Baseball Wrap-Up (1981)

(#173)

Clarion-Ledger/Jackson Daily News South Focus

December, 1981

Editor’s Note: When high school baseball was great and we had daily write-ups in the local paper. Lot’s of the guys on this page went on to do great things and produce off-springs that did quite well, too. I’m sure that the great Robert Wilson had a hand in this article.

When it came to baseball in 1981, nobody could match the success of Magnolia Academy.

The Raiders, under Rick Clarke, were the state’s winningest team at 40-5, the only Mississippi high school team to ever win 40 games in a season. The Raiders easily won the Academy AA championship (for the third season in a row) with a star-studded lineup led by Jeff McClaskey (high school baseball coaching legend), Tim McMillian, and Steven Dickey (16 game winner for MA).

After the season, members of the Magnolia team joined the Post 110 Jiggitts and the Post 1 Bombers for the American Legion campaign. The Jiggitts won the District 4 and state titles and the Bombers won the District 5 crown.

South Jackson boasted plenty more excellent baseball teams.

Among the public schools, Jim Hill scored a 22-6 record with two victories over state AAA champion Callaway. The Tigers boasted the Capital Zone’s best hitter in Richie Hines (MSU’s Hunter Hines’ dad) and the best left-handed pitcher in Don Dickerson.

Forest Hill and Wingfield were not far behind at 15-6 and 15-10. They were followed by Byram 9-7, Lanier 8-13, Murrah 7-13, and Provine 1-17.

St. Joseph 13-15 and St. Andrews 13-12, both got in post-season playoff action. St. Joe won the District 6 Class A title and St. Andrews won the Capital Athletic Conference North Division.

It was the last season at St. Joe for D.M. Howie, who coached the Bruins to three state championships in the past 12 years.

Jackson Prep won the Academy South AAA Conference title, but the Patriots fell one game short of a state crown in a best-of-three series against Greenville Washington.

It was also the final season of coaching at Prep for Billy Earnhart. The Patriots won the AAA championship the year before.

Mississippi Baptist won the Academy South Central A Conference West Division title. The Saints were 13-13 guided by Steve Bass and led by hard-hitting catcher Todd Renfroe (MLB great, Hunter Renfroe’s dad).