April 1998 Mississippi High School All-Sports Skuttle-Butt

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.

04/30/98 - Starkville Academy defeated Heritage 5 - 1 Tuesday night at Volunteer field to repeat as the North 4-AAAA State Champs., Jim Love threw a 3-hitter to get the win. The Vols travel to Jackson Prep next Tuesday to start the State playoffs with the games coming back to Starkville Friday for a doubleheader.

04/30/98 - The confirmed word is Indianola Academy's (IA) outstanding freshman, Noah Bryant, has his sights set on playing college basketball and will not play football. In case you didn't know this, his dad is IA's head basketball coach.

04/30/98 - Here is the correct info on Indianola Academy's star tennis player Rachael Sudduth. I earlier posted that Rachael has never lost a tennis match in high school. Actually, she has not lost a match this year (junior). She did lose one match her sophomore year in the state overall to Sara Love Swaney, who signed with SMU. During her freshman year, when she lived in Georgia, she lost in district play against very strong public school competition. According to my source, she has played #1 singles since the 7th grade.

04/30/98 - George County HS has another sophomore football player that will be heard from the next two years. Trey Fryfogle is a 6-1, 165-lb, wide receiver with 4.6 speed. Trey started every game this past season. He also runs track and plays basketball.

04/29/98 - Correction: The Lacory Smith I mentioned a couple of days ago is actually Corey Street. Corey is a 6-6, 295 defensive lineman from George County HS. The other info is correct. My mistake.

04/29/98 - Here is a great Kosciusko HS baseball update:

Last Thursday night Houston defeated Kosciusko 3 - 1 in Game 1 of their best of three Round 1 of the 4A playoffs. The Houston HS sophomore that you've been hearing about, Shane Ellison, carried the day as he hit a 2-run HR in the 6th when Houston scored 3 to beat Kosciusko . He was also the winning pitcher. I believe Ellison has now beaten Kosciusko and New Hope, two quality Mississippi programs, in the same year. Anthony Rawson hit a HR for Kosciusko and took the loss despite allowing only 3 hits, all in the 6th inning.

Kosciusko advanced to the 2nd round with 2 stirring comebacks last Saturday. Trailing 3 - 0, Kosciusko took Game Two 7 - 6 behind Robbie Horne's 2 HR's and the 3-hit games of Rawson and junior Randy Fuller. After giving up 6 runs in the top of the 6th to fall behind 8 - 2, Kosciusko scored 7 in the bottom of the 6th to win Game Three 9 - 8. Multiple hit games were recorded by Ricky Maness, Brent Tyler, Stephen Rone, Joshua Pettit, and Ben Dew. Dew led the effort with a 3-run HR. Kosciusko advances to a Round 2 matchup with Hernando, victorious over Cleveland last weekend, this Saturday.

Dew and Horne will play next year at Holmes CC while Rawson will toil on the mound for Meridian CC. Kosciusko currently stands at 25 - 4 on the season. Kosciusko fans would like to congratulate Anthony Rawson for being selected for the Mississippi High School 4A-5A All Star game and also congratulate Larry Harmon, KHS alumnus and Tupelo HS baseball coach, for being selected to coach that team. Additionally, Congrats to our Kosciusko Lady Whippets Fast Pitch Softball Team who took the Regional Championships this weekend and advance to the State Championship this weekend in Clinton !!

04/29/98 - A player who has drawn some interest from a major league team is Jackson Academy catcher Jonathan Richardson. Jonathan has a pro-style catcher's body, a good arm and hits with some pop. Jonathan is also a great student as shown by his Presidential Scholarship to attend Mississippi College. He is also interested in Delta State. Congrats are in order for this outstanding scholar/athlete.

04/29/98 - Despite having only one senior on the squad, Indianola Academy's boys track team captured the North Class AAA championship Saturday. Two 9th graders -- Tom Humbarger and 6-5, 250-lb Noah Bryant -- claimed two firsts each. Humbarger turned in his fastest 1,600-meter time of the year -- 4.48 -- and also won the 3,200-meter run. Bryant won both the discus (136-9) and the shot (45-9).

