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Foster's lessons will stay with us

I didn’t know Don Foster well. There were plenty of times in my first year as sports editor I saw Don at high school or college events. We never did get too chatty with each other, but we did say hello and then went about our jobs in our own ways. But now that Foster, who died Monday at his home in West Point, is gone, I will remember one event we covered more than any other.

Heritage Academy gets face-lift

Heritage Academy has a new face that lights up the night. The private, independent school in Columbus is putting the finishing touches on a $250,000 construction project that has added more than 3,000 square feet to the school’s gymnasium.

Dodgers select MSU's Powers

The easy part was the wait for Mississippi State junior first baseball Conner Powers. Now comes the decision. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Powers in the 11th round Wednesday in the Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.

MSU confident about signing Sidney

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s men’s basketball program wasn’t afraid about going after McDonald’s All-American Renardo Sidney as it appeared other schools were. Despite an on-going process concerning Sidney’s eligibility, Mississippi State officials believe signing him was the right thing to do and are confident he will be on the court in the near future. Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury insists recruiting Sidney was in the best interest of the program and the player.

Work pays off for MSU track star Mayers

STARKVILLE — Emanuel Mayers invested the time in the fall. The hours training spent in September and October blended into more hours on the track in December and January. The goal was to build a base that could help him reach the highest level of Division I track and field. Mayers realized that goal May 29-30 at the Mideast Regional Championships, and today he plans to begin to build on that success.

Columbus chooses Esquivel as soccer coach

Javier Esquivel and A.J. Foster want to build something. As veteran soccer players and coaches, Esquivel and Foster understand boys and girls can’t become world-class players with the snap of two fingers. But the new Columbus High School boys soccer coaches want players, parents, and fans to know they plan to put a process in place that will help the Falcons learn how to play the game and to develop into better players.

Rye promoted to director of Starkville Parks and Recreation

STARKVILLE — The love of Starkville led Matthew Rye through an open door at the Starkville Parks and Recreation department in 2005. After four years with the department, Rye gets the opportunity to lead. Rye assumed the position as parks and recreation director June 1 after Clark Roman retired.

Mississippi Shockwave Aquatics team wins invitational

Rachel Dees, Cheng Ye, and Rick Deaton combined to win 21 first places May 23-24 to lead the Mississippi Shockwave Aquatics team to the overall title at the Tunica Summer Invitational in Tunica. Dees, who competed in the girls 13- to 14-year-old age group, won eight events, while Ye won seven events in the boys 11-12 division and Deaton took six first in the boys 13-14 bracket.

East Webster names Ferguson, Williamson to replace Brand

The East Webster High School softball program didn’t have to look far to find a replacement for coach Bill Brand. Former East Webster High fast-pitch softball coach Dallas Ferguson and assistant football and fast-pitch softball coach Ken Williamson were recently named to replace Brand as the school’s slow-pitch and fast-pitch coaches.

Fedora, Eagles come to town

The Southern Mississippi football program already has made an impression on Rickey Knox. Wednesday afternoon was an opportunity for Knox and more than 70 other football players from the region to get to know the Golden Eagles’ coaches and program even better. Coach Larry Fedora and members of his coaching staff worked out players from Lowndes County, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee for more than two hours Wednesday at Columbus High School.

Caledonia's Aldridge to play in all-star game

Tyler Aldridge is on the road back to 100 percent. Even though arm problems prevented the Caledonia High School baseball standout from having an ideal senior season, Aldridge still was recognized as one of the area’s top players. On Saturday, Aldridge will take the field one more time as a high schooler when he and six other area players participate in the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Crossroads Diamond Club All-Star games at Trustmark Park in Pearl.

EMCC's Donald signs basketball scholarship with Mississippi Valley

Darian Donald knew he was soft. A season of getting tossed from side to side on the blocks can convince even the most talented basketball player he needs to make a change. So the former Caledonia High School standout went to work immediately following his freshman season with the East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball team. The work Donald did and the season he had as a sophomore transformed him into a different player.

Fighters gain confidence after earning victories

Jake Reeves, Bobby Merryman, and Sarah Pevey can’t wait until July 10. The confidence the three athletes gained Friday at the Chaos in Columbus Mixed Martial Arts event at the Trotter Convention Center should serve each competitor well next month when they take the next steps in their amateur careers. Fighting for Relentless MMA, Reeves (2-0) earned a first-round submission victory against Lee Franklin, of Jackson. He used a rear-naked choke hold to end the fight in 58 seconds.

MSU's Jones fine-tuning skills in summer league

STARKVILLE –– Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen is excited about the future of pitcher Devin Jones. Jones, who played at Eupora High School in Webster County, is spending his summer fine-tuning his skills in the New England Collegiate Baseball League in Danbury, Conn.. He is one of 12 Mississippi State Bulldogs that has been assigned to a college summer league by Cohen and his staff. A broken hand kept Jones off the mound during much of the past season, but he started in the last two Southeastern Conference series against Ole Miss and LSU.

SEC presidents seek even field for all schools

STARKVILLE -- One of the main points of emphasis at the Southeastern Conference Meetings in Destin, Fla., this past week pertained to football recruiting and the desire for a more even playing field for all 12 schools. The SEC presidents took an action that will move toward that goal. Beginning with next year’s signing class, SEC programs can only sign a total of 28 players. The coaches wanted the cap at 30, but the presidents got their way at 28.

Thebauld helps Starkville Academy sweep Starkville

STARKVILLE -- Ben Thebaud, of the Starkville Academy Dizzy Dean baseball team, uses his speed and athletic ability to his advantage. As a wide receiver and defensive back in football at Starkville Academy, Thebaud has been known to make something positive happen for the Volunteers. It was his play on the baseball field that helped Starkville Academy come from behind and defeat Starkville High School 13-10 in a four-inning second game of a Dizzy Dean High School doubleheader Monday night. The Volunteers earned a sweep by also beating the Yellow Jackets 10-4 in the opener.

Hunter to coach Golden Triangle Jets in inaugural season

Jeff Hunter doesn’t aspire to be a professional baseball coach. The former New Hope High School and Mississippi State pitcher also is hesitant to become a high school baseball coach. But Hunter’s love for the game couldn’t keep him away from the Cotton States Baseball League. On Tuesday, Hunter will take the field as coach for the Golden Triangle Jets when the team plays its first two games of the Cotton States Baseball League - North Division’s inaugural season.

Coaches invest time in summer to develop programs

Players aren’t the only ones who are tested in the spring and summer months. While parents have to shuttle their children to and from games, coaches are the ones who are on site hours before games preparing the field and hours after games cleaning up and getting things ready for the next day. Columbus High School baseball coach Jeff Cook and New Hope High assistant baseball coach Chris Ball are two area coaches who will play a variety of roles in the next few months on the diamond.

Byrne impressed with how Mullen showed his class

Greg Byrne is becoming more confident that Dan Mullen is the right man to be Mississippi State’s head football coach Each time Byrne, Mississippi State’s athletic director, sees Mullen in a public setting or at an official gathering, he’s impressed with the way the coach handles the situation. After spending time together last week at the Southeastern Conference Spring Meetings in Destin, Fla., Byrne felt the need to pin another rose on Mullen.

SEC seeks even recruiting field

Mississippi State and Ole Miss don’t play Southern Miss in football each fall. The battles between those schools are waged in the offseason when it comes to recruiting the state’s best talent. That’s why any perceived advantage for one of the other football programs can be an issue. At the Southeastern Conference spring meetings in Destin, Fla., this week, discussion has included a proposal to change an SEC regulation that restricts assistant football coaches from attending coaching clinics in their home states unless the coach is a speaker.

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