March 1, 2000

Black hits basketball milestone with recent honor

Randi Lynn Black, a senior guard for the Ariton Lady Purple Cats basketball team, has been selected as one of only four girls statewide to participate in the Alabama Power 3-point Shoot-Out to be held during the state basketball finals at the Civic Center Coliseum in Birmingham this week.

Lady Trojans get 8-0 shutout of NHS

It wasn’t a flawless night for the Charles Henderson Lady Trojans softball team, but it might as well have been.

Column by Steven Watson:

Beware the Madness of March

Okay folks, it’s official, as of 12:00:01 a.m. this morning you have the right to go completely insane. Of course all of you in that condition in the first place, this is your chance to fit right in with the rest of us!

Goshen baseball falls in first home game of the year

It has been a year of growing pains early on for the Goshen boys’ baseball team and yesterday Area opponent Saint James didn’t provide any medicine for GHS beating them 14-1 at Eagles Field.

Troy State baseball falls to Auburn 14-7 in slugfest

AUBURN ­ After a disappointing loss to Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday the Auburn Tigers had a chip on their shoulder when the Trojans traveled to Plainsmen Park on Tuesday.

March 2, 2000

CHHS drops third of the season to DHS on the road

The Charles Henderson High School baseball team dropped its second in three games Tuesday on the road at Dothan.

Troy State roundballers ready for all-important first game in Tournament

A spectacular season is on the line as the Troy State Trojans play their first game of the Trans American Athletic Conference Tournament in Jacksonville tonight.

March 3, 2000

CHHS corrals the Cougars 11-1 in only five innings

Charles Henderson teams are getting used to beating up on the Northview Cougars as the Trojan baseball team followed the softball team’s lead Thursday in an 11-1 romp of NHS.

White hits second and third homer of the season in CHHS softball win

Betsy White knocked in two three-run homers to help propel the Lady Trojans to a 10-1 victory over visiting Jeff Davis.

Troy State baseball set to host Classic

The TSU baseball team will play host to the Troy State University Classic 2000 beginning this Friday with four dates scheduled for the Trojans throughout the event.

Mercer ends dream season for Troy State 79-75

When asked which team he was most afraid of in the Trans American Athletic Conference Tournament, senior Eugene "Tote" Christopher said it would have to be Mercer. That turned out to be a well placed fear Thursday night.

March 5, 2000

CHHS freshman pitches Trojans to 5-4 win

It’s hard to lose when you don’t make mistakes.

Column by Steven Watson:

Break out the sunflower seeds

Don’t tell anyone, but I have an addiction. It always seems to catch up with me around this time of year.

Pike County starts year off right with home win

Michael Lowery didn’t show any signs of rust Saturday afternoon as the Pike County baseball team got their 2000 season off to a good start.

March 7, 2000

CHHS softball team defends crown at Spring Fling

The Charles Henderson Lady Trojans threw down the gauntlet last weekend to the area’s finest and defended their Spring Fling Championship with flying colors.

PCHS gets nine runs in the fourth to notch 13-2 win

The Pike County Bulldogs used four runs in the first and nine in the fourth to power past Calhoun 13-2 at home Monday.

PLAS Lady Patriots fall 9-1 in first action of the season

Edgewood Academy defeated the Pike Liberal Lady Patriots in softball yesterday by the final score of 9-1.

March 8, 2000

CHHS JV split two with EHS

The CHHS Junior Varsity baseball team split a doubleheader at against Enterprise on Monday night. They dominated the first game, winning 7-0, but struggled to a loss of 9-8 the second game.

Goshen holds on to win 8-5 over Highland Home

The Goshen boys’ baseball team took an 8-5 decision over the Highland Home Flying Squadron yesterday at Eagle Field.

PLAS falls to Dixie

The dirt around home plate got an extra good fanning as the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots faced off against the rival Dixie Rebels on the baseball diamond Tuesday.

Trojans drop sixth straight in 6-2 loss to Governors

The Troy State University baseball team was unable to come away with a win Tuesday dropping a 6-2 decision to Austin Peay.

March 9, 2000

CHHS break out in late innings to get 12-5 win over Opp

The Charles Henderson High School Trojans broke open a close game late against Opp scoring 10 runs in the final three innings Tuesday.

PCHS marathon men fall short in 15-12 loss

The marathon men of Pike County didn’t quite have enough steam to pull out their third win in as many days Wednesday.

