The Mitchell ReportSo, that headline is probably an understatement.
It never occurred to me that every team would be knocked out of the playoffs in one weekend. At the least, I expected the Manchester baseball team to win one series.
So, as I sit at my desk writing this Monday afternoon, I’m still in shock at how my quickly my scheduled cleared up. And, no, that’s not what I want.
The big question I found myself asking, and a question I’m sure many of you have pondered, was what went wrong?
Before Thursday I was trying convince myself that everyone would win their series (sorry, but I failed at that). Two days later the thought of not having anymore baseball or softball this year began to creep in my head. By Saturday, around 1:30 p.m., I pretty much knew that would be the case.
So, what went wrong?
Well, for starters, most of the teams played against teams that were better, to put it simply. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t win, though. I picked Benton and the Yazoo County softball team to join Manchester in the second round of the playoffs.
Yazoo City and Yazoo County both played teams that are known statewide for having some great baseball players. Benton played a Winona Christian team that was a district champion, but a beatable one at that. The Lady Panthers’ ace pitcher, Catrina Hall, was visibly injured and not able to throw her best stuff. If she isn’t this column is most likely a baseball-only column.
Manchester, on the other hand, faced a team that didn’t know it would be in the playoffs until the final game of the season.
That’s the only upset of the group, though. In fact, it’s the only true upset of the bracket. All the other top-seeded teams won their series (there was a No. 2 seed vs. another No. 2 seed).
The Mavs’ two losses were by a combined five runs. After losing the first game of the series on the road 4-2, the Mavs won game two at home 4-1. A couple hours later their season was over with another loss.
Nobody expected that.
While we close the chapter on this baseball season, there should be plenty of optimism and hope surrounding every team.
Yazoo County’s baseball and softball teams didn’t do anything jaw-dropping, but just wait. They will.
The Panthers have probably the best all-around player that still has three years left to play. The Lady Panthers have a pitcher who could be as dominant as any other pitcher in the state. Throw in the fact that both teams were young and inexperienced this season and that’s a recipe for a state championship (or two).
Benton returns Jason Berry for his senior season in 2013, as well as Storm Davis and a host of other talented underclassmen, but loses players like Joshua Gelston and Bo Dickerson, as well as head coach Brent Woods.
Before I close this column, let me say this. Despite losing in the first round, every team should be proud and remember the success of 2012. Don’t let my words or the words of anyone else take away how special this season was to all of these players.
How many other counties have all of its baseball and softball teams advance to the playoffs?
Not many, that’s for sure.

Michael Collum slides into third base during a recent game against Cleveland. Collum has been on base plenty the last two weeks and will look to continue his hot streak in the playoffs.By TAYLOR MITCHELL
Sports Editor

A year ago, the Yazoo County baseball team was turning in their jerseys and pants after winning just two games all season long and missing the playoffs again.
This year, those jerseys and pants remain in the bags of the Yazoo County players as they prepare for this weekends playoff series with Lafayette County.
The Panthers traveled to Lafayette for the first game of the best-of-three series Friday and will host the Commodores in the second and third (if necessary) games Saturday. The winner of the series will advance to the next round where they will face Amory (20-8).
Lafayette enters the post season with an overall record of 12-10, while Yazoo County broke the .500 mark with a 9-9 overall record that includes six wins and just two losses in the month of April.
-------for the rest of the story see The Yazoo Herald printed edition or subscribe to the Digital Edition.----------

Senior Samuel Campbell’s bat will be a vital piece of the puzzle as the Indians look to take on Oxford in the play-in round of the MHSAA playoffs. By TAYLOR MITCHELL
Sports Editor

After a season filled with more rain than in recent memory, the playoffs are officially here.
The Indians of Yazoo City will kick off their playoff quest with a three-game series against Oxford High School.
Oxford went 15-10 during the regular season, but posted a losing record in district play (4-5). Yazoo City, on the other hand, went 8-14 overall and 3-4 in district play that includes one win over district champion Starkville.
The series began in Yazoo Friday afternoon with the first game of the best-of-three series and will shift to Oxford the following Saturday for the final two games, if necessary. The winner of the series will face Ridgeland (20-4) in the second round of the playoffs.
-------for the rest of the story see The Yazoo Herald printed edition or subscribe to the Digital Edition.----------

The Mitchell ReportMy high school coach, one time, explained to us in a way a bunch of high school boys with dreams of the NFL that the odds are stacked against us.
“There are about 50 of y’all,” he said after one practice. “Maybe 10 of you will play at a major college football program. Some of y’all will go play at lesser schools. Of those ten, though, maybe one of you will make it to the NFL.”
Of course, that was a completely hypothetical situation. Of that group, just one player went on to play (as a starter) on a major college football team and that was Oklahoma (ironically, that one guy is going to be drafted this week at some point).
So, when a kid from a town of roughly 12,000 people makes it to the NFL draft as one of the best players at his position, it’s the definition of beating the odds.
On Thursday night, Fletcher Cox will beat the odds.
Cox is expected to go within the first 15 picks of the NFL Draft in New York City. Cox will be in attendance, meaning he’ll get to hear the commissioner call out his name, shake his hand and hold up the jersey for the whole world to see.
What team’s jersey he’s holding, though, is a mystery of sorts. But one I’m willing to help solve.
For about a month now, it’s been widely assumed the first two picks will be quarterbacks Andrew Luck to the Colts and Robert Griffin III to the Redskins. USC tackle Matt Kalil is the best pick for Minnesota to add protection for their young quarterback.
What the Browns do with the fourth overall pick is the first big mystery of the draft (but not the one I’m working on). Quarterback, running back and wide receiver all possibilities. Trading the pick is a big possibility too. Defensive tackle is not a need, though.
Let’s say the Browns take Alabama running back Trent Richardson, leaving Claiborne for Tampa Bay at five and the Rams get their man, Justin Blackmon, after trading the second overall pick to Washington.
The seventh pick belongs to Jacksonville, who desperately needs help along the defensive line. However, I think they’ll go defensive end with Melvin Ingram from South Carolina, despite them falling.
Miami’s defense isn’t their problem and will look to the offensive side of the ball with the eighth  pick, quite possibly quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
That leaves the Panthers with the ninth pick and, sure enough, they have a need for a defensive tackle. With the best DT left on the board, I have the Panthers picking Cox.