Iwas blown away when I walked into Trustmark Park Friday night to potentially watch Loyd Star win their first state championship since 1980.

Trustmark Park in Pearl seats just over 8,000 people, which is the proper size for a minor league baseball stadium.

By no means was I expecting the stadium to be completely sold out for the MHSAA state playoffs, but the Loyd Star faithful showed up in Pearl.

At least 90 percent of the fans were wearing their red T-shirts saying “Loyd Star, South State champions” on them.

The Hornets fans packed the stadium and rang their cowbells and empty soda bottles filled with rocks from the first pitch until the trophy celebrations were done.

Friday night got me thinking as I was driving home from the stadium.

The amount of passion and dedication the fans of all the local schools in Lincoln County have shown throughout the course of the school year was incredible.

To be quite honest, I didn’t know what to expect when I took this job and decided to move to Southwest Mississippi. I never would’ve thought that Lincoln County would support their schools to this level.

The feedback has been incredible from the parents and the people of this community.

The greatest satisfaction I get after every game is when a parent comes up to me and says “Thank you” for being there and covering our school.

That moment is what makes this job all worth it.

I haven’t even reached football season yet, where the passion and energy is sure to increase in the area and I can’t wait for that.

I one day want to grow up and watch my kids play high school sports, that is if that’s what they want to do. If it’s playing sports or playing in the band or the dance team or whatever it may be, I want to be there for them every step of the way to cheer them on.

Just like the people in Lincoln County do.

I played three sports in high school growing up in New York and Connecticut and I never had a local paper or television station cover one of my games, except one time. My senior year of high school, our football team made it to the state playoffs for the first time in school history. After our playoff victory, local television stations came running to us asking for interviews and we had no idea what do to.

That stands as one of the coolest moments of my life. Getting to do that now and cover the local high school athletes in Lincoln County has been a great pleasure.

From Bogue Chitto to Wesson, all the schools, fans and parents have been very supportive not only of what I do, but extremely supportive of their schools.

It’s been a joy to watch and I look forward to keep on doing this in the future.

Dylan Rubino is the sports editor for The Daily Leader. He can be reached at dylan.rubino@dailyleader.com.