12/18/99 Go here to view pictures of the Dudy Noble / Polk-DeMent Stadium expansion.

12/18/99 - Check out the latest (1.5 weeks old pics) pictures of the Dudy Noble / Polk-DeMent Stadium expansion pictures ..... click here

12/16/99 - Did you know that former Diamon Dog Jay Powell turned down a $90,000 bonus offer coming out of high school to sign with State? Jay, after completing his junior year, signed a professional contract for $508,000. His last contract, according to a source of mine, was a 3-year deal for 2.6 million dollars. Turning down $90,000 was a big deal for Jay because he came from a family that did not have much money. Just another example of what MSU baseball can do for a youngster who is willing to take a gamble and not sign out of high school.

BTW, the word from a college coach (not an MSU coach) from the south is MSU has signed several absolutely awesome baseball prospects this year.

12/10/99

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Senior Keri McCallum became the second Mississippi State softball player to be drafted into the pro ranks Saturday when the Tampa Bay Firestix drafted the catcher with the 10th overall pick in the 2000 Women's Pro Softball League draft.

McCallum becomes the second Mississippi State player drafted in the past three years. Former All-SEC pitcher Autumn Anderson was drafted by the now-defunct Durham Dragons in 1998. McCallum was among three Southeastern Conference players selected in the WPSL "Draft Day 2000." LSU second baseman Ashlee Ducote (9th pick, Akron Racers) and Mississippi third baseman Kaci Coffee (11th pick, Ohio Pride) were also selected in Saturday's draft.

"Keri is very deserving of this honor," said Mississippi State head coach Kathy Arendsen. "If she decides to play for the Tampa Bay Firestix, they are getting a great player. We are very proud that Keri is getting this opportunity."

McCallum heads into her final season with Mississippi State with an impeccable resume. Already a two-time All-SEC selection in her first two seasons with the Bulldogs, McCallum hit .374 (88-235) last season with 22 doubles, 10 triples and 10 RBI on her way to Second Team All-SEC honors and a spot on the SEC All-Tournament team. She led the Southeastern Conference in doubles and triples, appearing in the top five in four other categories, while leading the team in six offensive categories.

Her triples per game average ranked her 11th nationally while her doubles per game average (.33) ranked her 14th nationally. She struck out just eight times in 235 at bats ranking her as the eighth-toughest player to strike out in NCAA Division I Softball.

Following the conclusion of last season, she was invited to the 2000 Olympic Games trials after earning a spot on the U.S.A. National Blue Team where she ranked as one of the top hitters on the club. She also became just the second catcher in the history of the Women's Major National Fastpitch Festival in August to earn the Erv Lind Defensive award as the top defensive player en route co-garnering Second Team ASA All-American honors.

"Obviously, her athleticism and great versatility is what attracted us to her," said Tampa Bay head coach Linda Derk. "She has the ability to play a couple of positions, she has great speed and also has the capabilities of being a very strong hitter for us. She will come in and give us good depth and will strengthen some areas that need to be strengthened."

The Firestix took home the 1999 WPSL Championship with a 2-0 series sweep over the Akron Racers. The 2000 WPSL season runs from June through August and includes 64 league games, 12 regular-season exhibitions, a best-of-three WPSL Championship series and two season-ending all-star exhibitions. ESPN 2 has agreed to increase its WPSL television coverage from nine to 10 games for the 2000 season.

Should she opt to play professional softball, and since the WPSL season runs June through August, McCallum will not miss any of her final season in Starkville.

Reprinted with permission from the MSU Sports Media Relations Department

12/08/99

STARKVILLE, Miss. --- Mississippi State University has signed Allen Buckley, a 6-5, 215-pound right-handed pitcher from Brandon, Miss., to a national letter of intent, MSU head baseball coach Pat McMahon announced Tuesday.

Buckley compiled a 6-6 record with a 4.03 earned run average and 69 strikeouts as a freshman at East Central Community College, competing in the same program that produced former MSU standouts Brooks Bryan and Hank Thoms. Last season he helped lead coach Jamie Clark's ECCC baseball squad to a MACJC South Division co-championship and a runner-up finish in the 1999 Region 23 tournament. The New York Yankees selected Buckley in the 35th round of professional baseball;s 1999 June draft, and last fall he competed in the 1999 Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game at Hinds Junior College.

"We're excited that Allen Buckley is joining the Mississippi State baseball family," said coach McMahon. "Through hard work he has developed into the top junior college pitcher in the state, and we believe Allen has a chance to step in and be an impact pitcher at Mississippi State."

