After helping guide the Commodores to the Class 4A North Half title series this season, Lewis said it was tough to leave the players he loves so much.

“I just didn’t see it coming this quickly. I thought I would coach for about four or five more years. I wanted something to fall back on more than anything,” said Lewis, who initially told LHS officials he wasn’t ready to do the job. “I still love coaching baseball but we will be expecting our third child in December. I wanted to spend time with my family also and that had a big role in it. (May 17, 2012, Page 6A)

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Lewis said he informed the team of his decision Wednesday.

In five seasons after taking over for Richy Harrelson, Lewis posted a 92-52 overall record and made the playoffs each season.

For more on Lewis’ decision, see today’s print edition of the EAGLE. (May 17, 2012)

Led by a scorching-fast anchor leg turned in by Mariah Buford, the Lady Commodores punctuated a very successful day on the track with a first-place finish in the relay with a new best-in-class time of 4 minutes, 9.79 seconds. The victory was just one of many reasons why the Lady ‘Dores broke a school in points (78) and finished a clear-cut second for the second straight season.

Pontotoc won the meet with 96.5 points.

Buford, who could barely stand up on the medal podium to collect her gold medal with her teammates following the race, said she was proud for the way finished. (May 15, 2012, Page 6)

In front of a capacity crowd at W.V. Brewer Field, the Commodores seemed to set the tone of the North Half game by plating three runs in the first.

Unfortunately for Lafayette, the Patriots surged back once gain, this time eliminating the Commodores from the postseason with a 6-3 victory.

Despite being swept by  regional rival in Lewisburg in the best-of-three series, the way the Commodores wrapped up their postseason had a bittersweet feel to it. (May 14, 2012, Page 3B)

After jumping out to an early lead at Lewisburg in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 4A North Half series, the Commodores struggled to maintain their early success and the Patriots took advantage.

Thanks to eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings, the Patriots claimed a 9-3 victory in the opening game of the best-of-three series. (May 11, 2012, Page 6A)

After eliminating New Albany in the quarterfinals Monday, the Commodores must now turn right around and begin the best-of-three Class 4A North Half series tonight against Region 2-4A rival Lewisburg.

According to LHS coach Greg Lewis, the Patriots (22-10 overall) are a team that mirrors what the Commodores (19-11) have been doing well recently: Play defense and pitch. (May 10, 2012, Page 7)

Shock from the water replaced Swindoll’s smile, but only temporarily. After all there was more to celebrate after four Commodores won individual MHSAA Class 4A state tennis titles, the most in a season in school history.

Lafayette’s mixed doubles team of Mallory Davis and Barron Pruitt repeated as state champions Tuesday, while the girls doubles team of Ashley Smith and Lauren Cullen won gold medals. For Swindoll, the two victories capped a tremendous season for the Commodores, who advanced to their first 4A North Half title match last week and advanced a total of six players to the state tournament out of a possible 12 spots. (May 9, 2012, Page 6)

They have no power, some said.

How is their defense going to respond against playoff competition, others asked.

The ‘Dores are way too young to contend, most observed aloud.

Three rounds have now come and gone and the Lafayette Commodore baseball team is still alive and driving teams crazy on the base paths.

Monday, the Commodores stamped their ticket to the North Half series with an impressive 6-1 victory at New Albany. (May 8, 2012, Page 6)

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Last week, Amory coach Chad Williams and Lafayette coach Greg Lewis both called the senior ace a “bulldog.”

Monday, LHS pitching coach Ryan Taylor may have summed up Stanley the best.

“He’s a winner. He’s a gamer and he just has the most heart of any kid,” Taylor said. “He says ‘I can beat anybody’ and you’re going to have to prove him wrong.”

Since the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs began on April 20, Stanley is 4-0 with a save in five appearances on the mound.

In those 27 innings against Yazoo County, Amory and New Albany, Stanley has allowed three — THREE! — earned runs while striking out 30.

“Anytime he’s on the mound these kids know they have a chance to win the game because he’s going to do what he’s got to do,” Taylor said.

When New Albany forced a third game in the best-of-three series by winning Saturday, Lewis said he didn’t hesitate in telling Stanley he was going to get the decisive start Monday at New Albany despite the senior having just pitched a complete game Friday.

“I already knew. With him having the day off, unless he came and told me something was hurting, he was going to start,” Lewis said. “We threw him real light at the first of the year to get him to this point and now it’s time to go and see what you got.”

Although Stanley just limited a New Albany team that can flat out rake to a measly three earned runs in 14 innings, the right-hander only flashed a smile twice while on the mound.

Allow a run to score — maybe Stanley will glare at the mitt of catcher Jake McPhail extra-hard after getting set on the mound.

Roll a double play — nothing.

Strike out the side — still nothing.

The only time Stanley allows himself to snap out of character is when the final out is recorded.

It’s that no nonsense demeanor that Stanley, a likable young man off the field, said is just part of his on-the-field persona.

“I just try to get into a zone I guess and don’t try to get out of it or let anybody mess with me,” he said. “I guess not smiling is a part of it.”

Another part of Stanley’s game that his coaches and teammates appreciate is the fact that when he gets into a jam, he’ll likely get himself out of it.

Like Monday, when Stanley filled the bases with one out in the first inning only to turn around and strike out New Albany’s six- and seven-hole hitters to get out of the jam.

“You’re going to have to beat him because he ain’t going to beat himself,” Taylor said. “It ain’t going to happen.”

As is the case with most leaders, Stanley will be the first to say the wins weren’t all about him and that the victories wouldn’t be made possible without the excellence from the players behind him.

Like in the second and third innings when double plays erased Bulldog baserunners.

“Those were big. (Tyler) Mize was doing great standing in there (at second base with runners sliding into him) and getting them out at first,” Stanley said. “I can’t say enough about the defense.”

As it turns out, folks can’t say enough about Stanley, either. (May 8, 2012, Page 6)