Coach Charles MacArthur departed Brookhaven in the early summerof 1970 but the colorful football coach left a legacy of memoriesbehind. He touched the lives of players and students, leaving afavorable impression with many of them.

MacArthur returns to the Homeseekers Paradise Friday for ahomecoming of sorts. Former BHS football player Guy Nix ispromoting his visit, asking friends and players to drop by Recess101, a sandwich shop located on South First Street, in front of theLincoln County Court House.

Nix said MacArthur would be there from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. He’seager to swap stories and memories.

Presently, MacArthur lives in a community north of Alexandria,La. He’s been retired for several years from the teaching andcoaching field.

MacArthur began coaching at BHS in 1964, first as a junior highcoach at Lipsey. He worked closely with the late Coach Paul Moyerwho passed away in 1971. Brookhaven’s baseball field is named inMoyer’s honor.

“Coach Mac touched so many lives,” said Nix. “I know a lot ofhis players and students would like to see him again.”

Ironically, Recess 101 is owned and operated by Eric Moyer, sonof the late coach. Eric’s wife, Teresa, helps run the shop.

A few years ago, MacArthur was inducted into the Southern MissSports Hall of Fame. He’s part of USM’s rich athletic history.

MacArthur coached the Panthers to a runners-up finish in theSouth Big Eight in 1966 and advanced to the playoffs. Brookhavenwas a football powerhouse in the 1950s and early 60s before hittinga dry spell.

Doug Sullivan, the late mayor of Brookhaven, was hired toreplace MacArthur in 1970. Sullivan had a successful run beforegetting out of coaching and entering private business in 1974.

For more information on Friday’s event, contact Nix at601-754-5100.

 

The Mississippi Association of Coaches will host its annualsoftball all-star games next weekend at Newton County High School’sMack Fanning Field. For sure, Lincoln County and the surroundingarea will be well represented, Friday in slowpitch and Saturday infastpitch

Mississippi is the only state that still sanctions slowpitch asa high school sport. For sure, it remains a popular item in certainpockets of the Magnolia State, especially the southwestern andnortheastern areas.

Some schools have abandoned slowpitch and focused more onfastpitch. Others have dropped slowpitch in favor of volleyball, agenuine college scholarship sport for talented young ladies.

Loyd Star gave up fastpitch several years ago and won afastpitch state championship in 2009. Enterprise elected to dropslowpitch after the 2009 season and concentrate on fastpitch. TheLady Yellow Jackets, coached by Steve Sasser, should be a powerfulteam next spring.

This will be the 24th year for the slowpitch all-star game. TheClass 1A/2A/3A games will be played Friday at 5:30 p.m., followedby the Class 4A/5A/6A games at 8 p.m.

Representing this area are Hannah Knouse of West Lincoln, LeahGreer of Wesson, Kolbi Lewis and Lacey Orr of Enterprise-Lincolnand Kacey Smith and Desiree Buie of Franklin County on the SouthClass 1A/2A/3A team.

The all-stars will see some familiar faces in the first andthird base coaching boxes. West Lincoln’s Andrew Redd will coachthe South 1A/2A/3A team and his assistant will be longtime helperLane Young of West Lincoln.

Fastpitch action literally heats up next Saturday. The ninthannual encounter will start at 10 a.m. with the 1A/2A/3A games. The4A/5A/6A games will be held at 2:30 p.m. Bring your umbrella, waterjug, battery-operated fan and lots of sunscreen.

Loyd Star boasts three players: Brooke Delaughter, Carrie Moakand Emily Smith, on the South 1A/2A/3A squad. The Loyd Star duo ofJan Delaughter and Janet Taylor will coach the South squad.

In case you’re wondering what happened to the Bogue Chittoall-stars, none of them were seniors. In fact there were fourjuniors on Coach Scott Leggett’s Class 1A state championshipfastpitch team.

Another area player, North Pike’s Kelsey Lord, will play for theSouth 4A/5A/6A fastpitch team. North Pike, coached by Sonya Wallacewas Class 4A state runner-up last month. Lord was the only senioron the talented Lady Jaguars squad.

The South 4A/5A/6A team is coached by Sam and Emily Compston ofStone County.

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