Buckley competed in high school baseball at Brandon High School, where he was coached by former MSU pitching standout Josh Reagan. He compiled a 4-4 record with two saves, a 2.93 earned run average and 63 strikeouts over 47 innings with the Bulldogs. He earned BHS Most Valuable Pitcher honors as a senior and was selected to play in the 1998 4A-5A Mississippi All-Star Game. He also played summer league baseball with the Clinton Captains.

"I've wanted to play baseball at Mississippi State my entire life," said Buckley, whose father Larry Buckley was a three-year baseball letterman playing for coaches Paul Gregory and Jimmy Bragan at MSU from 1973-75. "Now that it is a dream come true, I want to help Mississippi State compete for SEC championships."

The MSU baseball signee is the son of Larry and Cherri Buckley of Brandon, Miss.

Reprinted with permission from the MSU Sports Media Relations Department

12/07/99

STARKVILLE, Miss. --- Mississippi State University has signed outfielder/right-handed pitcher Robby Goodson of Vicksburg. Miss, to a national letter of intent, MSU head baseball coach Pat McMahon announced Monday.

Goodson played five different positions for coach Ray Burrough's Vicksburg High School Gators in 1999. He hit at a .519 clip, leading his team with 45 hits, seven home runs and 40 RBI, earning all-county, team MVP and VHS's best offensive player honors. Goodson saw playing time at first base, shortstop, third base and in right field and starred on the mound for the 18-11 Gators, posting a 4-3 record with a save, a 1.36 earned run average and 108 strikeouts in 59 innings. He tossed one no-hitter, three shutouts and at one point threw 27 consecutive scoreless innings.

"We're pleased that Robby has chosen to continue his baseball career at Mississippi State," said coach McMahon. "He's a talented dual-position player; a left-handed batter with good power who hits for average and a highly-competitive right-handed pitcher. Robby has the skills needed to step in and contribute in a variety of roles very early in his career at Mississippi State."

The 6-3, 200-pound right-handed batter played in the prestigious East Coast Baseball Showcase in Wilmington, N.C., the past two years. He hit .508 as a sophomore in 1998, leading VHS with seven home runs and 34 RBI. The three-time All-Warren County selection also claimed seven wins, a pair of saves and 100 strikeouts in his first two seasons of varsity baseball.

"I'm very excited to be joining one of the top college baseball programs in the country," said Goodson. "I'm looking forward to helping the Bulldogs get back to Omaha and the College World Series."

Goodson, invited to the USA Team Trials in Arizona earlier this year, also played summer league baseball with the Mississippi All-Stars in the Junior Sunbelt Classic in McAlester, Okla., and was the winning pitcher in the gold medal game of the 1998 State Games of Mississippi.

The MSU baseball signee is the son of Ricky and Elaine Goodson of Vicksburg, Miss.

Reprinted with permission from the MSU Sports Media Relations Department

Here is a little premium site info that I have accumulated on Robby.
He was heavily recruited by Ole Miss, LSU as well as MSU. He is a very good left-handed hitter who hits for a high average and with power. He throws his fastball in the high 80's and has a very good change up. According to sources of mine who who have seen him play, he has very quick hands and very good bat speed. Plus, I was told that his dad is an MSU grad. He has Major League Draft potential.

12/05/99

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State University has signed shortstop/right-handed pitcher Steve Gendron of Tampa, Fla., to a national letter of intent, MSU head baseball coach Pat McMahon announced Friday.

Gendron was an honorable mention all-state standout at Tampa's Berkeley Preparatory, where he helped lead coach Fred Pisano's BP Buccaneers to a 23-8 mark, the district championship and a runner-up finish in the regional playoffs. As a junior in 1999 he hit .413 with 11 doubles, 31 RBI and eight stolen bases. Gendron also starred on the mound, compiling a 4-2 record with a 2.29 earned run average and 31 strikeouts in 40 innings. The All-Bay Conference selection also tossed a no-hitter and a one-hitter last season.

"Steve is an outstanding defensive infielder with excellent offensive skills," said coach McMahon. "He's got a strong arm, very good range and he's blessed with good speed. Steve possesses the athletic ability needed to contribute early in his college career. We're pleased that he's decided to continue that career at Mississippi State."

The 6-3, 178-pound right-handed batter hit .352 as a sophomore and in his first two seasons of varsity baseball registered six wins, three saves in helping Berkeley Prep run to district runner-up finishes in 1997 and 1998. He also competed in football and basketball during his prep career.

"I'm impressed with the past history of the Mississippi State baseball program and am excited about becoming a part of it," said Gendron. "I enjoyed my visit to the Mississippi State campus. It's a beautiful setting for baseball and the coaches made me feel at home."

Gendron took part in the prestigious East Coast Baseball Showcase in Wilmington, N.C., was a Team One Diamond Club All-Star, and compiled a team-leading .449 batting average while leading the West Tampa Post 248 American Legion summer league team to a district championship in 1999.