Just to show you how impressive Bryant's throws were, if you compared his throws to seventeen of the other regional state champions (both public and private) throughout the state this past week, he would have come in 10th in both the discus and the shot put. Not bad for a 6-5, 250-lb freshman. If this guy plays football, look out.

On the girls' side, Chanin Sloan, another 9th grader, won the girls discus with a throw of 111-11.

IA's baseball team enters district competition as the No. 1 seed and the girls tennis team begins the North Class AAA competiton after a sweep in district play.

04/28/98 - I received additional info on Tunica Institute of Learning Academy's quarterback Sam Husband.

Sam's dad, Paul Husband, who is presently a Presbyterian Minister in Tunica, was an All-American baseball player at Ole Miss in the early 1970's. In fact, he led the SEC in hitting in 1973. After his college baseball career, he played pro baseball until an elbow injury ended his career while playing at Little Rock, the St. Louis Double-A farm team. At the time, he was leading the team in hitting. Sam's uncle, Wayne Husband, now a Vice President at Deposit Guaranty National Bank in Jackson, Miss., was also an excellent baseball player while in college. During his playing career at Belhaven College he hit for average (hitting .400 one season) and power. That is part of the story. As Paul Harvey would say, here is the rest of the story.

Back when Paul and Wayne were youngsters, they used to go to a nearby park and hit baseballs very early in the morning and late into the afternoon. They did this during the school year and during the summer. Baseball was their love and their dad knew this. The only problem for their dad, Warren Husband, was they broke many-a-bat while hitting those baseballs. While he loved his sons, he knew it would get way too costly if he continued to have to provide them with new wooden bats, so he decided to do something about it. In 1960, he made, what appears to be, the first aluminum bat. Did the person or persons who eventually made the first aluminum bat for commerical purposes come up with the idea of aluminum bats after seeing these bats? According to my source, it is very unlikely, but it does make you wonder. By the way, Mr. Husband also made a curve ball throwing attachment for Paul and Wayne's one-arm pitching machine. To this day, that pitching machine sits in the yard of their former home gathering moss. Just goes to show you what an inventive father will do to help his sons do the thing they love the most.

04/28/98 - Did you know Indianola Academy junior Rachael Sudduth, possibly the best high school female tennis player in the state, would like to sign with an in-state school? As you know, Rachael has never lost a high school tennis match. If any of you know one of the tennis coaches from the Big-3, make sure you tell them about this young lady. It would be terrible if they let the best player in the state go out of state.

04/28/98 - Is another little known but very talented Mississippi high school baseball player headed to a Florida junior college? That's what I'm hearing. I don't know his name but, hopefully, will find out soon. The college coaches in Mississippi let one go last year, and look what he did. Scott Atwood, the slugging first baseman from New Hope HS, signed with North Florida CC last year and set home run (20) and RBI (67) records this past season.

04/28/98 - I mentioned Noxapater HS pitcher/hitter Judd Sanborn yesterday. Well, I've just received more info on him. Career records: BA - .443, W-L - 12-2, HR - 12, SB - 68. Plus, he runs a 6.3 60-yard dash. He, along with teammate Andy Young, have been selected to the June 6th High School Baseball All-Star game. Judd, according to my source, is a good student and person. You want to know the strangest thing? The big three may let this very talented youngster fall through the cracks. If I were a college coach, I would take a second look at this young man.

04/27/98 - Did you know Noxapater HS has the best winning percentage of any public high school in Mississippi this baseball season (23-2, .920)? Some folks might believe Noxapater is a one-man team because of hard throwing ace Andy Young (8-0, 11 saves, 62.2 IP, 115 K's, 21 BB), but it's not. Other Noxapater baseball players who have contributed to this outstanding team are Judd Sanborn (.549 avg., 8 home runs, 8-0, 47 IP, 62 K's), Jeremy Woods (7-2, 47 IP, 46 K's), center fielder Donny Boatner, DH/outfielder Chad Carter, first baseman Randall Orr, right fielder Brent Mcadory, catcher Jeff Anthony, second baseman/shortstop Justin Yates and outfielder Dee Hornesburger.

