By Staff
April 23, 2001
TALLADEGA, Ala. The race was there to win. All Bobby Hamilton needed was a little push. "I couldn't believe it," Hamilton said after shooting out of a massive pack two laps from the end to win the caution-free Talladega 500. "I was running fifth or sixth on the outside and I could hold on by myself. To win it, though, I needed some help." It came in the form of Andy Petree Racing teammate Joe Nemechek, who suddenly popped up behind Hamilton's No. 55 Chevrolet and gave him a big push past Tony Stewart.
The Meridian Community College baseball fans may not be sure of exactly what happened at Scaggs Field on Sunday afternoon, but Eagles head coach Russ McNickle has a pretty good idea. The first year MCC head coach said Bossier Parish (La.) Community College established itself as the beast baseball team in Region 23 by beating the Eagles 9-3 on Sunday and taking two of three games in the weekend series.
April 23, 1997
One of the many reasons Scott Berry's Meridian Community College Eagles are currently 41-5 on the season and ranked No. 1 by the NJCAA has to be the efforts of sophomore pitcher Drew Johnson. On Tuesday, Johnson's hard work on the mound paid off as the Columbus native signed a letter of intent to continue his college baseball career in Hattiesburg for the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.
It's the dream of every aspiring person in the minor leagues to climb the ladder with the hopes of eventually reaching the Major Leagues. The dream is not just for the players, but also for front office personnel. Meridian Brakemen General Manager Gary Saunders has begun that climb. Saunders is making the climb from the independent league to Class AAA, taking a job in sales with the American Association's Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
April 23, 1992
DECATUR The East Central Community College Warriors played host to the Bulldogs of Gulf Coast Community College in a South Division baseball doubleheader and had the broom put to them. Home runs did the Warriors in as a home run won the first game and also gave GCCC the tying and go-ahead runs in the second game. The Bulldogs swept ECCC to the tune of 2-1 in an extra inning and took the seven inning nightcap 6-3. The wins put Gulf Coast at 29-12 overall and 16-6 in South Division play. ECCC dropped to 26-16 and 11-9.
Ryan Satcher
Sports Faces …
David Young
Northeast Lauderdale distance runner David Young hopes to take another state toward the Class 4A State Track and Field Meet set for Hughes Field in Jackson on May 11-12.
Young qualified for this Saturday's Regional meet at Meridian Community College by finishing second in the 1,600 meter run. He clocked a 5:08 time.
Northeast has a competitive season running in meets at Mississippi State, Columbus and Madison Central. Young will also have a busy summer running as well.
Jeff Byrd