Tuesday sports: State volleyball champs get rings before state baseball champs play ball

Photo: Lewisburg volleyball players and coaches with their 7A state championship rings. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com) 

Champions took a moment to honor champions Tuesday night at Lewisburg High School. Before the first pitch of the Patriots’ baseball game against Kirk Academy, the Lewisburg Lady Patriot volleyball team was honored with the presentation of their championship rings.  

The Lady Patriots won the 7A state volleyball championship in five sets over Brandon last October at Ole Miss. The ring presentation came before the start of the baseball game of Lewisburg, a team in 7A this year after winning the 6A state championship back in May at Trustmark Park in Pearl.  

The players were recognized at home plate before the varsity baseball game began and as they opened their ring boxes for the first time, it was their first look at the hard-earned rings.  Coach Amy Hendrichovsky said she and her staff wanted the players to be surprised with the first look at the rings.  

“We asked for some of their opinions on size and etcetera, but as a staff we kind of designed it and so tonight when they saw it was the first time they’d seen it,” Hendrichovsky said. 

The Lewisburg coach said this squad was a special one to coach. That is high praise from a former head coach and assistant coach at the collegiate level, assisting at Middle Tennessee State and as a head coach at the University of South Alabama. She was also the volleyball coach at St. Benedict at Auburndale in Cordova, Tennessee before coming to Lewisburg nearly four years ago. 

Hendrichovsky said this year’s team was special because she was able to see a senior class of players be the first class of players she coached entirely through her Lewisburg career earn the ultimate prize.

“I have enjoyed every one before this year, but to see somebody from a freshman to become a champion as a senior was awesome,” Hendrichovsky said. “It’s been a four year process. Everybody in the last few years has helped get us to where we were today.”

Monday, Feb. 19 

Prep baseball 

Marshall Academy 2, Southaven 1

Lake Cormorant 10, Vicksburg 0

Tuesday, Feb. 20

Prep baseball

DeSoto Central 6, Marshall Academy 2

Lewisburg 5, Kirk Academy 1

Lake Cormorant 11, Southaven 1 (6 innings)

Hernando 13, Center Hill 0

New Albany 16, Olive Branch 6

Prep softball

Corinth 7, Hernando 4

Southaven 14, Alcorn Central 9

JUCO men’s basketball

East Central 78, Northwest 70

JUCO women’s basketball

Northwest 61, East Central 56

Prep tennis

Lewisburg 4, Pontotoc 3

Center Hill 5, Olive Branch 2

JUCO men’s tennis

Hinds 9, Northwest 0

JUCO women’s tennis

Northwest 5, Hinds 4