Lady Trojans and Samford face off in TAAC Tourney

It’s do or die time for the Troy State Lady Trojans basketball team as they travel to Pelham, Al., for the Trans American Athletic Conference Tournament today.

March 12, 2000

Mathews throws no-hitter, Neeley has powerful day

You know you’re having a good day at the ballpark when the opposing fans groan every time you come up to bat.

Column by Steven Watson:

Selection Sunday is here!

Get out the brackets guys cause it’s just about time to get crazy.

Pike County falls 9-6 to AHS

A Pike County rally was held in check by Ariton pitcher Chris Logan, which allowed the Purple Cats to escape with a 9-6 win Friday night in Brundidge.

Patriots roll past SMCA 11-4 behind Hudson’s pitching

The PLAS Patriots used tough pitching and big offensive plays to cruise past the SMCA Raiders 11-4 at home Friday.

March 14, 2000

Troy State baseball picks up first conference victory

The Troy State Trojans managed to salvage a poor start to their Trans American Athletic Conference schedule Saturday as they took the final game of three games with Jacksonville 8-3.

Trojan Tennis team works together to improve courts

A wise man once said there’s nothing a little sweat and hard work can’t overcome. Well, the Troy State Tennis team found out just how true that statement is and the fruits of their labor can now be enjoyed by all of Troy.

March 15, 2000

Column by Steven Watson:

Brackets on the brain

Have you got your brackets filled in yet?

Patriots drop a close one at home to Hooper’s Colts

Down 7-6 in the seventh inning, Hooper Academy scored three runs and held Pike Liberal Arts to just one, their turn at bat, to take a 9-8 decision yesterday at Patriot Field.

Trojans use late insurance runs to hold off Rattlers

The TSU Diamond Trojans (9-14) learned that no lead should be taken for granted as they downed the Florida A&M Rattlers 9-3 at Riddle-Pace Field Tuesday.

March 16, 2000

CHHS set to host 20-team Classic

The Charles Henderson High School Lady Trojans Softball team will put their undefeated home record on the line this weekend as they host the Trojan Classic Invitational at the Troy Sportsplex Friday and Saturday.

Offensive line looks to be a strength for Troy State

Four starters return for Troy State on the offensive line. All four are seniors in center Blake Carruthers (Norman Park, Ga.), left guard Brent McAliley (Niceville, Fla.), right guard Brent Harrison (Enterprise, Ala.) and right tackle Charles Thomas (Forest Park, Ga.).

March 17, 2000

Column by Steven Watson:

Keep your storms off my Television!

It happens every year so I don’t know why I should be surprised.

Softball teams converge on Troy this weekend

There’s one thing the city of Troy won’t be in a shortage of this weekend and that’s softball.

Troy on the verge of another youth ball season

Go by the Troy Park and Recreation Department this time of year and you might be asked to answer a ringing phone.

March 18, 2000

Lady Trojans run out of time in 5-4 loss to Colliersville

It wasn’t a perfect weekend for the Charles Henderson High Lady Trojans softball team, but it was one that left very few heads hanging.

Eagles fall short against EHS

No hits in the last two innings of play cost Goshen and allowed Eufaula to take a 12-7 victory over the Eagles Friday afternoon.

Patriots can’t find offense in 13-3 loss to Abbeville

The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots were unable to overcome the powerful bats of the Abbeville Christian Generals Friday.

Troy State gets solid play from both sides at T-Day

Troy State football’s spring drills came to a climactic conclusion at the annual T-Day festivities Saturday and the even playing field was evident as the Cardinal and White faced off against each other.

Trojans find role players early in spring practices

On scrimmages like T-Day you look for those certain players to stand out in the crowd and watch for those emerging as game breakers.

March 21, 2000

Column by Steven Watson:

Finding that baseball instinct

Every once in a while the planets align, everyone is holding their mouth just right, and something beautiful happens on the baseball field.

Defense shows up big for Eagles in 7-4 win over LHS

Most will tell you that defense wins baseball games and the Goshen Eagles got a huge defensive play to prove that theory in a 7-4 win against the Luverne Tigers Monday.

Diamond Dogs hold on for 8-6 victory

The Pike County Bulldogs refused to lose Monday taking a comeback victory from Abbeville.

March 22, 2000

Hard work for CHHS baseball turns into No. 5 ranking

Who says hard work doesn’t pay off? Not the No. 5 ranked Charles Henderson High School baseball team that’s for sure.

