A brisk, northerly wind whistled around my ears as I watched theCopiah-Lincoln Community College softball and baseball teams gothrough preseason practice Tuesday afternoon. Sure, the sun wasshining and it was pleasant if you stayed in the sunlight. Lingertoo long in the shade and you might suffer frostbite.

Fresh from enduring one of the coldest January weekends onrecord, this scribe rubbed his hands together and thanked God formy residence. “I could be living up North where those folks arewading through hip-deep snow and dealing with sub-zerotemperatures.”

By Mississippi standards, the weekend temperatures at night feltlike either Wisconsin or Minnesota, sliding into the low teens.Golly, gee. That’s cold.

For the first time in memory, our small, one-acre pond wasfrozen all the way across. Cast a stone at the ice-covered surfaceand it made a pinging sound as it skipped along. It wasn’t thickenough to set up a portable house for ice fishing but you get mydrift.

My two dogs, Benton and Dixie, were content to chew on shorelinegrass. Dixie, the energetic boxer, gingerly tiptoed along the icyedge but she had no desire to test the strength and thickness ofthat surface. In July, they enjoy splashing and swimming in theshallows, seeking relief from the sweltering heat and humidity.

Right now, sweat seems like a pleasant experience. Thatproclamation will change in August.

Talking with Brookhaven soccer coach Kevin Bower made youappreciate the warmer weather. He said he never had to postpone somany games because of cold weather. Normally, the Panthers and LadyPanthers eagerly embrace playing soccer in rainy, cold weather.

Genuine frostbite, a physical hazard with severe consequences,caused coaches to postpone the soccer experience. Extended exposureto below-freezing temperatures could cause major healthproblems.

In case you missed it, the Mississippi Blues Marathon was heldlast Saturday in Jackson, despite temperatures in the teens. Forsure it was a refreshing, lung-burning experience for over 1,300runners, joggers and walkers. Tragedy marred the experience as40-year-old Chris Brown of Ridgeland collapsed and died whilerunning a relay portion of the 26.2-mile marathon.

Brown, a husband and father, was diagnosed with a congenitalheart disease by the Hinds County coroner. Jogging and walking aregreat exercises but everyone needs a complete physical exam beforeembarking on a training program.

In an effort to help smaller schools with their athleticprograms, the 2010 softball and baseball seasons have been pushedback two weeks by the Mississippi High Schools ActivitiesAssociation. For sure, smaller schools don’t have enough athletesto go around when sports seasons overlap.

The rule also holds true for larger schools. Class 5ABrookhaven, for example, won’t begin its fastpitch softball seasonuntil March 2. Some teams will play a Classic Game a few daysearlier, on Saturday, Feb. 26.

Coach Chad Walker is anticipating a good season out of his LadyPanthers. Most importantly, the pitching and catching will be ayear wiser and stronger.

Loyd Star, the defending Class 2A state champion, also expects asuper season. Coached by Jan Delaughter, the Lady Hornets areanchored by senior pitcher Brooke Delaughter.

Lawrence County All-State safety Matthew Wells has made a verbalcommitment to sign a scholarship with Mississippi State University.Wells also considered Ole Miss and Southern Miss.

Wells (6-2, 200) has been projected as a defensive back on thecollegiate level. He also starred as a running back for the LCHSCougars, running out of the Wing-T formation.

Wells has expressed an interest in the running back position atState. However, he will have to gain 30 pounds to survive in thebrutal demands of the Southeastern Conference. Sounds like aprobable redshirt if Wells goes that route.

Lawrence County, coached by Mike Davis, rarely passed thefootball because of its powerful rushing attack. Wells could seeimmediate duty as a freshman wide receiver or slot back in CoachDan Mullen’s spread offense. He’s an exceptional basketball player,too.

Last year, LCHS running back Kendrick Hardy signed with SouthernMiss. Hardy was a redshirted in 2009 so he should be ready to shinethis fall.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College defensive end Ken Adams (6-5,235) has signed with the LSU Tigers. Meanwhile, cornerback DequanMenzie (6-0, 180) is still mulling his offers. Menzie, a Columbus,Ga., native, is being courted by Alabama, Georgia and NorthCarolina.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O. BOX551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mail sports@dailyleader.com