MUS Sports News

Baseball Announces 2007 Schedule

With the Diamond Owls' coming off a year in which they won 22 games, finished runner-up in the West Tennessee Regional Tournament, and earned the school’s first State Semifinalist berth, Head Coach Marc MacMillan ’92 announced the 2007 schedule, which features 15 home games, the Metro Invitational Tournament (MIT), USA Classic, and 10 Division II league games. 

"I am excited about the competitive and high-quality programs on our schedule," said Coach MacMillan, who is entering his eighth season as the Owls' head coach. "Each year brings a new team and new challenges. Our division play will introduce a new format, home-and-home series within the same week, that should bring a fresh excitement to the games. Our non-divisional games will continue to offer challenging tests for our players to grow and improve throughout the year.”

The Diamond Owls will open their season with a double-header against Olive Branch High School and White Station High School on March 14 in the Metro Invitational Tournament, hosted by MUS and Christian Brothers High School (CBHS). The Owls will also play Arlington High School, Cordova High School, and St. Augustine (LA) High School as part of the MIT. 

The Scenic City Classic, hosted by McCallie School in Chattanooga, will begin March 22 and will run through March 24. The Diamond Owls open the 16-team tournament by playing Creek Wood High School. This will be only the second meeting between the two schools. The tournament field will also include Baylor School (2006 D2 State Champions), Evangelical Christian School (ECS), Father Ryan High School (2006 D2 State Qualifier), Farragut High School (2006 AAA State Champions), Riverdale High School (2006 AAA State Qualifier), and others. According to Coach MacMillan, "We are excited to return to Chattanooga for a third straight year. Chris Richardson at McCallie has put together another pool of outstanding competition.”

After having returned from Chattanooga, the Diamond Owls will play two games against divisional opponent St. Benedict at Auburndale followed by a non-district, home-and-home series versus Germantown High School on March 29-30.

The Diamond Owls then will participate in the 15th annual USA Classic, held April 4-7 at USA Stadium and CBHS. This will mark the second consecutive year 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 Bingham (UT) High School (2006 5A State Semifinalist), Briarcrest Christian School (2006 State Qualifier), CBHS (2006 D2 State Semifinalist), Collierville High School (2006 AAA State Semifinalist), ECS, Houston High School (2005 AAA State Champs), Pensacola (FL) Catholic High School  (2006 3A State Quarter Finalist), and University School of Jackson (2006 A State Runner-up).  MUS will open play against Carrollton (GA) High School (2006 3A Elite 8 Finalist).

"It feels good to be a part of this prestigious tournament for the second straight year and the competitive programs it continues to bring to Memphis and Millington," said Coach MacMillan.

Following the USA Classic, the Diamond Owls will step back into league play against ECS on April 10 and 12, and then head to Batesville, Arkansas, on April 13 for the first ever meeting with Batesville High School.

The Diamond Owls play their third divisional series against Harding on April 16-17, and then host Jackson Christian School on April 20-21. The final two weeks of the regular season include match-ups against CBHS (April 24 and 26) and Briarcrest (April 30 and May 1), along with sandwich games against Arlington and Ridgeway High School. The Owls wrap up the regular season by visiting Brentwood Academy on May 5.

“I believe this schedule provides our players with the necessary preparation for divisional, regional, and state play,” Coach MacMillan shared. “If you love playing quality competition on a weekly basis, then this is an exciting schedule to play.”

Park Signs With Ole Miss

Memphis University School Head Baseball Coach Marc MacMillan announced that senior Michael Park has signed to play baseball for the University of Mississippi. The senior’s ability to excel in multiple sports has been an integral part of the Owls’ success on both the baseball diamond and the football field as he led the 2006 Diamond Owls to the State semifinals and quarterbacked the 2005 State Championship football team.

"MUS will always be a place that allows someone to excel in more than one sport or activity,” said Bobby Alston, MUS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. “Michael has taken advantage of both his talent and the school's philosophy to maximize his contribution in both baseball and football. I have no doubt that he will continue to excel at Ole Miss as he has done at MUS."

Park, a 6’1”, 195-pound RHP/3B, has been a two-time All-State selection and was instrumental in the Diamond Owls earning the school’s first state-tournament win as he threw a complete game against Knoxville Webb as well as helping earn the second State-Tournament bid for the school. In the 2006 season, he posted a record of 10-1 in 62.67 total innings pitched, allowing only 44 hits and 14 earned runs while recording 92 strikeouts and 1.56 ERA. Offensively, Park hit .343 with 31 RBIs and 31 runs scored.

