With the Diamond Owls coming off a year in which they won 24 games and finished runner-up in regular-season league play, Head Coach Marc MacMillan '92 has announced the 2006 schedule featuring 15 home games including the Metro Invitational Tournament (MIT), Pepsi Challenge, and five Division II league games.
"I am excited about our schedule, and the opportunities we have to continue to play against quality programs," said Coach MacMillan, who is entering his seventh season as the Owls' head coach. "Our division play continues to improve and present tougher competition each year. On top of that, our non-divisional games offer great tests for us to improve throughout the year against programs rich in tradition and talent.”
The Diamond Owls will open their season against Millington High School on March 15 in the Metro Invitational Tournament hosted by MUS and Christian Brothers High School (CBHS). The Owls will also play Desoto Central High School and The McCallie School (2005 D2 State Qualifier) as part of the MIT before opening league play at CBHS on March 20.
The Scenic City Classic in Chattanooga will begin March 23 and will run through March 25. This 16-team tournament pits the Owls against Knoxville’s Farragut High School, 2003-2004 AAA State Champs and 2005 State Qualifier, in their opening round. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The tournament field will also include Evangelical Christian School (2005 D2 State Quarter Finalist), Nashville’s Overton High School (2005 AAA State Runner-up), Father Ryan High School (2005 D2 State Quarter Finalist), McCallie, and Riverdale High School (2005 AAA State Quarter Finalist) to name a few. According to Coach MacMillan, "Chris Richardson at McCallie has done a great job by putting together in my opinion one of the top tournaments in the state.”
After returning from Chattanooga, the Diamond Owls will face divisional opponent St. Benedict at Auburndale followed by a non-district game against Ridgeway High School on April 1.
The Diamond Owls then will participate in the fourteenth annual USA Classic April 5-8 held at USA Stadium and CBHS. This will mark the first time MUS has competed in this prestigious tournament. As with the Scenic City Classic, the USA Classic hosts a strong field of 16 teams that include such schools as CBHS (2005 D2 State Champs), Collierville High School (2005 AAA State Qualifier), ECS, Houston High School (2005 AAA State Champs and #43 ranked team in the country by Baseball America), Northwest Rankin High School (2005 MS 5A State Champs and #21 ranked team in the country by Baseball America), Olive Branch High School (2005 MS Final 8), Riverdale, Oklahoma’s Shawnee High School (2005 5A State Quarter Finalist), and Kentucky’s Trinity High School (2005 5th Third State Semi Finalist). MUS will open play against 2005 AAA Regional Semi Finalist Hendersonville High School. "The USA Classic is another premier tournament in the state, and Buster Kelso at CBHS continues to put together a competitive field. We are very excited at the opportunity to be a part of it," said Coach MacMillan.
Prior to the start of the 2006 Pepsi Challenge, which will be held from April 13-15, the Diamond Owls will step back into league play against Briarcrest Christian School (2005 D2 State Qualifier) on April 11. As part of the Pepsi Challenge, the Owls will host Jackson Christian School, White Station High School, and Covington High School (2004 AA State Runner-up and 2005 State Qualifier). Other schools participating will include Cordova High School and ECS.
The Diamond Owls wrap up their regular season with nine out of their last eleven games against Division II opponents ECS (April 18 and May 5), CBHS (April 21), Tipton-Rosemark Academy (April 22), St. Benedict (April 25), Harding Academy (April 27-28), and Briarcrest (May 4). During this time, the Owls will make visits to both Jackson Christian and Collierville.
“Our goal is to play a schedule that provides our players with the necessary preparation for divisional, regional, and state play,” Coach MacMillan shared. “This schedule presents a great challenge as we have some holes to fill, and it will allow our players the opportunity to grow each time they set foot on the field.”