2014 – big year in local sports

Local athletes, coaches, parents and sports fans in general can look back on 2014 as another banner year in terms of on-the-field results.

Copiah Academy produced another state title in fastpitch softball – the school’s fourth in a row and fifth overall – in late September.  The Lady Colonels, who ran their record to 27-0 to start the season, flirted with perfection for several weeks.   A few late season losses did not dampen an otherwise workman-like effort from the girls on the team, nor its coaches, Terry Bauer and Kevin Roos. 

Even a loss in the later rounds of the AAA state tournament couldn’t hold the Lady Colonels down.  As Bauer said later, the girls on the team–most of whom have played together for 5 or 6 years–responded with, “Hey, we’ve been here before.  This is Copiah softball.  We’ve got this.”  And, boy did they.  The Lady Colonels came back to win two over Magnolia Heights and claim another title.

Co-Lin produced a state title contender in football, reaching the state championship game against East Mississippi in November.  The Lions had too many players and simply ran away from the Wolves.  But, head coach Glen Davis’ bunch was special and featured D-1 talent up and down the roster.

The Hazlehurst Indian football program had a change at the top when former coach Randal Montgomery took the job at Columbus High School.  The Indians, after a diligent search, turned again to veteran coach Todd McDaniel, who led a scrappy bunch of young Indians to the first round of the 3A playoffs.

The Wesson Cobras, too, tasted success in football, reaching the 3A playoffs for the first time in school history.  The Lady Cobra softball team won district and also reached the 3A post-season.