Sports

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

Monday night North Half State Champion Rosedale will face a familiar foe for the right to play in the 2A state title game.

Region rival Coahoma County.

“We know them and they know us,” Eagles coach Willie Thomas said. “We just have to go out and play our game.”

This will be the fourth match up between the two schools, the most recent being in the district championship game where Coahoma won 50-46.

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

When I first came into this business of sports writing, I made a few goals for myself.

These are in no particular order and I’ll leave out the dreams of working for Sports Illustrated.

First, to actually have people think my writing is somewhat good (check).

Second, actually think my own writing is good (uncheck).

Third, get my own column (check).

Fourth, get a picture of myself that I actually like, somewhat (it should be somewhere in this column).

Fourth, ask a question that catches a coach off guard (check).

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

At the beginning of the season, Delta State was ranked No.12 and picked to win the Gulf South Conference for the second year in a row.

Now they are unranked and sitting at 6-8 on the year.

Not quite how Statesmen coach Mike Kinnison envisioned the season starting.

“We are not where we want to be right now,” Kinnison said. “It has been a combination of different elements. We’ve haven’t hit the ball like I thought we would have and our defense has let us down at times.

“Our schedule has been tough, but that isn’t an excuse.”

The Statesmen have lost their eight games by a combined 29-55 and in five of their losses they have been out hit by their opponents.

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

PENSACOLA, Fla. - With inclement weather on the horizon, Delta State (11-4) and West Florida (9-2) were able to get one game in of the scheduled double-header Saturday afternoon.

West Florida would go on to win 6-2.

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

FLOWOOD –While the weather outside was depressing Saturday afternoon, that same feeling was felt in the Bayou Academy girls’ locker room after they lost the state championship to Riverdale Academy 48-35.

“They beat us,” Bayou coach Mike Johnson said. “We played like it was a big game and we were nervous.”

The Lady Colts were never able to set up their offense as Riverdale took advantage of the nearly 20 free throws given to them by Bayou.

“We couldn’t keep them off the free throw line,” Johnson said. “They played a very physical game.”

Bayou found itself down early in the first quarter, with Riverdale leading 16-4.

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

Every Cleveland High softball player has a grey sweatshirt that says, “It’s not bragging if you can back it up” on the back of it.

Friday night the Lady Wildcats backed up their bragging rights with a 15-3 victory over district opponent Central Hill.

But Cleveland coach David Price wasn’t happy with the performance.

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

CORINTH - No matter what the outcome of Saturday night’s north half championship game is East Side will be in the overall state tournament.

“This is wonderful,” East Side coach Leroy Cotton said. “This is a huge win for us. We are ecstatic to be where we are right now.”

The Trojans (22-10) claimed their spot in the overall state tournament Friday night with a 64-53 overtime win over Tunica Rosa Fort.

Should East Side defeat Corinth Saturday night, they will earn a first-round bye and will play again March 2 at 8 p.m. That game did not finish prior to The CNL press time.

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

UPDATE:Rosedale wins north half state title 67-48 victory
CLARKSDALE - Last year it was the Rosedale football team that claimed the spotlight as they won a state championship.

This year, it’s all about the boys’ basketball team as they claimed their spot in the overall state tournament.

“Anytime you qualify for Jackson is big,” Rosedale coach Willie Thomas said. “We are excited to be where we are at.”

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

After a tough 9-1 loss Friday afternoon to the Florida Southern Moccasins, Delta State fought through the cold and wet conditions to pull out a 4-3 win Saturday afternoon in 10 innings of play.

The Statesmen fought for the first three runs of the game, but the fourth came on a wild throw by Colin Kaline that allowed Clay Sartain to come across home plate for the game-winning run.

By Taylor Mitchell
The CNL

Playing baseball in the cold is never fun.

But when you lose 15-2, like Cleveland High did Friday night against Grenada, it gets even colder and less fun.

“Anytime you get 10 runs put on you, I would consider it a tough loss,” CHS coach Steve Wies said. “That’s two in a row for us.”

Grenada was able to capitalize on several errors by the Wildcat defense, including several dropped pop-ups.

“As a former ball player it is a little difficult to watch those,” Wies said. “As a coach, and as teammates, you just have to trust the players you got.”