07/23/03 - Former Diamond Dog Eric DuBose called up by the Baltimore Orioles.
BALTIMORE, Md. - Add left-handed pitcher Eric DuBose to the list of Mississippi State baseball players in Major League Baseball. The Gilbertown, Ala., product was called up to Baltimore Monday and activated for Tuesday afternoon's game at Camden Yards against the Texas Rangers. The southpaw is expected to be used in long relief and for situational appearances.

It's the second stint in the Majors for the Gilbertown, Ala., product. DuBose was brought up by Baltimore for a start earlier this season, working 6-1/3 strong innings in a May 4 loss to Kansas City. He has compiled a 9-5 record with a 3.39 ERA pitching for Baltimore's Triple A Ottawa Lynx this year. He has 107 strikeouts in 114 innings.

DuBose, a two-time all-American at MSU, was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the Major League draft in 1997 after helping lead Mississippi State to a berth in the NCAA College World Series.

07/22/03
JACKSON, Miss. - Hillcrest Christian School Athletic Director Doug Hoehn announced today that Shane Kelly has been promoted to head baseball coach, replacing Paul Wyczawski, who resigned to accept a position at Murray State University.

Kelly, 24, a native of Petal, Miss., served as assistant to Wyczawski in 2003. In 2002 he was head coach at Starkville Academy, leading the Volunteers to a 24-12 record. Starkville won the MPSA North 4A title before losing to Jackson Academy in the championship series, the Volunteers' first ever appearance.

Kelly, a Mississippi State graduate, was an All-SEC centerfielder for the Bulldogs in 2000. He also was named to the NCAA All Region team after the Bulldogs defeated Notre Dame for the regional championship at Starkville. As leadoff hitter for the Bulldogs in 2000, he batted .323 with 17 doubles, 8 triples, 9 homeruns and 17 stolen bases. He was named SEC Player of the Week on April 24, 2000, when he was 11 for 15 with 3 homeruns in a 3 game series at LSU.

Following the 2000 season, Kelly signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he played at Class A Charleston in the South Atlantic League.

Kelly takes over one of the premier high school baseball programs in Mississippi. In 2003 the Cougars finished 33-3 and were ranked number 20 nationally by Collegiate Baseball.

Kelly is married to the former Aimee Crain, a 2002 MSU graduate who served as captain of the prestigious Diamond Girls at Mississippi State.

07/15/03 - MSU, which is currently having its high school baseball camp, has approximately 250 in attendance, including 4 players from France and 1 from the Dominican Republic.

07/02/03 - MSU has between 95 and 100 4th and 5th grade campers on campus this week.