Online Edition
Monday, May 20, 2013
Robison’s return to LHS makes impact on team
The final chapter in Stormy Robison’s prep softball career has turned out to be another stepping stone for the ever improving Lafayette Lady Commodore softball program.
After spending two seasons at South Panola, Robison returned to LHS this past season to finish out her stellar career at the place she has always felt very comfortable at.
While Robison wasn’t ultimately able to push LHS to even greater heights in the Class 4A playoffs, her leadership qualities and strong work ethic definitely made an impression on a young LHS team that is expected to be strong over the next few years.
Robison said she really enjoyed her time with her teammates this year and added that she never felt any pressure from them to help them win a state title like she helped the Lady Tigers do in 2008. (June 24, 2010, Page 1B)
Johnson’s passion propels him to Player of the Year award
When the 2011 baseball season gets underway next spring, it won’t be surprising if Water Valley Blue Devils head coach Doug Robbins has to make two lineup cards at the season opener. While standout shortstop/pitcher Josh Johnson will be in Senatobia playing for the Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers, having his name in the lineup won’t be easy thing for Robbins to erase.
Johnson has been a regular in the Blue Devils’ starting nine since he was in middle school and the impact he’s made in the program, starting with the 2006 season, has been huge. (June 23, 2010, Page 1B)
LHS earns first All-Sports Award
Six years of hard work and steady building of the athletic program through the hiring of good coaches who developed athletes in the proper manner have paid off for Lafayette High School.
Lafayette won its first Mississippi High School Activities Association All-Sports Award Sunday. The award is given annually in recognition for an outstanding and balanced sports program. LHS garnered 305 points to capture the Class 4A crown, 15 points more than second-place finisher Pontotoc. Points are awarded for teams that make the MHSAA playoffs, while teams that win championships earn 30 total points. Lafayette’s boys powerlifters totaled 30 points thanks to its state title earlier this year. Teams that finished in second place, such as the football and girls basketball teams, each totaled 24 points. Lafayette made the playoffs in every sport but boys basketball and boys soccer this past season with volleyball, football, girls basketball, girls soccer, both powerlifting teams, both cross country teams, bowling and both track teams competing for team or individual titles in Jackson at various MHSAA state championship events. (June 22, 2010, Page 6)
Three area players headed to all-star game
Lafyette’s Josh Mills and Jarrett Patton will join Oxford’s Luke Gibbs on this year’s District 2 All-Star team that will compete in the annual State Games of Mississippi next week.
The three area players were selected to join 15 other players from the Northwest Mississippi area after having a successful tryout on June 2 at NWCC.
The team will be coached by Olive Branch’s Chris Chambliss, while the annual tournament begins Thursday and runs through June 27 at Meridian Community College.
Joining Mills, Patton and Gibbs on this year’s team include: Mitchel Babb (South Panola), Lee Selfs (South Panola), Bobby Epps (South Panola), Garrett Blaylock (DeSoto Central), Mitchell Flowers (DeSoto Central), Cody Carson (Independence), Chase Clark (Bruce), Jay King (Bruce), Austin Gregory (Ingomar), Drew Milligan (DeSoto Central), Jared Thompson (DeSoto Central), Nick Reeves (Olive Branch), Nathan Vannortwick (Olive Branch), Cody Reed (Horn Lake). (June 18, 2010, Page 7A)
Finding the barrel imperative for hitters
Hall of Famer Ted Williams was once quoted as saying, “the hardest thing to do in baseball is to hit a round baseball with a round bat, squarely.”
Players in the Cotton States Baseball League, a wood bat summer league based out of New Albany, are finding that out the hard way this summer.
Used to the enormous sweet spot on aluminum bats used in the high school and college ranks, players are having to adjust in a major way. (June 14, 2010, Page 6)
Former LHS standout drafted by Rays
The dream of playing professional baseball has become a reality again for former Lafayette High School standout Justin Woodall.
Four years after being selected by the New York Mets in the 19th round of the Major League Baseball Draft, Woodall was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday evening. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Woodall, who just finished playing football at the University of Alabama, was taken 791st overall in the 26th round by the Rays. (June 9, 2010, Page 7)
Former LHS football coach, teacher remembered for his generosity
One of Lafayette High School’s original coaches and arguably the school’s most generous, caring and dedicated district employee passed away Friday morning at the age of 68. (June 1, 2010, Page 1B)
One less golden handshake to give
As you get older, your circle of friends becomes smaller for different reasons. Some reasons might include death, distance, or disappointment because maybe they weren’t worthy of being there in the first place. (June 1, 2010, Page 1B)
Lafayette’s McCullough now a NWCC Ranger
Lafayette High baseball standout Luke McCullough impressed the Northwest Mississippi Community College coaches enough this season and at a tryout to earn a spot on the Rangers’ team for next season. (May 27, 2010, Page 7)
LHS baseball camp June 1-4
The Lafayette Commodores will be hosting a camp for area youth June 1-4 at W.V. Brewer Field. The camp will run daily from 8 a.m. to noon and is available for children in grades 1-8. Lafayette will also be hosting a benefit golf tournament June 11 at The Country Club of Oxford. Cost to enter the tournament is $80 per person or $320 for a team. The tournament will start at 8:30 a.m.
For more information on either the camp or the tournament, contact LHS baseball coach Greg Lewis at 232-2757. (May 20, 2010, Page 7)
