MUS Sports News

Diamond Owls Begin Practice on Monday

MUS Baseball will begin practice Monday in preparation for the 2007 season that opens March 14 with a doubleheader against Olive Branch and White Station High School in the Metro Invitational Tournament.

“Both the coaches and players are ready for the start of the preseason,” shared Head Coach Marc MacMillan ’92.

“Preparation for the 2007 season is a process that began with summer baseball, continued with our physical development program, and wrapped up with the Spring Fling Challenge. Now, it’s time to continue our preparation by getting back on the field.”

The Diamond Owls are coming off their most successful season in school history, finishing as Division II State Semifinalists in 2006. However, Coach MacMillan is aware that this-year’s team is different than his 2006 club.

“While we do have players returning from last-year’s squad, each year brings a different team as players graduate and new ones join the program,” explains Coach MacMillan.

“Therefore, I rely heavily on our seniors (Miles DeBardeleben, Jay Edwards, Luke Jensen, Chase Moore, Michael Park, Zach Scott, and Jeffrey Wright) to lead by example and continue to assist in developing this team’s identity.”

The Diamond Owls' preseason and regular-season schedules are available on the MUS Baseball website.

Park Earns Pre-Season All-American Honor

Michael Park, a senior RHP, has been named Second Team Pre-Season All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Louisville Slugger. Park was selected as an Honorable Mention Multi-Position Player by the same publication as part of the 2006 Louisville Slugger All-American Team.

After an historic 2006 season in which the Diamond Owls advanced to the Spring Fling, picked up the school’s first state-tournament win, and claimed its best finish in school history as State Semifinalists, Park was also selected as a P/UT player for the 2006 National High School Baseball Coaches Association's All District Team. He was recognized by both state and metro coaches per his selection to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's D2 All-State Team, Tennessee Baseball Report D2/AAA 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's "Private" All-Metro Team, and one of five Commercial Appeal Best of Prep Finalists.

Over the summer, Park played for Dulins Dodgers and assisted them in winning the B.E.S.T. Championships as well as participated with the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association’s Team Tennessee at the Junior Sunbelt Series, one of the premier tournaments in the country, in McAlester, Oklahoma, finishing runner-up while earning selection to the All-Tournament Team.

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.”

Diamond Owls Announce 2006 Post-Season Honors

Five members of the 2006 MUS baseball team were honored as head coach Marc MacMillan announced the program's annual post-season awards. Zack Rutland took top billing, earning both the Most Valuable Player Award and the Best Defensive Player Award.

Others honored were Michael Park, who earned the Most Outstanding Pitcher Award; Max Prokell, who earned the Best Offensive Player Award; Blair Wright, who earned the Most Improved Player Award; and Matt Henning, who earned the "Spirit" Award.

Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Award - Rutland (Sr/C) started 38 out of 40 games, leading the team in batting with a .388 average while totaling 45 hits including 13 doubles, 6 HR, 40 RBI and 28 runs scored.  Zack was also awarded the Best Defensive Player Award, leading the team with a .983 fielding percentage.  Most memorable was Zack's performance against Briarcrest in the quarterfinals of the D2 West Tennessee Regional Tournament as he threw out three base runners (in the first two innings), went 2-3 with a double and four runs batted in to assist his team in earning only its second trip in school history to the State Tournament.  Rutland was named to the 2006 Pepsi Challenge All-Tournament Team and was also recognized by state and area coaches earning his selection to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s All-State Team, D2 West Tennessee Region All-Conference Team, D2 West Tennessee Regional All-Tournament Team, Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association's All-Region Team, and The Commercial Appeal's "Private" All-Metro Team.

Most Outstanding Pitcher - Park (Jr/RHP) put together one of the best seasons in MUS baseball history, finishing with an overall record of 10-1 and a 1.56 ERA.  He pitched 62.67 innings, allowing 44 hits while striking out 92 and walking 20 batters.  He picked up wins against Briarcrest, ECS, Hendersonville, Knoxville Webb, Millington, and St. Benedict.  Michael's performance throughout the 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.  He was selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s All-State Team, D2 West Tennessee Region All-Conference Team, the D2 West Tennessee Regional All Tournament Team, Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association's All-Region Team, The Commercial Appeal's "Private" All-Metro Team, and The Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps finalist. 

Best Offensive Player - Prokell (Sr/CF) put together one of the best offensive seasons in MUS baseball history, batting .370 with 50 total hits including 13 doubles, 5 triples, 7 HR; totaling 94 bases, 30 RBI and 46 runs scored; and stealing 10 bases.  With such offensive production, Max ranks in the Top 3 of individual season records in the categories of At Bats, Hits, Doubles, Triples, Home Runs, Total Bases, and Slugging Percentage.  Prokell was named to the 14th Annual USA Classic All-Tournament Team and was also recognized by state and area coaches, earning his selection to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s All-State Team, D2 West Tennessee Region All-Conference Team, D2 West Tennessee Regional All-Tournament Team, Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association's All-Region Team, and The Commercial Appeal's "Private" All-Metro Team.

Most Improved Player - Wright (So/RHP/UT) showed steady improvement throughout the year, playing for both the JV and varsity.  A versatile player, Blair plays four positions - 3B, 2B, SS, P - for the Diamond Owls.  On the mound he picked up a key league win against Harding and then put together one of the best pitching performances of the year against Knoxville Webb in the State Tournament, allowing the Owls to advance to the State semifinals.  In the semifinals against BGA, Blair threw 2.67 innings of relief after having pitched a complete game versus Knoxville Webb.  In total, he pitched 10 innings, allowing 9 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) while striking out 8.  His gritty performances in both the West Tennessee Regional and State Tournament demonstrated the type of mental and physical mind-set needed for future success.