04/26/98 - A new name for my sophomore football player list is George County HS's Lacory Smith, a 6-5, 260 defensive lineman who started for GCHS this past year. Smith, according to my source, is a good kid with great parents. Watch for good things from this kid this upcoming football season.

04/25/98 - Here is some more info on Hattiesburg HS senior pitcher Jermaine Van Buren:

Jermaine has been clocked at 95 mph twice by a source of mine. He also confirmed that other guns have clocked him in the 90's. Jermaine took the fall off from baseball to work on strengthening his arms and legs as well as to rest his arm. He knew last year he had a chance to be a very high draft choice after his senior year if he improved his arm strength. Based on the results, he appears to be online to do just that.

04/25/98 - BTW, did any of you notice that senior Meridian catcher Gerald McCall hit two home runs off of Jermaine Van Buren in Meridian's 16 to 5 loss to Hattiesburg? McCall is probably the best catching prospect in Mississippi this year.

04/25/98 - A player who I have just heard about is junior Sam Husband, a 6-1, 190-lb quarterback from Tunica Institute of Learning Academy in Tunica, Mississippi. My source told me that Sam has a very good arm and, he believes, 4.8-4.9 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Sam, who has attended the Archie Manning and Bobby Bowden Quarterback Camps, is drawing some interest from Alabama. According to my source, Sam has strong family ties to Ole Miss (not sure of the exact ties at the moment). I hope to receive additional info on Sam in the next few days.

04/25/98 - The defending State Academy Class AAA Indianola Academy girls tennis team scored a perfect 9 points to win the District 2 championship Thursday. Individual IA district champs are: Rachael Sudduth, #1 singles; Elizabeth Long, #2 singles, Julia and Katherine Gantz, #1 doubles; and Jane Anna Harris and Blair Webb, #2 doubles. Paige Peyton teamed with J Gary to claim the mixed doubles title. The IA boys finished second to Cruger-Tchula, but did manage to qualify each participant for the North Class AAA tournament, including 8th graders Will McPherson and Stephen Arant at #2 doubles.

Humphreys Academy moved to 11-0 by claiming the Class A tournament in Belzoni Thursday. Only the two Humphreys Academy boys singles players failed to qualify for the North Class A tournament.

04/24/98 - Starkville Academy is on the verge of another North 4AAAA Championship. As of April 23rd, they are 8-1 in the conference with one game remaining against Heritage. Trey Wall and Jim Love have led the team in pitching and Trey pitched a shutout two hitter yesterday against Madison Rigeland Academy.

04/24/98 - Did you know that John Kirk Manning, a sophomore, and Tom Humbarger, a freshman, (both from Indianola Academy) have turned in 4.:55 in the 1,600 meters this track season?

04/24/98 - A baseball team to watch is Tupelo HS. Tupelo, one of the best baseball programs in the state, is a very young team which has four super sophomores starting for it this year. They are C/P Reed Hawkins, CF Jonathan Bell, 1B Chuck McElroy, and RF Holt Montgomery. Tupelo also has several upperclassmen who have shown great leadership: seniors Brent Heavener (3B), Luke McAlpin (LF); juniors Blake Gore (SS), Justin Bounds (P/DH). These players have led Tupelo to a better record than they had last year when they were led by eight seniors.

If any of you want to promote talented players in Mississippi, please do so. You are my eyes and ears.

04/23/98 - I was emailed info that the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) now has a website. It's address is http://www.misshsaa.com. Check it out.

04/23/98 - Indianola Academy's tennis team will be seeking to defend its Academy Class AAA state championship as district play begins Thursday in Indianola. Led by No. 1 Girls Singles state champion Rachel Sudduth, the Lady Colonels, as a team, are undefeated again in the conference. Sudduth, a junior, has never lost a high school match, including three wins in matches against Class AAAA schools. She is joined by defending No. 2 Girls Singles state champion Elizabeth Long, a 9th grader, and the No. 1 Girls Doubles team of sisters Julia, a senior, and Katherine Gantz, a junior. Long and the Gantzes are undefeated in the Class AAA and have lost only one match each -- that to Class AAAA Greenville Washington School.