The MSU baseball signee is the son of Steve and Sue Gendron of Tampa, Fla.

Reprinted with permission from the MSU Sports Media Relations Department

12/05/99

STARKVILLE, Miss. --- Early-season tournament appearances in Mobile, Ala., and Fullerton, Calif., and 29 games at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium highlight a 56-game schedule for the 2000 baseball season announced by Mississippi State University.

The Baseball Bulldogs, who advanced to their 11th NCAA regional tournament in 13 years last season, usher in their 110th season of baseball and the new century meeting UAB in the first round of the Coca-Cola Classic, hosted Feb. 19-20 by the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. State then makes its first regular season appearance in California since 1968, taking on Southern California, Georgia Tech and host Cal State Fullerton in the Kia Baseball Bash Mar. 3-5 at Fullerton, Calif.

This year's 30-game SEC schedule features home series with Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Florida and FOX Sports Net South television appearances at South Carolina and Auburn.

"It's a challenging and demanding schedule," said Pat McMahon, entering his third season as Mississippi State head baseball coach. "Depending on one of the tournament brackets, Mississippi State plays 22 or 23 games against teams that played in the NCAA Tournament, and all but eight of those are on the road."

'MSU, with 19 lettermen and four starting position players returning from last year's 42-21 edition, will compete for one of the eight berths in the 2000 SEC Baseball Tournament, set May 17-21 at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium near Birmingham, Ala.

The Bulldogs open their 29-game home schedule Feb. 22 against Southeastern Louisiana, one of six newcomers to the MSU schedule for 2000. SEC Eastern Division foe Vanderbilt replaces Georgia on MSU's rotating league schedule for the next two seasons while State faces first-time opponent Tennessee-Martin in a two-game set at Dudy Noble Field.

2000 MSU BASEBALL SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Feb. 19 vs. UAB (Mobile, Ala.) (3:30 p.m.)
Feb. 20 So. Alabama/Mercer (12:30/3:30 p.m.)
Feb. 22 Southeastern Louisiana (3:00 p.m.)
Feb. 23 Southeastern Louisiana (3:00 p.m.)
Feb. 25 Arkansas-Little Rock (3:00 p.m.)
Feb. 26 Arkansas-Little Rock (2:00 p.m.)
Feb. 27 Arkansas-Little Rock (1:30 p.m.)
Feb. 29 at Jackson State (6:00 p.m.)
Mar. 1 Jackson State (3:00 p.m.)
Mar. 3 at Cal Fullerton (7:00 p.m.)
Mar. 4 Southern Cal (Fullerton) (2:30 p.m.)
Mar. 5 Ga. Tech (Fullerton) (1:00 p.m.)
Mar. 7 at Memphis (Millington) (7:00 p.m.)
Mar. 8 at Memphis (Millington) (2:00 p.m.)
Mar. 10 Vanderbilt (6:30 p.m.)
Mar. 11 Vanderbilt (5:00 p.m.)
Mar. 12 Vanderbilt (1:30 p.m.)
Mar. 14 Tennessee-Martin (6:30 p.m.)
Mar. 15 Tennessee-Martin (3:00 p.m.)
Mar. 17 at Kentucky (3:00 p.m.)
Mar. 18 at Kentucky (2:00 p.m.)
Mar. 19 at Kentucky (2:00 p.m.)
Mar. 21 Alcorn State (3:00 p.m.)
Mar. 24 at Alabama (7:00 p.m.)
Mar. 25 at Alabama (4:00 p.m.)
Mar. 26 at Alabama (1:00 p.m.)
Mar. 29 Mississippi (Jackson) (6:30 p.m.)
Mar. 31 Arkansas (6:30 p.m.)
Apr. 1 Arkansas (5:00 p.m.)
Apr. 2 Arkansas (1:30 p.m.)
Apr. 4 South Alabama (6:30 p.m.)
Apr. 5 South Alabama (3:00 p.m.)
Apr. 7 at South Carolina (7:00 p.m.)
Apr. 8 at South Carolina (TV) (4:15 p.m.)
Apr. 9 at South Carolina (1:30 p.m.)
Apr. 12 at Samford (6:00 p.m.)
Apr. 14 Mississippi (6:30 p.m.)
Apr. 15 Mississippi (5:00 p.m.)
Apr. 16 Mississippi (1:30 p.m.)
Apr. 18 New Orleans (6:30 p.m.)
Apr. 19 New Orleans (3:00 p.m.)
Apr. 21 at Louisiana State (7:00 p.m.)
Apr. 22 at Louisiana State (4:00 p.m.)
Apr. 23 at Louisiana State (1:00 p.m.)
Apr. 25 at Southern Mississippi (6:30 p.m.)
Apr. 26 at Southern Mississippi (6:30 p.m.)
Apr. 28 Tennessee (6:30 p.m.)
Apr. 29 Tennessee (5:00 p.m.)
Apr. 30 Tennessee (1:30 p.m.)
May 3 Samford (6:30 p.m.)
May 5 Florida (6:30 p.m.)
May 6 Florida (5:00 p.m.)
May 7 Florida (1:30 p.m.)
May 12 at Auburn (6:30 p.m.)
May 13 at Auburn (TV) (3:15 p.m.)
May 14 at Auburn (1:30 p.m.)
May 17-21 SEC Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
May 26-28 NCAA Regionals (Sites TBA)
June 2-4 NCAA Super Regionals (Sites TBA)
June 9-17 NCAA College World Series (Omaha, Neb.)
----All game times local to game site

