. Other Kosciusko seniors drawing attention from scouts at the next level include outfielder Robbie Horne and catcher Ricky Maness, who was MVP in the Capital City Classic in Jackson. Junior starters include second baseman Brent Tyler, third baseman Josh Pettit and shortstop Randy Fuller.
"Horne, Maness, Dew, and Pettit have a couple of HR's each for the Kosciusko squad that is averaging 10 runs an outing. Look for continued success from this group. They have already defeated Madison Central twice, Terry, and Tupelo this past weekend. Of interest, Kosciusko products at the next level currently include Mississippi State catcher Barry Patton, USM pitcher Eric Adams, Delta State catcher Sam Potts, as well as several Juco players.
03/26/98 - Cody Harrell, a senior right hand pitcher who plays for Jackson Prep, has a 83-84 mph fastball and an excellent overhand curve (69 mph). If anyone gets the chance to see him pitch, let me know what you think.
Another player to watch is Laurel HS right handed pitcher/ shortstop Shane Jensen. According to a source of mine, Shane has been hitting the ball well the past few weeks, and in the past two games has hit two home runs and been clocked as high as 90 mph on the jugs gun.
03/25/98 - New Hope defeated Aberdeen 18-1 to take their season record to 18 wins and 1 loss. New Hope hit six home runs in the game. Brad Montgomery had two, Shane Bazzell, Ashley Chism, Chris Ball, and Justin Hallmark each had one home run. Josh Buckley had a single and a double and Jaron Andrews had two singles. Roz Cunningham had a double for the Trojans. Steve Oglesby was the winning pitcher and is now 3-0 on the season.
Delta State and Birmingham Southern play Wed. night at 7:00 at New Hope's Trojan Field. Batting practice will start at 4:45.
03/24/98 - Noxapater HS played Neshoba Central in baseball Saturday. Andy Young, of Noxapater, pitched and won 8 to 3. Meridan CC scouts were on hand and clocked his fast ball at 95 mph.
03/22/98 - Here is the latest New Hope HS baseball info:
New Hope defeated Clinton at Clinton on Sat. 9-4. Shane Bazzell struck out 14 as he improved to 7-0 on the season. He allowed only three hits, two of which were home runs. New Hope had 12 hits including home runs from Justin Hallmark and Josh Buckley. Kenneth Morrison had two hits, as did Jaron Andrews, Justin Hallmark, and Josh Buckley.
New Hope then played Raymond High School and won 14-0 in five innings. Carey Upton had three hits (single, double, and a homerun) Brad Montgomery had two hits (single and Double), Justin Hallmark had two hits (triple and double) and Jaron Andrews had a triple. Kevin Long was the winning pitcher. New Hope is now 17-1.
03/21/98 - Here is more info on Northwest Rankin lefthanded pitcher Brian Owen: The past 1 1/2 years has gone 20-1 against some of the best in the state, very good sharp breaking curve, great control, great kid.
Owens is not the only NW Rankin player who has a great chance to play at the next level. Senior second baseman Nick Jones (5-8, 150-lbs) is an intense competitor with excellent footspeed and quick hands who, through 13 games, is hitting .395 (15-38) with 1 home run, 5 doubles and 11 rbi as the leadoff hitter. Senior Clay Overby (6-1, 200-lbs, bats and throws right) is 4-0 (throws in the mid-80's with a good curve) and is also hitting .407 (11-27) with 2 doubles. Junior first baseman Matthew Brinson (6-5, 215-lbs, bats and throws lefthanded) is hitting .487 (19-39) with 4 home runs, 2 doubles and 22 rbi.
03/21/98 - Columbia HS has a placekicker/punter, Michael Bradshaw (6-1, 185-lbs) who was selected All-District punter (36+ average) this past season. He had a longest field goal of 40 yards. He has kicked 55 yards in practice, according to my source. Michael is also an excellent student (Beta Club) who is a former class president.
03/21/98 - It seems my 3/17/98 comments about Amory HS quarterback/basketball player Will Hall has gotten the attention of someone else who has seen him play. According to someone who has seen him play basketball, he is a very good athlete who can really shoot the ball.
03/21/98 - The rumor is junior phenom Latoya Thomas has been named, along with David Sanders of Provine, as the Mississippi Gatorade Players of the Year.
