With the college baseball season falling victim to the Coronavirus pandemic and Major League Baseball still three weeks away, summer ball has served as a nice snack.The Pine Belt played host to another Wednesday full of games in the Deep South Collegiate League.
It has not been the ideal preseason for any high school football coach. There’s been even more hoops to jump through for first-year head coach Kevin Gandy. Luckily, Gandy has gained some familiarity with his players after 14 years in Waynesboro.
For the first summer since the league was founded in 1901, there will be no Minor League Baseball season.What seemed inevitable became official on Tuesday with President and CEO Pat O’Conner’s announcement.
A new baseball league could be making its way to the Pine Belt.Taylor Duncan’s Alternative Baseball Organization was founded in Atlanta, Georgia as a way to give teens/adults with autism and other disabilities the opportunity to play organized baseball.
Southern Miss baseball moves forward with plans to host the Conference USA Baseball Tournament in 2022 after Mississippi lawmakers pass a bill to remove Confederate symbol from the state flag.
Reports Sunday from ESPN and the Associated Press have former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton agreeing to a 1-year deal with the New England Patriots.
Pearl River Community College sophomore Olivia Mosley became the 5th Wildcat off the 2019-20 team to sign a women's basketball scholarship with a 4-year school.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - A mainstay of Southern Miss baseball for the past five years, Matt Guidry has decided 2020 is his last in a black and gold uniform.The fifth-year senior announced via Twitter on Friday his intentions to hang up his No. 7 jersey...
In an interview with WDAM on Wednesday, McClain talked about USM’s stance on the state flag (which hasn’t been flown on campus since 2015), how university leaders and student-athletes can influence Mississippi lawmakers and what challenges the athletic department faces this fall amid COVID-19.
A sport that has gradually grown in the Pine Belt through the years – soccer will now be featured on a minor league level in Hattiesburg.The Southern States Soccer Club will represent the Hub City in the Gulf Coast Conference of the 94-team National Premier Soccer League.
All it takes is a 20 mile drive along Highway 28 to watch two of Mississippi’s most talented football players. Taylorsville’s Ty Keyes and Magee’s Chandler Pittman are ranked No. 6 and No. 9, respectively, among ESPN’s top Mississippi recruits in the class of 2021.College coaches from all over...
WDAM's Tim Doherty offers a few thoughts and poses a few questions as he separates himself from the crush, hunkering down on the Isle of Isolation during the days of coronavirus.
As the 2020 fall football season approaches, so nears the last go-round for high school seniors.With the absence of spring ball, there’s been a little more urgency at summer workouts around the Pine Belt.Laurel’s Xavier Evans is one of those seniors excited to be back on a football field.
If you build the league, they will come.They came Laurel in droves on Saturday for Opening Day of the Deep South Collegiate League.It’s become a summer sanctuary for many local baseball players who were cheated out of a 2020 season.
West Marion was one of several local schools to begin summer workouts this week.The Trojans returned to campus on Monday, about 35 football players rotating in and out of the weight room in groups of ten.
During a time in which protests and movements are an everyday affair in the United States, Southern Miss came together in its own way on Thursday afternoon.A large group of USM football players, student-athletes and coaches took a walk down Hardy Street in a demonstration of unity.
East Marion hired Brad Hughes in April to take over its football program.He waited nearly two months to finally meet his team. The Eagles returned to the practice field on Thursday for day one of summer workouts.The practice was limited as MHSAA schools go through a 14-day climatization period.
Student-athletes and coaches around the Pine Belt are just beginning to regain a small sense of normalcy with summer workouts underway.While Ryan Earnest returns to a familiar place, he takes on a new endeavor as head coach of his alma mater.
University of Southern Mississippi high jump All-American Eric Richards not only had his final year cut short, but his Olympic aspirations delayed until 2021. But Richards intends to return to Hattiesburg for a "second" senior season.
Alex and Lauren Perren are competitive.“They’d call me on weekends,’” said Oak Grove head softball coach Benji Hornsby. “’Coach can we come to the fieldhouse and hit? Coach, can you pitch to us, can we catch?’" The twins are even competitive about who was born first – Lauren wins that battle.
Anthony Dillon not only coached North Forrest football this school year, but he led the Track and Field team as well.Unfortunately, the Eagles’ season fell victim to the Coronavirus pandemic and so did the senior years of six...