Reprinted with permission from the MSU Sports Media Relations Department

12/02/99 (6:00 p.m.)

STARKVILLE, Miss. --- Mississippi State University has signed left-handed pitcher Carmen Pignatiello of Frankfort, Ill., to a national letter of intent, MSU head baseball coach Pat McMahon announced Thursday.

Pignatiello, a 6-0, 160-pound left-handed pitcher, earned second-team all-state honors as a junior at Providence Catholic High School in 1999. He compiled an 11-1 record with a 1.28 earned run average and paced coach Joe Rodeghero's PCHS Celtics to a 30-3 mark and its third consecutive advancement the regional finals.

"Carmen is one of the outstanding left-handed pitchers in high school baseball," said coach McMahon. "He's got great command of a variety of pitches and his experience level gives him an opportunity to contribute very early in his college career. We're looking forward to having Carmen in the Mississippi State baseball program."

An honor roll student at Providence Catholic HS, Pignatiello has compiled a splendid 24-5 record with 250 strikeouts in three seasons at PCHS, including an 8-2 mark with a 1.98 ERA and 85 strikeouts as a sophomore in 1998. He is a two-time All-Catholic League, all-area and Star Player of the Year honoree and was named to the Illinois High School Coaches Association All-Star Team in 1999.

"When I saw Dudy Noble Field under the lights, I knew Mississippi State was where I wanted to play," said Pignatiello. "But I chose MSU because of the people, the way my parents and I were treated during my visit to Starkville, and the players. They are a great group of guys and I'm very excited about becoming a Bulldog."

Pignatiello played on the gold medal-winning Youth National Team that claimed the 1998 world championships in Fairview Heights, Ill., and the world championship Junior National Team that won the gold medal in the 1999 championships held in Taiwan. He also starred for the Providence Catholic team that claimed the 1999 summer league state championship in Illinois.

The MSU baseball signee is the son of Peter and Beth Pignatiello of Frankfort, Ill.

Reprinted by permission of the MSU Sports Media Relations Department

12/01/99 (2:00 p.m.)

STARKVILLE, Miss. --- Mississippi State University has signed right-handed pitcher/outfielder Michael Novarese of Holly Springs, Miss., to a national letter of intent, MSU head baseball coach Pat McMahon announced Wednesday.

Novarese earned second-team MPSA all-state honors as a junior at Marshall Academy in 1999, hitting a team-leading .450 with 14 doubles, six triples six home runs, 32 RBI and a .565 on-base percentage. A two-time all-conference honoree, Novarese starred in center field and on the mound for coach Ricky Townsend's MA Patriots, playing error-free ball and throwing out six baserunners from the outfield. He posted a 3-3 pitching record with one save, a 2.40 earned run average and 60 strikeouts in 34 innings.

"We're excited that Michael has decided to continue his baseball career at Mississippi State," said coach McMahon. "He's a legitimate dual-position player with proven talents as an outfielder, where he uses his speed to cover a lot of territory, and on the mound where he is a real battler. Michael is a valuable addition to the Mississippi State program with the skills and versatility to contribute early in his collegiate career."

Novarese hit .364 with 24 RBI, and 23 stolen bases in 24 attempts as a sophomore, earning all-conference and team defensive MVP honors in 1998.

"Becoming a Bulldog is one of the most exciting things that's ever happened to me," said Novarese. "All you can ask for in life is a chance, and I want to work hard and make the most of my opportunity to play for Mississippi State."

Novarese was a multi-sport athlete during his three-year career at Marshall Academy, lettering two seasons in football and in basketball, where he was honored twice as MA's MVP. He also competed in summer league baseball for the Memphis Tigers in 1999, where he was coached by Keith Hagan.

The MSU baseball signee is the son of Richard and Paula Novarese of Holly Springs, Miss.

Reprinted with permission from the MSU Sports Media Relations Department

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