• 61°
franklin county times

USM set to make history at home

By By Jared Florreich / staff writer
May 30, 2003
HATTIESBURG History will take place today at 3 p.m. as the second seeded Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles play in the friendly home confines of Pete Taylor Park against third seeded Southern University.
Some USM players felt snubbed being a two seed in their home regional. Southern Mississippi was the only host team not seeded first.
Today marks the first time USM has hosted a NCAA Regional. The Golden Eagles have had a record setting year, recording a mark of 45-14 and winning the C-USA regular season and C-USA Tournament.
Southern University (43-5) won the SWAC Tournament on May 4, but has not played a game since, a span of 25 days. The Jaguars did play against semi professional and community college teams to stay fresh.
The battle could be a high scoring one. USM and Southern University both hit well over .300, at .321 and .364 respectively. Both teams have players that can hit the ball out of the park, evidenced Thursday as players from each team hit multiple blasts out of Pete Taylor. USM's Clint King and Jeff Cook have 22 and 21 home runs respectively, while Rickie Weeks and Kevin Vital have bombed 16 and 15 each.
Weeks led the nation for the second straight year in batting average. He posted a .497 average this year, and led the Jaguars in nearly every offensive category. Weeks is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the best college baseball player. Many baseball experts think he will be the first player drafted later this summer.
Both Palmer and Cador said their teams can't rely only on the long ball.
USM will send junior Bob McCrory to the hill to face senior Dewon Day of Southern University. McCrory is 10-2 on the season with a 4.01 ERA. He has 80 strikeouts in 85.1 innings of work.
Day is 9-0 on the season with a 1.91 ERA. In 61.1 innings of work, he has 47 strikouts, and he has held opposing teams to a .215 average.
Top seeded Baylor (41-21) will take on fourth seeded Murray State (25-29) in the nightcap starting at 7 p.m.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x