Perry Central baseball is just two years removed from its first region championship.The Bulldogs’ senior class of four leaves the program after just ten games in their final season...
The Jefferson Davis Jaguars are one of many Track and Field teams that weren’t afforded the chance to see their season play out due to the Coronavirus pandemic.Head coach Coleman Price sends off seven seniors...
"I am a big fan of Drew Brees. I think he’s truly one of the greatest quarterbacks, but he should not have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American Flag," President Trump said.
The minute long video called “A message on behalf of the NFL” that was posted to Thomas’ Instagram Thursday night features Odell Beckham Jr., Tyrann Mathieu, Ezekiel Elliot, Patrick Mahomes and many others.
When Christian Ostrander left Jones County Junior College for Louisiana Tech in 2015, Chris Kirtland was called out of the bullpen.The one-time assistant was named the Bobcats’ head coach just two months prior to the 2016 baseball season.
University of Southern Mississippi men's basketball coach Jay Ladner (left) said he understood the thought process behind Conference USA trimming its men's and women's basketball tournaments to eight teams from 12 teams.
“One week ago today, George Floyd was tragically and senselessly murdered. Anger, sadness and protest followed throughout our nation in response to this unjust murder," said Benson.
Karley Nichols has worn many different hats – or should we say gloves – in her 17 years of playing softball.From the pitcher’s mound to the outfield to first base – the sport is truly a love she has nurtured from Brandon to Southern Miss.
The Wildcats were optimistic about the 2020 season, beginning the year 8-4 until the Coronavirus pandemic cut in.Head coach Nick Chatham graduates six seniors from the Greene County program...
The Magee Trojans are just a year removed from the class 3A South State championship and were looking for another great season in 2020.However, their campaign interrupted just nine games in. Head coach Allen Eubanks sends off three seniors...
The MHSAA announced last week teams can restart workouts on June 1st, however after a spike in COVID-19 cases in Wayne County, WCHS officials have decided to push back the date to June 15th.
The MHSAA announced last week that high school teams can finally get back to practice on June 1st with restrictions. Coaches and athletes must follow the safety guidelines in order to do so and workouts will be voluntary.
We were able to witness just a snippet of what Sacred Heart baseball looked like under longtime Petal head coach Larry Watkins.The 42-year coaching veteran with six state championships and 868 wins added nine more victories during the Crusaders’ shortened season.
Half of Heidelberg’s Rob Winpigler’s team had just traded their basketball shoes for baseball cleats a week before the 2020 season ended.The Oilers played just four games when Coronavirus cancelled the rest of the season. Winpigler’s lone senior, Jason Guston, bids adieu to the program.
The University of Southern Mississippi's 2004 run in the Conference USA baseball tournament capped one of the most foundational seasons in program history.
A typical Biloxi weekend in late-march features the echoes of baseballs being hit and fans cheering.Instead of hosting the Conference USA baseball tournament for the fourth straight season, MGM Park sits silent.Not only did Southern Miss hope to defend its C-USA crown this Memorial Day Weekend...
The University of Southern Mississippi's 15 sports programs received a passing grade from the National Collegiate Athletic Association in last week's Academic Progress Report.
Georgetown head coach Patrick Ewing, pictured here in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Seton Hall in Washington earlier this year, said in a statement Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
He played wide receiver and defensive back at Wayne County, went off to college in 2002, returned to Waynesboro in 2007 and has been there ever since.Kevin Gandy enters his 14th season coaching at his alma mater and for the first time will take over as interim head coach.
On the edge of Covington County, Mount Olive baseball was excited for what the 2020 season had in store.Head coach Scooter Prince and company made it just five games into the year (2-2-1) before the Coronavirus pandemic interrupted the Pirates.Six seniors leave the Mount Olive program...
The Mississippi High School Athletic Association announced on Thursday that school athletics and fine arts programs can begin summer practices, workouts, etc. on June 1, pending Governor Tate Reeves’ reopening of school facilities.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced Friday, May 22 that voluntary in-person athletic activities may resume on SEC campuses beginning on June 8, at the discretion of each university.
The pipeline from Wayne County to Southeastern Baptist College continued on Thursday.Devonta Pittman became the fifth War Eagle in two years to sign a basketball scholarship with the Chargers.