Park's performance last year was recognized nationally with his selection as an Honorable Mention Multi-Position Player for the 2006 Louisville Slugger All-American Team and as a P/UT player for the 2006 National High School Baseball Coaches Association's All District Team. Both state and metro coaches selected him to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's D2 All-State Team, D2/AAA Tennessee Baseball Report All 2-Way Team, D2 West Tennessee Region All-Conference Team, D2 West Tennessee Regional All-Tournament Team, Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association's All-Region Team, Commercial Appeal "Private" All-Metro Team, and one of five Best of Prep Finalists.

Following a formal signing Wednesday morning, Michael voiced his enthusiasm.

“Ole Miss is where I’ve always wanted to go,” he said. “They’ve been really successful for the past few years, and I am impressed with the players, coaches, and the facilities. It seems like a great fit.”

Coach MacMillan understands what a special place Ole Miss is to Michael and the Park family. Michael will be joining his brother, Rob, MUS Class of 2005, a punter on the Ole Miss football team. Michael’s father, Dudley Park, graduated from Ole Miss in 1978, and his uncle, Mike Park, was an All-SEC pitcher on the Rebel baseball team before graduating in 1975.

“I am very excited for Michael and his family. Ole Miss and baseball have a memorable history in the Park family, and the opportunity for Michael to play at not only the school of his choice but one that has meant so much to the Parks is really special,” shares Coach MacMillan. “Ole Miss will provide Michael the opportunity to excel in the classroom and compete for one of the top programs in the toughest conference in the country. That’s a great combination for him to be a part of.”

Owl Season Ends In Chattanooga

Despite setting four school records, the MUS varsity football team concluded its season last Friday night, losing 40-21 to the Baylor School in Chattanooga. Although the Owls refused to give up and played well in the second half, they had to overcome too large a deficit to advance and defend their consecutive state titles.

The Red Raiders (9-2, 3-2) looked dominant on their opening drive as RB Kevin Cooper, a University of Tennessee commitment, moved the ball deep into Owl territory with a 41-yard run on the second play of the contest. Two plays later, Cooper scored from 2 yards out to give the Raiders the early lead. However, on the PAT Lowell Hays blocked his fourth kick this season to keep the score at 6-0.

The Owls (5-6, 2-3) looked to respond with a score of their own, but turnovers, penalties, and mistakes hurt MUS much of the first half.

However, the visitors finally began to move the ball through the air as they had good field position throughout much of the second quarter.

Yet they still could not take advantage of the momentum. First, Zach Scott missed a 36-yard field goal early in the quarter following a 6-play drive. Then, as the Owls were threatening on their next possession, Baylor DE Sidney Tarver ended the drive as he intercepted a Michael-Park pass on the Baylor 19-yard line and returned it 81 yards for the score. The two-point conversion failed, and the score remained 12-0 with 2:10 remaining in the half.

But the hosts were not done in the first half.

Following a quick punt and a good use of times-out, QB Tyler Massey took advantage as he hit Brandon Joynes from 44 yards out on the first play of the possession to increase the Red-Raider advantage with only 42 seconds remaining. Tanner Taylor’s extra-point gave Baylor the 19-0 halftime lead.

Baylor extended the lead in the third quarter as they continued to pile up yardage. Another long Cooper scoring run as well as Massey’s 1-yard touchdown plunge with 3:21 left in the third quarter would extend the Baylor lead to 33-0 and all but end the MUS hopes.

Yet the Owls did not quit.

First, Park hit Lee Moore on a 93-yard touchdown catch, setting a school record for longest touchdown reception. 

Even though Massey would add another scoring run with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter, MUS responded with two more scoring drives.

Senior Stephen Bowie caught Park’s second touchdown pass of the night, hauling in a 44-yard toss that culminated a 7-play, 87-yard drive and cut the lead to 40-14. Then Park found Collin Fountain from 7 yards out for another score with 8:27 left in the game, but the scoring ended there as the Owls’ season concluded.

MUS did set several school records in the game. First, Park threw for the most passing yards in a game as he threw for 440, besting the previous mark of 362 set in 2003. His 41 attempts also set a record. His 421 total offense yards from scrimmage bests another mark. And Moore’s 93-yard touchdown reception was the Owls’ longest pass play in history.

Although the Owls’ season concludes at 5-6, they fought hard this year and were competitive throughout while facing one of their most competitive schedules in school history. They will miss their 29 senior players, but they will look to their underclassmen to step up next year and provide leadership to get MUS back to its winning ways.