04/23/98 - Have you heard of a player by the name of Josh Whelan? After reading this you will have. Josh, a sophomore who plays football at Pillow Academy, is a 6-2, 220-lb FB/LB who had 59 carries for 481 yards last season. As a linebacker, he made 81 tackles of which 60 were solo. Eighty-one tackles is a pretty fair amount of tackles but what makes it more significant is he started his first game as a linebacker in Pillow's fifth game of the season. He was so impressive, he was selected All-Conference. Remember, this kid is only a sophomore.

04/21/98 - A player whose stock is about to skyrocket is Southern Miss signee Jermaine Van Buren, a senior pitcher from Hattiesburg HS. Jermaine threw his 2nd consecutive no-hitter by beating Gulfport Saturday afternoon. He previously no-hitted Purvis. Get this: he was throwing 95 mph at the beginning of the game and 95 mph at the end. Look for this guy to be drafted extemely high in the upcoming Major League Baseball Summer Draft. It wouldn't surpise me if he is drafted in the first or second round based on his arm strength along.

BTW, to all of you who are Mississippi High School baseball fans, please email me any info you have on any players you see at the various playoff games the next couple of weeks. Let's promote Mississippi's best by posting them on my page.

04/20/98 - Here are the Mississippi and Alabama football rosters for the June 20th 11th Annual Alabama-Mississippi High School All-Star game which is to be played in Mobile's Ladd Memorial Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Click here to view the Mississippi roster. Click here to view the Alabama roster. I'm not sure that they are 100% correct

04/20/98 - There is a very good sophomore pitcher on the Houston (MS) HS baseball team by the name of Scott Ellison. He defeated New Hope HS, 3-2, about two weeks ago. As you know, New Hope has been ranked nationally as high as 11th. If you have info on this youngster, email it to me.

Here is a quote from a coaching friend of mine who has played Houston HS and faced Scott this year: "Scott Ellison is a good high school pitcher right now as a sophomore, who, I think, has a chance to be really good! He will need to increase his velocity to become an overpowering pitcher in the 4A division."

04/20/98 - If you are interested in checking out what teams have made the Mississippi HS playoffs, click here.

04/17/98 - Here is a correction and additional info on Walnut HS sophomore Michael Wilbanks. Michael is actually 6-1, 275-lbs, benches 250, squats 450, and deadlifts 375.

04/16/98 - Noxapater HS is 19-2 on the season having just won the division title. Some of the teams they have beaten this year are Durant (twice), Bruce, Philadelphia, Ackerman and Neshoba Central. Tuesday night they defeated Durant, 8-1, behind the two-hit pitching of Andy Young. Young is now 6-0 on the season. Other pitchers and their records on Noxapater's team are Judd Sanborn, 7-0, and Jeremy Woods, 6-2. North, proving he is not only a good hitter but an outstanding hitter, has hit 13 home runs in 21 games.

04/15/98 - Northwest Rankin HS's Dandy Dozen hurler, Brian Owens has committed to Delta State. Brian is 11-0 with an ERA around 1.00. He is 26-1 for his career. Delta State picked up a jewell in this guy. He is also, according to my source, one of the nicest, well-mannered kids that you will ever meet.

Here is additional info on several other NW Rankin HS players:

04/14/98 - The early word is Prep Magazine and USA Today have selected 5 high school players from Mississippi to their Pre-Season All-American team. Three of the five are QB Kevin Fant of Moss Point HS, TE/DE Casey Gilbert of Pascagoula HS and RB Dontae Walker of Clinton HS. I'm not sure who the other two are at this time.

04/14/98 - Ripley's Andy Wilbanks, is continuing a fine sophomore season. Andy pitched a 7 inning no-hitter with 14 K's against county rival Walnut in leading Ripley to a 4-0 win in the championship game of the inaugural Tippah County Tournament. Erik Odom, a freshman righthander, pitched five strong innings in game one with 10 K's and no runs against Pine Grove.

