In Today’s Journal

UPDATE: East Webster downed Ingomar 4-0. So we’ve got three NeMiss teams down a game, including Tupelo, which will start Game 2 with Ocean Springs in a few.

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UPDATE: Richton beat Mooreville 8-3 in the 3A opener. In the 1A game, East Webster leads Ingomar 3-0 in the third inning.

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We had a nice mix of stories in today’s Journal. In the baseball finals, Tupelo lost to Ocean Springs in nine innings. Game 2 is 7 p.m. today. I was out at the Tupelo-Itawamba AHS scrimmage, which was very entertaining. And I had a story on the six-class system and how it’s been divided; plus, a brief on fewer games (more on that story next week).

Today’s question: Do you like the way the six classes will be divided?

And stay tuned. As I hear from my boys in Pearl, I’ll try to pass along scores. Mooreville is playing Sumrall right now, with Hamilton and Richton up next. As I said, Tupelo’s tonight.

Spring Football: Tupelo vs. IAHS

It was a nice change of pace to watch some football. In the mud, no less, between two of the area’s best teams. Tupelo beat Itawamba AHS 24-20.

The starters stayed in for both teams for four quarters. Tupelo led 16-0 at halftime, but IAHS got going offensively in the second half. Deshaun McGaughy had a 49-yard touchdown run, and Asian Ruff ripped off a 95-yard kickoff return for TD.

Tupelo QB Chris Garrett was on target, especially the first half. He hit Justin Bean for a 61-yard scoring pass down the right sideline, and then he lobbed a perfect 24-yarder to Chad Bumphis. Two IAHS defenders were converging, but the ball found Bumphis just inside the left front pylon.

Garrett finished 13-for-21 for 210 yards, two TDs, two picks. Bumphis had 36 receiving yards and 58 rushing yards. For IAHS, McGaughy rushed for 120 yards. Here’s the scoring summary:

First Quarter
Tup–Justin Bean 61 pass from Chris Garrett (Chris Donald run), 3:04
Second Quarter
Tup–Chad Bumphis 24 pass from Garrett (Garrett run), 2:03
Third Quarter
Ita–Deshaun McGaughy 6 run (Maikhail Miller run), 8:24
Fourth Quarter
Tup–Parker Ball 26 run (Garrett run), 5:21
Ita–Asian Ruff 95 kickoff return (pass failed), 5:06
Ita–McGaughy 49 run (kick blocked), 2:05

Baseball: It’s On

Just received word from the MHSAA that today’s state championship series will begin as scheduled. It’s stopped raining in Pearl, and the forecast isn’t calling for any more.

Tupelo and Ocean Springs open play at 4 p.m. in Class 5A action, then Vicksburg and East Central tangle at 7 in 4A. Gene Phelps is on his way for the Tupelo game. By the way, I won’t be down there until Monday – my daughters have their big dance recital this weekend - but Gene and Brandon Speck are on top of things.

Here’s what we had about the championships in today’s Journal:

• A call for arms

• Preview capsules

And here is my column on the MHSAA’s six-class move.

Spring Games: Updated

Thursday and Friday feature a lot of spring jamborees and scrimmages. I’ve got an updated list here, though it’s still incomplete. Weather permittin’, I will be at Thursday’s Tupelo-Itawamba AHS scrimmage at ICC. Pretty good chance those will be our top large schools in the preseason rankings.

Thursday
at Biggersville
Booneville, Independence at New Albany
Tupelo at Itawamba AHS, 6 p.m.
at Kossuth
South Pontotoc, Nettleton at Vardaman, 5:30 p.m.
Oxford at Southaven
Noxubee Co. at Starkville

Friday
Bruce at Calhoun City, 7 p.m.
Mantachie, Smithville at Mooreville
New Hope vs. Shannon, Amory vs. Pontotoc, at Pontotoc
South Panola at Lafayette Co.
Houston at Okolona, 6 p.m.
Jumpertown, Wheeler at Thrasher
Caledonia at Aberdeen, 7 p.m.
Pearl at West Point, 6:30 p.m.

Six Classes: More Than Enough?

As you might have read in today’s Journal, the MHSAA has approved a plan to add a sixth classification, probably beginning with the 2009-10 school year. I’m not sure I like it, but I’ll flesh out my thoughts this morning and write a column for tomorrow’s paper. Good work by Gene Phelps.