03/21/98 - Here are the rosters for the upcoming Ala/Ms and Ms All-Star basketball games:
MS/ALA Mississippi All-Stars:
GIRLS ROSTER
Name Pos. Height School
Takela Corbitt G 5-3 Bruce
Kenya Bibbs F/C 6-2 Starkville
Yetta Enobakhare C 6-4 Murrah
Rosalind Carter C 6-3 Clinton
Tonya Moncrief C/F 6-2 Newton
Felincia Cathey G 5-7 Yazoo City
Stacey Webb G 5-7 West Tallahatchie
Erika Slayton G/F 5-8 West Jones
Kim Page G/F 5-10 Meridian
Channika Grant F 6-0 Vicksburg
Shelly Campbell F 5-10 Hatley
Ruth Buck F 5-10 Port Gibson
Co-Coaches: Harold Liggans - Port Gibson High, Mickey Miller - Hatley
High
BOYS ROSTER
Name Pos. Height School
Melvin Roberts F/C 6-7 Quitman
Ontario Harper F 6-5 Clinton
David Sanders G 6-3 Provine
Thomas Terrell F/C 6-7 Brookhaven
Shawn Holtz F 6-8 Crystal Springs
Leroy Johnson G 6-0 Gulfport
Syniker Taylor G 6-2 Gulfport
Leon Crawford G 6-4 Ashland
Ivan Billie F 6-4 Choctaw Central
Dennis Williams F 6-4 Starkville
Travarus Bennett F 6-6 West Bolivar
Derrick Bush F 6-2 Gentry
Co-Coaches: Joel Boone, Clinton
Elmo Hickingbottom Gentry
Administrative Coach: Sandra Sumrall, West Jones
Assistant Administrative Coach: Jeff Nelson, Oxford
Coca-Cola (Mississippi) All-Star game rosters
North Girls:
Jamiliah Johns C 6-4 Starkville
Kamiya Thorne C 6-1 Belmont
Erika Kelly C 6-1 Bruce
Monica Blaylock C 6-4 Smithville
Betsy Burkhead G 5-6 Senatobia
Allison Shaw G 5-7 Oxford
Jill Goolsby G 5-7 West Union
Tana Kirk G 5-7 West Union
Robin Issac G 5-3 Choctaw Central
Jamila Quarles G 5-8 Oxford
Felicia Newson F 5-8 Coldwater
Shalena Dixon F 5-8 Noxubee County
North Boys:
Edward Prather F 6-1 Falkner
Steven Sims F 6-4 Houston
Darrell Traylor G/F 6-4 Tupelo
Felix Berry C 6-6 Myrtle
Michael Jackson G/F 6-1 Senatobia
Lawrence Furdge G 5-11 Coahoma Agricultural
Kerris Jackson G 6-2 Shelby Broadstreet
Joffrey Strickland G 6-2 John F. Kennedy
Tori Harris G/F 6-4 Noxubee County
James Lewis G/F 6-3 Columbus
Michael Forbes F 6-6 Wingfield
Francis Dillon G 5-10 Lanier
South girls:
Diandra Hosey F 5-9 Bay Springs
Ashley Taylor F 6-0 Wayne County
Keairra Levy G 5-5 Velma Jackson
Leah Jones F 5-9 Northwest Rankin
Natalie Wilson G 5-6 Warren Central
Victoria Mason C 6-1 Hazelhurst
Traci McMichael G 5-3 West Marion
Jessica Woods F 5-10 McComb
Amyie Travis G 5-4 Perry Central
Katrina Howard G 5-7 Vancleave
Chanda Haley F 6-0 Bay St. Louis
Scharbra Cherry 5-11 Greene County
South Boys:
Lamond Bowie G 6-0 Morton
Johnny White F 6-6 Northeast Jones
Pat Jones F 6-6 Quitman
Derrick Martin F 6-3 R.H. Watkins
Kendell Noel G 5-9 Hinds AHS
Garrett Thomas G 6-1 Hinds AHS
J.R. Nelson G 6-3 Forest
Marcus Holbert F 6-5 Morton
Travis Richardson C 6-8 Yazoo City
Lynn Harvey G 6-1 Clinton
Keith Dixon C 6-8 Crystal Springs
Sylvester Stubbs G 5-11 Picayune
03/20/98 - New Hope offensive lineman Eric Brewer (1st team All-District the past two years) has transferred to Pickens Academy in Carrollton, Alabama.
03/20/98 - Here is a lot of great Mississippi high school baseball player info from one of my sources. Enjoy.
"In the Championship of the Capital City Classic at Smith-Wills, Ben Dew, in bitter cold weather, pitch 7 strong innings against Madison Central to capture the Title. Their LHP Anthony Rawson threw a 2-hitter against Terry to put them in the Championship game and also hit a 2-run HR out of Smith-Wills. Rawson plays right field when he is not pitching. Dew got two RBI's in the Championship game to help his cause. The Kosciusko catcher, whose name slips my mind right now, was named the tournament MVP because of his defensive prowess and strong arm.