04/14/98 - I have heard there is a lineman from Oxford, MS. by the name of Trey Woodruff. Anybody know anything about him? All I know is he is 6-7 and 245-lbs.

04/11/98 - I saw the last two innings of the Columbus HS/Caledonia HS baseball game, which Columbus won 8 to 7 in extra innings. I didn't really get to observe enough to form much of a opinion, but I was impressed with a couple of plays made by the second baseman and third baseman for Columbus. I didn't get the name of the second baseman but the third baseman's name is John Bragg. I was told that he is a 10th grader who is an excellent hitter (more of a doubles hitter than a home run threat). The last Columbus HS pitcher Jason Smith, a lefthanded junior, was impressive in his two inning stint.

My cousin, Christopher Marsh (a 10th grader at Columbus HS), pitched 3 innings against West Point Saturday afternoon in a junior varsity game and struck out 4 batters while allowing 2 runs.

04/09/98 - A Walnut HS football player to watch in the future is sophomore Michael Wilbanks (6-3, 250). Michael, who plays right guard and defensive tackle, was presented the Super Sophomore Award by The Daily Corinthian this past season. Keep an eye on this kid, folks.

04/09/98 - Sophomore pitcher Chris Nichols, of Caledonia HS, is 6-1-1 with an ERA of 0.87. I saw this young man pitch against New Hope HS Saturday night and I can tell you he has a great future if he continues to work hard.

Caledonia HS head baseball coach, Rusty Greene, one of the best coaches in Mississippi HS baseball, will have Caledonia playing for the state championship in a very short time. Caledonia, which had fallen on rough times the past few years, has a rich baseball tradition which Rusty will bring back in a very short period.

04/07/98 - Forgot to mention another player from New Hope HS who is doing well. Josh Buckley is leading New Hope in doubles. From what I have been told, this kid is a really good player.

04/07/98 - Here is an update on Walnut HS pitcher Trave Hopkins. Trave has struck out 46 batters in 25 innings and he is only a sophomore, folks.

04/07/98 - Hope Hammet of Greenville Christian continues to dominate in both the discus and the shot. She's the defending Academy Class AA champion in both events. She's thrown the shot 38 feet and the discus 107. Hope will play softball next year at Henderson (Ark.) State.

04/06/98 - Over the last three games, Pascagoula HS's Casey Gilbert has gone 9 for 12 with 3 home runs, 3 doubles, and 3 singles.

04/06/98 - The word is Mt. Zion Christian, of Durham, N.C. is involved with 6'10 junior Jonathan Bender from Picayune (H.S.) MS. Mt. Zion is considered one of the top prep basketball schools in the country and has a reputation for securing some of the top prep talent in the nation.

If you would like to read more about this, you will need to subscribe to Hoop Scoop.

My opinion is nothing will come of this. It is just a rumor, so far.

04/05/98 - I watched the New Hope HS and Clinton HS baseball game yesterday. New Hope won 8-1. Senior first baseman Justin Hallmark led New Hope with a 3 for 3 game, including a 3-run home run and 4 RBI. He had 6 RBI the night before which gives him 10 for the two games combined. He was batting .412 coming into the game. Other New Hope players with hits were Chris Ball, a double, Brad Montgomery, a single and RBI (his 40th of the year), and catcher Jaron Andrews, who was 2 for 4. A kid to watch next year is Wesley Clay. Wesley, who has great speed, scored 3 runs and had 1 stolen base (12 for the year) as a courtesy runner. Clinton HS hitter Josh Christian had 3 doubles during the game.

Here are some pictures of several more New Hope HS baseball players.