Lady Trojans run away with win in late innings over CHS

With a new No. 2 State ranking in their pocket, the Charles Henderson Lady Trojan softball team flexed it muscles Tuesday in a 13-3 win over Carroll at home.

Bulldogs run all over GHS with big offense and big D

GREENVILLE – Yesterday’s match up between Greenville and the visiting Pike County Bulldogs can be summed up simply in two words – No contest.

Troy State blows out Faulkner

On a day when Troy State University pitchers required very little offensive help the Trojans got it anyway.

March 23, 2000

PCHS holds off late surge by Squadron for 12-6 win

The Pike County Bulldogs are on another one of their marathon weeks playing four games in as many days, but assured themselves of at least a split of the four contests Wednesday night with a 12-6 win over Highland Home.

Nettle set to finish four-year career as Trojan captain

Yesterday was senior day for two Troy State tennis players and in an appropriate tribute the Trojans were 7-0 winners over Lamar University.

March 24, 2000

Charles Henderson looks ahead to a busy weekend

After more than a week of not playing, the No. 5 ranked Charles Henderson Trojans got back to work Wednesday and suffered a late-inning loss to Tallassee.

Young CHHS JV make waves in last weekend’s tourney

You can look at most junior varsity teams as farm leagues for future varsity squads, but the Charles Henderson JV are out to make a name for themselves.

Lady Trojans cruise to win

The No. 2 ranked Charles Henderson Lady Trojans softball team played some great defense and behind a two-hit performance by pitcher Betsy White cruised to a 4-0 shutout of Alabama Christian.

Pike County pounds BTW

How does a one run lead disappear into a seven run defeat? Just ask Booker T. Washington.

March 26, 2000

Trojans plagued with with bad bounces in 6-0 shutout loss to Stanhope Elmore

Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way in high school baseball and the Trojans of Charles Henderson found that out the hard way Saturday.

Column by Steven Watson:

Photos don’t always come easy in sports

Sometimes it’s hard to watch a game through the lens of a camera. Of course sometimes it makes it all that more interesting when all is said and done.

March 28, 2000

Road doesn’t get easier for CHHS, face talented teams in tournament

Charles Henderson baseball has had its ups and downs as of the past week or so.

Column by Steven Watson:

Final Four just a little freaky

Well the final four is set and who would have thunk it?

TSU hosts No. 8 Tigers today in Montgomery

The Troy State Trojans have a tall order on their hands today as they try to keep their four-game winning streak alive after a weekend sweep of arch-rival Jacksonville State.

March 29, 2000

GHS gets thumped twice as Tigers explode on offense in double-header

The Straughn Tigers took it to Goshen twice yesterday in a doubleheader, beating the Eagles by the combined score of 23-2.

Denson topples high jump record at Florida Relays

"She finally did it!" exclaimed TSU jumps coach Chris Baptista as he watched Alisha Denson clear the bar on her third try at 5’10" at the Florida Relays in Gainesville this past Saturday.

March 30, 2000

Bulldogs sting the Hornets for fifth straight

The Pike County Bulldogs got another game and another win under their belt Wednesday morning with a 5-2 win over the Bullock County Hornets.

Tough schedule gives PCHS valuable game experience

There is one thing for sure, going into the Thomasville High School Pizza Inn Classic taking place today and tomorrow, none of the six teams participating will be more prepared to play four games in two days than the Pike County Bulldogs.

Trojans fall in final innings to No. 8 Auburn

MONTGOMERY – It was almost a storybook ending. The Troy State Trojans were heading into the eighth inning leading the No. 8 ranked Auburn Tigers 8-7 before a crowd of 3,064 at Paterson field, but then things went terribly wrong.

March 31, 2000

CHHS drops another one to Jeff Davis 5-0

After a forfeit by George Washington Carver (who didn’t show up for the second year in a row) gave the Charles Henderson Trojans baseball team an uncontested mark in the win column, CHHS fell hard to a tough Jeff Davis team for the second time this year.

Column by Steven Watson:

The First Annual Watson Awards!!

Today we in the The Messenger Sports Department published the All-County team for high school basketball (finally!) and I feel like we had a couple of very good teams.

TSU baseball faces pivotal weekend series with Bears

Troy State (13-18/4-5) hosts Mercer (9-18/2-7) in a key Trans America Athletic Conference series this Friday (6:30 p.m. CST) and Saturday (1 p.m.) at Riddle-Pace Field. The Trojans are currently tied for sixth with a 4-5 league mark. The top six teams advance to the conference tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.