"Jermaine Van Buren, on March 13th, struck out 15 against Roummel H.S. from Baton Rouge, LA, who are ranked 12th in the US I believe. Roummel's big pro prospect catcher, Winchester, did hit a double off of Jermaine. Jermaine was hitting 91-92 on the radar gun and his curve is one of the best in the state.
"LHP Brian Owens, (5-0), of N.W. Rankin, is having a great year even though his velocity has been down around 81 MPH on his fastball. He threw a no-hitter for 5 innings , ending up with only two hits given up and defeated Murrah last Tuesday night for his second win in 4 days (He won against St. Andrews last Sat. morning). Word is he will sign with Delta State.
"Josh Christian helped Clinton defeat a strong Callaway team Wednesday night 5-0 with another monster HR. Clint Farrar (4-1) got the pitching victory. It should be two great games in Clinton this weekend when Tupelo comes to town on Friday and New Hope invades Clinton on Sat. Afternoon at 1:00 P.M. Shane Bazzell is scheduled to pitch for New Hope and Clint Farrar will throw some for Clinton, although he may be saved for a district game on Tuesday of next week according to Coach Hugh Christian. With the game on the line, I am sure Farrar would come in relief on either Friday or Saturday. Trey Meacham will throw on Friday for Clinton.
"Steven Dowe, LHP for Parklane Academy, threw a 4-hitter Wednesday night against Jackson Academy in an 11-2 victory . Bobby Croswell, JR. the left-handed hitting secondbaseman from JA and the son of former Miss. State Shortstop, Bobby Croswell, got two of the hits for Jackson Academy.
"Greg Messer (3-1), from Horn Lake, threw a 5-hitter against a very good Germantown, TN team. Adam Larson (2-0) who I believe signed with MSU pitched a 3-hitter for Germantown.
"Allen Buckley, SR. 6'5" son of former MSU baseballer, Larry Buckley, has pitched two great games this season against N.W. Rankin. He lost 2-1 in the Championship game of the Rankin County Tourney two weeks ago (both runs were unearned) but redeemed himself when he pitched against them at N.W. Rankin's field March 12th, pitching 7 strong innings (85 MPH fastball). He was aided by a grand-slam home run in the top of the 7th inning with 2 out and 2 strikes on the big (6'5"-240 lbs) Brandon SR. first-baseman, John David Massey. Drew Troxler, SR.2B, leadoff hitter for Brandon H.S. is hitting .427 with 5 doubles and a .540 OB percentage.
"Shea Douglas, a Junior LHP/1B (3-1) from Warren Central threw a 4-hitter against Vicksburg Wednesday afternoon.
"Cody Harrell, (2-1), a senior RHP/INF from Jackson Prep pitched a strong 7 innings Wednesday night against MRA and hit a grand slam HR to help his own cause. He is interested in attending Ole Miss next fall.
"Wednesday night I saw two young men put on a power hitting display at Pelahatchie H.S. Prentiss Magee, a Sr. OF/LHP hit a bomb his first AB and his cousin John Magee, SR. 3B/SS followed that up with an opposite field solo HR. Prentiss was 3 for 3 adding a double and a single and John hit another monster shot over the centerfield fence. Prentiss has signed with Hinds to play football but John has not signed, although he is a definite JC prospect. I am sure both young men will appear in the Crossroads Diamond Club High School All-Star game in Oxford on June 6th this year.
"I also saw the 6'4" 240 LB, SR. 1B , John David Massey, hit another towering 3 run HR against Pearl last night in an 11-8 victory for Brandon. Allen Buckley came in relief in the 5th inning and got the save but that may limit his pitching duties against a key district game this Friday against Meridian. I will watch the Jackson Academy vs Parklane doubleheader Thursday. Ken Jackson, the Parklane Coach said that Steven Dowe will be in relief only today. He looked good on Tuesday, throwing a 4-hitter against the JA Raiders at Parklane.
"The big games Friday will be Tupelo at Clinton and then on Sat. New Hope at Clinton. The pitching matchups would seem to favor Tupelo and New Hope but don't count out the Clinton bats."
03/18/98 - The latest word on St. John (Gulfport) basketball player Lamar Price is South Alabama is recruiting him.
03/18/98 - If you have the won-lost records for the baseball teams at Starkville HS, Grenada HS and Columbus HS, please email them to me.
03/17/98 - A couple of New Hope HS football players to watch this coming year are senior-to-be OT Kyle Shannon (6-2, 265, 4.9-5.0) and junior-to-be FB Raphael Roland (6-2, 225, 4.6).
Shannon, who started as a 13 year old freshman, is 16 years old, can bench 325-lbs, squat 550-lbs and power clean 260-lbs. He was named All-District this past season.