Right now, 5A is composed of the 32 largest schools (by enrollment). Our source has told us that will not change in the 6A setup, but I’ve seen speculation over the past few months that if this did happen, then 6A would get 40 schools. We should know the answer to that question Friday, when the MHSAA makes its official announcement.

Hopefully, we’ll be in the second day of the MHSAA Baseball State Championships at that point, weather permitting. It all starts tomorrow with Tupelo taking on Ocean Springs at 4 p.m. We’ll take a look at each series in Thursday’s Journal.

Today’s question: Is expanding to six classes a good idea? Why or why not?

State Finals Set

The MHSAA Baseball State Championships are set after Ingomar’s win over Calhoun City last night. We’ve got five area teams making the trip to Pearl. You can find the schedule in the post below; it was changed from the original set-up, and I bet it’ll get changed again by the weather.

We’ll have full preview coverage starting Thursday. I’m finally over my strep throat, thank goodness. More later.

Baseball Finals: Schedule Overhaul

The MHSAA has made major changes to the baseball state championships schedule, due to some of the participating schools having graduation ceremonies this weekend. So here is what it looks like now.
Thursday’s Games
4 p.m. – 5A: Tupelo vs. Ocean Springs
7 p.m. – 4A: Vicksburg vs. East Central

Friday’s Games
1 p.m. – 3A: Mooreville vs. Sumrall
4 p.m. – 1A: East Webster vs. Ingomar
7 p.m. – 5A: Tupelo vs. Ocean Springs

Saturday’s Games
1 p.m. – 2A: Hamilton vs. Richton
4 p.m. – 4A: Vicksburg vs. East Central
7 p.m. – 1A: East Webster vs. Ingomar

Monday’s Games
4 p.m. – 2A: Hamilton vs. Richton
7 p.m. – 3A: Mooreville vs. Sumrall

Big Saturday

We’ve already got two NeMiss teams – Hamilton and Mooreville – with tickets to Pearl punched. We could have up to four do so today, and our region could have a representative in each classification at the state championships. That’d be sweet.

To recap, Tupelo plays Clinton at 5 p.m. at Meridian CC; Tishomingo Co. hosts Vicksburg; Ingomar visits Calhoun City (Game 2, Ingomar up 1-0), and East Webster battles Cathedral at Canton Academy. Now, here’s what we had in today’s Journal.

• Stratton, Wave force Game 3

• Trooper triumph

• Lions punch another ticket to Pearl

• Roundup: East Webster, Ingomar, Tishomingo Co. win

• Track: Williams sets mark in 100

Baseball Playoffs Update

Here’s how the playoff picture for NeMiss teams looks after tonight. I didn’t get out and cover anything thanks to strep throat. Maybe I’ll be good by tomorrow.

5A: Tupelo-Clinton tied 1-1, 7 p.m. Saturday at Meridian CC
4A: Vicksburg-Tishomingo Co. tied 1-1, 2 p.m. Saturday at Tishomingo Co.
3A: Mooreville sweeps
2A: Hamilton sweeps
1A North: Ingomar at Calhoun City, 7 p.m. Saturday (Game 2)
1A South: East Webster-Cathedral tied 1-1, 1 p.m. Saturday at Canton Aca.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

UPDATE: The 4A golf will start around 12:45 p.m., and they will play all 18 holes.

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UPDATE: The 5A golf at Tupelo Country Club will start at 1 p.m. They will play only nine holes, though, which should make it easier for Tupelo to hold that 8-stroke lead. The 4A at Natchez Trace is still undecided, though they were hoping for a 1:30 start.

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Looks like most of tonight’s scheduled baseball games will get played, simply because most of our teams are on the road, out of the storms’ path. One game has been postponed: Calhoun City at Ingomar. Game 1 is now set for 7 p.m. Friday at Ingomar; Game 2 at 7 p.m. Saturday at Calhoun City; Game 3 at 7 p.m. Monday (site TBD).

They’re still hoping to get in the Class 4A and 5A golf today. I’ll know for sure soon.

Tupelo is at Clinton tonight in baseball. If a Game 3 is necessary, it will be played Saturday at Meridian CC. They were originally hoping to use MSU’s Dudy Noble Field.

Congrats to all our teams that won state titles yesterday in tennis and golf. I’d link you the stories, but we’re having Web site issues.