youth swimming

Shockwave beats top rival

for short-course state title

n The Shockwave Aquatic Team picked up another state championship over the weekend, beating their rivals, the Jackson-based Mississippi Makos, for the short-course title at Oxford.

Head coach Lucas Smith said it was the 13th state title for the team, which is based in Tupelo.

The Shockwave had five high-point individuals and set two state relay records, compiling 5,455.50 points to 5,318 for the runner-up Makos, the 2008 short-course state champs.

The team's high-point winners: Cris Roberts (11-12 girls), Lacey Russell (13-14 girls), Rick Deaton (13-14 boys), Hannah Wilson (senior girls) and Robert Fisher (senior boys).

Deaton, in his final short-course meet, won three events.

SPRING SPORTS

Ole Miss softball gets

victory, then rainout

n OXFORD - Ole Miss softball used one big inning to defeat North Florida 7-4 in a rain-soaked opener of he Red amp& Blue Classic.

The Rebels' game against USC-Upstate was suspended with the game tied 1-1 in the first inning. The game is scheduled to be completed at 9 a.m. today, weather permitting.

In the seven-run fourth inning, Lauren Grill hit a gland slam to highlight the effort, overcoming a 1-0 North Florida lead.

Becky Nye (7-4) pitched a complete game, striking out six and allowing two hits. Two of the runs scored in the seventh as both teams battled through the adverse weather.

One Classic game was rained out. Tournament officials were to adjust the Classic's schedule today. Ole Miss (10-6) was also scheduled to play Mississippi Valley State and Tulsa later this afternoon.

n COLUMBUS, Ga. - No. 25 Mississippi State lost the first game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic before the rains hit the western Georgia City.

The Lady Bulldogs (11-3) lost 7-0 to No. 20 Ohio State (13-3). Sam Marder it two home runs and drove in four runs for the Buckeyes, giving Lindsey Dunlap her first collegiate loss. Kim Reeder struck out 10, holding MSU to five hits.

Mississippi State's game with Long Island later Friday was cancelled because of rain, as was half of the day's schedule. MSU is scheduled to play No. 17 Massachusetts and Hofstra today at the Leadoff Classic. The 21-team event is being played at the site of the 1996 Olympic softball competition.

n WACO, Texas - One loss away from losing Friday's Top 10 battle, No. 10 Baylor (8-3) won the last two matches to defeat No. 9 Ole Miss 4-3.

The Rebels (7-2) grabbed a 3-2 lead after Devin Britton' s win at No. 2 singles. But Baylor won a three-set match to win No. 5 singles, then won a second-set tiebreaker at No. 1 singles to clinch the match.

Ole Miss opens a three-match homestand Tuesday vs. Memphis, then opens SEC play March 6 vs. No. 2 Georgia and the next day to No. 8 Tennessee.

Rain washes out

several baseball games

n Friday's rainfall caused the postponement of several area high school baseball games.

On Friday, Amory was to play at Itawamba AHS and Mooreville was to play at South Pontotoc. The Amory-Itawamba AHS makeup date has yet to be determined, while the Mooreville-South Pontotoc matchup will be made up on March 30.

Today's South Pontotoc-West Point game in West Point was still on as of this morning. Depending on field conditions, that game could be postponed as well.

Today's 1 p.m. Tupelo-Corinth game in Corinth had not been postponed as of Friday afternoon. Tupelo also was to play Itawamba tonight, but that game has already been rescheduled for March 14.

The playing of today's Houston-Saltillo game will be decided around 9:30 this morning. If the game is played, the original 1 p.m. start time could be pushed back. Tonight's Baldwyn-Saltillo game, however, has been postponed with a makeup date yet to be determined.

The Prentiss County tournament scheduled for Friday and today at New Site was rescheduled for March 20.

Coaches are to call the Daily Journal (678-1601) of any postponements.

Daily Journal reports