Roland can bench press 270-lbs, squat 400-lbs and clean 245-lbs and doesn't even work in the weightroom that much, according to my source. He is a good athlete who also plays basketball.
03/17/98 - Amory HS has a very good quarterback by the name of Will Hall (yes, he is the coach's son). Will, according to my source, is approximately 5-11, 190-lbs, has a good arm, has quick feet and is a very good athlete (plays point guard on the basketball team). Get this: he is also a straight A student.
03/16/98 - Pascagoula HS baseball is off to an 8-1 start behind the pitching of Nick Parrish (3-0), the hitting and pitching of Casey Gilbert (.450, 2-0) and the hitting of Reggie Myles.
03/15/98 - Here are Houston HS players Brian Hicks' and Eric Smith's stats for the season:
03/12/98 - Here is an email with a Byhalia HS fan's observation of the Byhalia/West Bolivar basketball game:
"On Tuesday I went down to Jackson and saw our (Byhalia's) state semifinal game against West Bolivar. We played a box and one against Travarus Bennett, and lined up a larger, more physical, 6'6" center against him. He had a very difficult time in getting open on his own, and he became fatigued with the incessant chasing he had to endure. By the late third and early fourth quarters, he was very tired, and committed several fouls. We held him to 14 points. (West Bolivar has a point guard you may want to focus on a little. He was great at driving to the goal against our zone, and practically won the game single-handedly. I don't know his name, but he is a very good player; I think he is a junior.)
Dennis Isom kept us in the game. He scored 22 points, 9 of which came on three consecutive guarded three point shots in the final two minutes of the game. West Bolivar came out on top 68-61."
03/11/98 - Who is the best prep basketball player in Guam? How about a choice between two former Biloxi, Mississippi, basketball players: Troy Hoover and Tyrun Willoughby. Troy is a 6-0 sophomore shooting guard who doesn't miss an open shot, plays good defense and has good ball handling skills. Tyrun (my source wasn't sure of his classification) is an all around 6-4 small forward/shooting guard, who, along with Troy, helped Guam win the Far East Tournament in Japan. Both of these kids are names to remember when they get back to the States.
03/09/98 - Here is what one of you observed about West Bolivar HS (WBHS) senior basketball player Travarus Bennett during a recent game:
"I had the opportunity to see Bennett play. Whenever we played a zone against them (WBHS), he drilled a three-point basket. He is a very good shooter, but he seemed wary of going inside against stronger players."
03/07/98 - It looks like Mississippi HS football is going to start off with a bang next season: South Panola and Moss Point play each other at South Panola HS in their season opener.
03/04/98 - Here is the latest Northwest Rankin HS baseball update. Northwest is off to a 4-0 start with Dandy Dozen and Finest Fifteen pitcher Brian Owens leading the way with two wins. Matthew Brinson is also off to a good start with a .636 batting average (7-for-11) with 1 home run and 2 doubles. And Clay Overby is also hot with a batting average over .500.
03/04/98 - Anybody know how Houston HS players Eric Smith and Brian Hicks are doing this year? I would like an update.
03/03/98 - Tishomingo County HS is off to a 3 and 1 start with the help of baseball players Robert Brown and Bryan Robinson. Both are batting around .400. If you have a chance, go to their game tonight when they play Corinth at 6 p.m.
03/03/98 - Have you heard of Timmy Latiker of Durant HS? According to a source of mine, Timmy, who is a sophomore, has a chance to be one of the top basketball guards in the state in a couple of year. He is 6-3, very quick and can dunk the ball.
03/03/98 - Jessica Dunlap scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a season ending loss to West Tellahatchie. Hatley ended the season at 31-3.
03/02/98 - New Hope HS baseball now has it's own website online. Click here to visit it.
03/02/98 - Caledonia HS defeated Nettleton HS Friday night. Chris Nichols pitched a no-hitter, allowing only two base runners, one via a walk and the other by way of an error. Chris had seven strikeouts and one base-on-balls. The game was called in the bottom of the fifth by the 10-run rule.
03/02/98 - Ripley freshman Brandon Roberson hurled a one-hitter while striking out 11 Tuesday night against West Union. If you would like to see him play, he is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday at New Albany at 4:30 against Muscle Shoals, Ala.
03/02/98 - New Hope HS hit the ball really well in their three games this weekend, averaging 13.3 runs and 10 hits a game. Junior catcher Jaron Andrews homered against Pontotoc and Ripley. Brad Montgomery also homered against Ripley. New Hope defeated Tupelo 9-3 as Shane Bazzell struck out 14 batters. New Hope defeated Pontotoc 13-10 and Ripley 18-3. Several young players, Andrews, second basebman Chris Ball and left fielder Lynn Colebrook, hit the ball well all weekend.