April 12, 2007

In March 2006, the Hinds Community College baseball program was ripped apart.

Players Marc Basye and Drew Carlisle died in a car accident on Interstate 20 east of Vicksburg. The team mourned, but continued their season in their fallen friends’ memory.

It’s also sparked an idea by coach Sam Temple to honor Basye and Carlisle. On Tuesday at Joe Moss Field on the Raymond campus of Hinds Community College, the dugouts at the newly refurbished stadium will be named for Basye and Carlisle. A plaque honoring each player will adorn the back wall of the dugout.

Hinds, after struggling last season, is currently in second place in the state junior college standings behind Meridian. The two are scheduled to play a doubleheader in Raymond on Saturday. Six former Warren County high school players are currently on the Eagles’ roster.

That big game will lead to what’s sure to be an emotional gathering between games on Tuesday. School officials are expecting the ceremony to start at approximately 6 p.m.

LSU’s home run

If Van Chancellor is known for one thing, it’s winning. The same could be said recently of the LSU women’s basketball program.

A conisistent participant late into the NCAA Tournament, the Lady Tigers reached the Final Four again this year under the most difficult of circumstances.

Coach Pokey Chapman unexpectedly resigned late in the season after it was learned that she had a relationship with a former player. Bob Starkey coached the team throughout the tournament, but said after the Final Four loss that he wanted to stay as an assiatant.

Chancellor said Wednesday he wanted to keep Starkey on his staff as an assistant. But that still leaves a couple assistant coaching positions available.

Could Warren Central’s Donny Fuller be in the running? He is a former Chancellor assistant at Ole Miss and the two have a close relationship to this day. Fuller also has enough years in Mississippi to collect retirement.

Then again, he does have an exciting group of rising juniors including standout point guard Karnina Bunch and two-time Vicksburg Post Player of the Year Sha’Kayla Caples.

Tick, tick tick

It may be a little premature to start talking football, but spring practice at both Warren Central and Vicksburg will soon begin. This spring brings with it an extra taste of fervor looking at the first matchups of the year.

South Panola, the four-time defending state champions and winners of 60 straight games, and a powerful Clarksdale team will be coming to the River City in what is shaping up as the most anticipated Red Carpet Bowl in recent memory.

Asked about how the atmosphere would compare to the famous 1970 matchup at Memorial Stadium between St. Augustine of New Orleans and Temple High, Vicksburg High coach Alonzo Stevens said, &#8220bigger. They get two games now.”