Sports / Outdoors – 3/4/2003

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 4, 2003

Panolian Sports Headlines: March 4, 2003

For complete stories,
pick up the 3/4/03  issue of The Panolian

Tigers Open Season With Shutout
Tyler Brewer Pitches No-Hitter, Strikes Out 9

The South Panola Baseball team opened the season with a second place finish in the annual Wes Smythe Classic, Saturday, March 1. The Tigers host the classic each year. Participating in this year’s classic were South Panola, Lafayette, Senatobia and Oxford. Oxford won the classic with a 2-0 record and defeated South Panola 13-2 for the first place trophy. South Panola defeated Lafayette Friday night 10-0 to play in the championship round.
 

BY MYRA BEAN
SPORTS EDITO
R

BATESVILLE – Tyler Brewer pitched a no-hitter shutout of Lafayette in the South Panola Tiger’s baseball season opener against Lafayette Friday, Feb. 28.

The Tigers hosted the annual Wes Smythe Classic featuring two other teams in addition to the Tigers and Lafayette: Senatobia and Oxford.

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Oxford took the championship game 13-2 Saturday, March 1, from South Panola. Senatobia defeated Lafayette for third place also Saturday afternoon.

Friday night was a night to remember for the Tigers and Brewer. In addition to the five inning 10-0 shutout, he hit a grand slam in the first inning and struck out nine players. Four walks marred his road to a perfect game.

Also hitting doubles for the Tigers were Bradley Striplin, Eric Neth and Luke Kiihnl.

Against Oxford was another story for the Tiger team. Oxford took a 3-0 lead on a two-run homer in the first inning. The Tigers scored one run in the first, but kept seeing Oxford pile on score after score throughout the game.

Ryan Willis was the starting pitcher for the Oxford game. Three more pitchers were on the mound before the game was over, Jameson Rodgers, Cole Flint and Kyle Crofford. Willis had three strikeouts and Crofford had two strikeouts.

Walter Pang and Ryan Willis had one hit each for the Tigers.

Columbus came to town for an evening game. The Tigers fell 16-7. Walt Love was on the mound for the Tigers.
 


Largemouth Bass Virus Still a Factor
LMBV May Never Go Away, Researchers Say
JACKSON – The virus that first infected so many largemouth bass in waters across Mississippi several years ago is still out there and remains a factor to be reckoned with by biologists and anglers, according to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

Known as the Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV), the disease was first encountered in 1998 when it was linked to a fish kill on Sardis Lake northwest of Oxford.

Much is yet to be learned about this strange virus, Biologist and State Fisheries Coordinator Bubba Hubbard explained, but trends have shown that LMBV doesn’t mean the end to good fishing once a body of water becomes infected.

"If there is some good news to report, it is that some waters such as the Pascagoula marsh, along with Sardis, Enid, and Columbus Lakes, showed very low levels of LMBV in 2002, about three years after a peak infection," Hubbard said.

Bass populations can recover from the disease, officials say. They caution, however, this doesn’t mean the virus is gone from a lake.
 
 

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Mr. Bojangles is about to sit down hard on J.D. McKay "The Outlaw" at the All Pro Wrestling match Friday, Feb. 28.

All Pro Wrestling returns Friday, March 7, with an expected appearance by Robert Gibson of the Rock and Roll Express. Bell time is 7:30 p.m. at the Batesville National Guard Armory.
 


ND To Open Season
BY MYRA BEAN
SPORTS EDITO
R

BATESVILLE – The North Delta Green Wave will get its baseball season started this week.

The Green Wave will host the season opener against Delta Academy Thursday, March 6 at 5 p.m.

Rick Johnston returns to the head coaching position for the baseball team. Assistant coaches include Ronald McMinn, who has 30 plus years of coaching experience and Nathan Bowden, who played on the minor league New York Yankee team, the Staten Island Yankees.

"I am very thrilled to have them helping me," Johnston said.

The Green Wave will field a young team. According to Johnston, he will have to start five or six freshmen.

"We are real young, but that speaks well for the future," Johnston said. "I am a competitor and anxious to see what we have."

Johnston said the team has only had three outside practices on the field due to the bad weather the last few weeks.

"But I haven’t heard a compliant from any player," he said. "Their attitudes are great. The kids work hard."

On the mound for the Green Wave will be left-handed pitcher Cody Hallmark.

"Hallmark has a live arm," Johnston said. "He is looking good throwing."

Expected to back up Hallmark is Hank Spragins, who will start at shortstop.

"Hank is a tremendous athlete," Johnston said. "He has the most playing experience of all the returnees. I am looking for leadership from him.

"Hank does a tremendous job," Johnston continued. "We will put a lot on his plate and I am expecting him to step up."

Other pitchers include Hal West, Pittman Harrison and Cole Fowler. Also returning from last year’s team is Robert Dunlap.
 



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