New Hope played Caledonia Saturday night, winning 12 to 5. Althought it appears New Hope made easy work of Caledonia, that is far from the truth. Caledonia was leading New Hope 5 to 2 going into the 6th inning, when New Hope scored 6 runs to go ahead 8 to 5. New Hope first baseman Justin Hallmark, a definite D-I prospect, had 4 more hits, which brings his total to 10 over the last three games, and 2 RBI, his 11th and 12th over the last three games. Justin, starting for the first time this year, played behind Scott Atwood, who is having a tremendous year at a Florida Juco. Other New Hope players with mutiple hits were, Corey Upton with two singles, Jaron Andrews, also with two singles and Shane Bazzell with two singles. Caledonia HS had two players with mutiple hit days, Randy Finch, two singles, and Jeremiah Blackston, also with two singles. Caledonia has a very good pitcher in Chris Nichols. Although Chris is not that big (5-9), he has a good fastball and is only a sophomore. Look for Caledonia (12-5) to be a formidable opponent next year considering how young they are (only one senior).

If you want to read more about New Hope and the games yesterday, click here.

04/04/98 - New Hope defeated Tishomingo County 10-0. The Trojans are now 21-1 and 7-0 in the division. Justin Hallmark went 3 for 4 with six RBI's. Brad Montgomery added a single and a home run and Josh Buckley also had a single and a double. Kevin Long struck out 12 in five innings giving up only three hits, all singles. New Hope hosts Clinton at 11:00 Saturday morning and then plays at Caledonia Saturday night.

04/04/98 - Here is some more Tony Dees Relays, which were held in Pascagoula Thursday:

Moss Point's Francisco Kelly (Ole Miss signee) won two individual and two relay events. He won the 110-meter hurdles (14.66) and 100-meter dash (10.85) and was on the winning 4x200 and 4x100 relay teams. He also was third in the 200-meters.

George County's Christy Fairley won her three individual events and two relays. She won the 100 (12.34), 200 (25.52) and 400 (59.30) and her team won the 4x100 and 4x200. The team left before the 4x400 was run.

Pascagoula's Erin Sims won the girls 800 (2:24) and 1,600 (5:08). She participates regularly at regional and national meets.

04/03/98 - Ethel HS has a player that bears watching next season. Shawn Clark, a 5-11, 170-lb junior running back, runs the 100 yard dash in 10.8 seconds, ran for over 1,300 yards last season and was selected All-District. Good student who is also a great kid, according to my source.

04/03/98 - Horn Lake HS has a couple of good young prospects in freshman Andrew Staten, a 5-9, 175, 4.7, RB/DB, who benches 260 and squats 460 and offensive tackle Chris Walls, a 6-3, 320, sophomore, who benches 300 pounds and squats over 500.

04/02/98 - The Fellowship of Christian Athletes are having their 7th Annual Wild Game Feast, Tuesday, April 7th at the Trotter Convention Center in Columbus, Mississippi. Buffet open 6:30 - 7:15, program is from 7:15 to 8:30. Featured speaker is former Miss State All-American football player and former Dallas Cowboys football player D. D. Lewis. Cost is $50 of which $42 is tax deductible. For ticket info, contact Carol Carpenter at 327-5146 or Kathy at 327-5202 (these are both Columbus, Ms. numbers). This is for a good cause, folks.

04/01/98 - Here is the latest update on Walnut HS athlete Trave Hopkins. Trave, only a sophomore, has struck out 32 batters in 18.2 innings. Early in the season he was clocked at 82 mph by a professional scout. In the last two games he pitched in, he struck out 25 hitters in 13.2 innings. Trave is not only a good pitcher, but a good hitter as well, hitting .451 (14-31) this season.

04/01/98 - Just a little tidbit. Did you know that Pascagoula junior offensive center Hunter Higdon beat senior offensive lineman Sam Forehand (LSU signee) in the South Mississippi weight lifting contest? He beat him by about 50 pounds. Hunter is benching over 400 pounds!

04/01/98 - Ripley High School Baseball (a team to watch in the future) has some very talented young players. Andy Wilbanks, soph SS/P, has really had a great season. He has been clocked in the low 80's, has great control and has pitched really well in his last three starts against Saltillo, Kossuth, and Alcorn Central. He has a 1.80 ERA in 35 innings with 42 K's. He has also had a start against New Hope. He also leads Ripley with a .472 batting average (20-42).Ripley also has four talented freshmen who have started almost every game.