WESSON – Who’s coaching first base and who’s coaching thirdbase?

Wesson baseball coaches Hugh Knight and Seth Lofton might swapcoaching boxes and responsibilities but they plan to keep workingas a unit. Knight is handing the head coaching reins to Lofton whohas been an assistant at Wesson for two years.

“It’s time for Seth to step in,” said Knight. “I think he will do agreat job.”

Knight, 57, said he was happy to continue working with Lofton as anassistant. He will have fewer responsibilities and lesspressure.

“I enjoy it and I still love it. I want to stay in it,” saidKnight. “We’ve been working together for two years. We know what weexpect of each other.”

Wesson has won the Region 6-2A title two of the past three seasons.Baseball is a popular item in the community.”

“We won the district this year and we have a quality team comingback,” said Knight. “This was the right time to make a change. I’mexcited about it.”

Knight, 57, has been coaching at Wesson for eight years. He movedto Wesson from Copiah Academy where he spent 19 years coaching andteaching, also serving as athletic director.

Knight was hired by former Wesson principal Billy O. Britt. He saidhe was grateful for the opportunity.

“Mr. Britt gave me a chance to come to Wesson and start backcoaching baseball,” said Knight. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coachingbaseball at Wesson.”

Knight said he enjoys working with Wesson’s football team. “(Headcoach) Tommy Clopton came a year after I did. He asked me to helphim coach football. I will continue do that.”

Knight also will coach junior high baseball and football.

In the classroom, Knight teaches government and economics. “I alsoteach Mississippi studies and world geography.”

Knight, an Ole Miss grad, said the Cobras should be able to contendfor the region title in 2011. Several key position players arereturning. They lost pitcher Caleb Broome outfielder Brandon Allenand catcher Zach Davis to graduation.

Lofton just completed his second season at Wesson as the Cobras wontheir division, advancing to the state playoffs. They lost abest-of-three series to Taylorsville.

A 2000 Loyd Star graduate, Lofton played baseball at Copiah-LincolnCommunity College and the University of West Alabama as a firstbaseman.

He was an assistant coach at Enterprise before going twoWesson.

He said he was excited about his new position. “I’m looking forwardto it. I’m really glad that Coach Knight is going to stay. I’velearned a lot from him and I will continue to do that.”

Lofton,, 28, said he didn’t expect to have a clash of coachingphilosophies. “We differ a little bit. I will do a few thingsdifferent. It will a be a good mix.”

Away from the athletic field, Lofton teaches seventh grade math andAlgebra I. He assists with the football team, coaching thedefensive line.. He also worked with Knight in the offensivebackfield last year.

Lofton is married to the former Kaylin Burke of Enterprise and theyhave a 5-month old daughter.