“Spirit” Award - After having made significant contributions in 2005, Henning was ineligible for the 2006 season; however, he wanted to continue to be a part of MUS Baseball.  In doing so, Matt continued to work out with the team throughout the fall and winter with both conditioning and lifting weights.  Matt's senior leadership, hard work, support, and encouragement throughout the season was significant to the team's overall success and greatly appreciated by both coaches and teammates.

2006 Postseason Honors: 

- 2006 TPX Louisville Slugger Honorable-Mention All American: Michael Park
- National High School Baseball Coaches Association’s All-District Team: Michael Park
- Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s All-State Team: Tyler Massey, Michael Park, Max Prokell, and Zack Rutland
- Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association’s All-Region Team: Michael Park, Max Prokell, and Zack Rutland
- D2 “Large” West Tennessee Region All-Conference Team: Tyler Massey, Michael Park, Max Prokell, and Zack Rutland
- D2 West Tennessee Region All-Tournament Team: Michael Park, Max Prokell, and Zack Rutland
The Commercial Appeal's “Private” All-Metro Team: Tyler Massey, Michael Park, Max Prokell, and Zack Rutland

Diamond Owls Finish Season As State Semifinalists

The 2006 Diamond Owls posted the most historic season in school history, earning the school’s second trip to the State Tournament and picking up the program's first State-Tournament win as they advanced to the semifinals.

The Diamond Owls' twenty-two wins and semifinal finish earned them a #4 state ranking in D2 from the Tennessee Baseball Report. Twenty-two wins were the third most in school history and included victories over Battle Ground Academy, Briarcrest, ECS, Harding, Knoxville Webb, and McCallie. According to Coach Marc MacMillan ‘92, it was a case of both parents and players staying the course.

“We explained to both parents and players that our first 20 games or so may be a bit bumpy,” shared Coach MacMillan.

“This would be due to the lack of on-the-field playing experience we had returning; however, if all stayed the course, I felt that we had a State-Tournament caliber team.”

Coach MacMillan and staff were right as the Diamond Owls jumped out to a quick 3-1 start, picking up wins against DeSoto Central, Millington, and McCallie in the Metro Invitational. However, the squad lost four out of their next five games against CBHS, Knoxville Farragut, Riverside Military (GA), and NW Whitfield (GA).

“The mistakes that led to our losses at that time were not unanticipated,” said Coach MacMillan.

“The key was making sure that our players learned throughout the process in order to be prepared for the next game.”

The Diamond Owls responded positively, beating St. Benedict, 13-3, and evening their divisional record at 1-1.

After having lost to Houston at a promotional game for 1st Tennessee Fields and picking up a win against Ridgeway, MUS would participate in the prestigious USA Classic for the first time in school history. While the Owls went 1-3 in tournament play, this tournament turned their season around.

“We were coming into the USA Classic at 6-6 overall and played about as poorly as a team could play in the third round against Collierville. After meeting with the team following the game, we had to turn around two-and-half-hours later and play Houston on their home field,” explained Coach MacMillan.

“The boys took to heart what we shared, and even though we dropped a tough ballgame, 11-9, after being up 9-7 in the top of the seventh, we saw the signs as a staff that we were looking for from this ball club and were hopeful that those signs would become more consistent.”

With an overall record of 7-9, MUS stepped back into league play against Briarcrest.

Led by junior Michael Park’s pitching and a two-run home run from senior Zack Rutland, the Owls picked up their second straight divisional win, 3-1.

“This was a big win for us considering the fact that it was a divisional game as well as coming off of a tough weekend,” shared Coach MacMillan.

“We speak to the boys at great length about responding versus reacting, and I was very pleased with how they responded in this game, both mentally and physically, as well as the love they started to show for one another.”

At 8-9 overall and 2-1 in league play, the Diamond Owls began play in the 2006 Pepsi Challenge.

After having picked up wins against White Station and Jackson Christian School, the Owls lost to Covington, 15-1, in another lackluster performance.

According to Coach MacMillan, "The Covington game may have been a blessing in disguise as the boys were gaining some confidence and feeling pretty good about themselves; however, they learned in this game that the things we spoke about after the Collierville game must be a part of our everyday approach; otherwise, days like today would continue to occur.”

While the Owls lost their next game to Cordova, Coach MacMillan said, “The boys competed on each pitch, and in doing so, we got a little better that day in preparation for ECS.”

Once again, the Diamond Owls continued to show signs of improvement as they picked up an 8-3 win at ECS to put them at 3-1 in the league play with CBHS next on the schedule. In a game that the score was not quite indicative of the level of play, the Owls fell to the Wave, 10-3, in which MUS left fourteen runners on base.

With an overall record of 11-12 and 3-2 in divisional play, a very important week followed.

“While we split for the week, I felt really good going into the next week as we were rested and continuing to show signs of an improving team,” said Coach MacMillan.

The Owls followed up with three divisional wins against St. Benedict and twice against Harding. With a divisional record of 6-2, the Owls were in a position to attain a top-2 seed for the West Tennessee Regional Tournament.

“Our goal was to finish in the top three, and it was a good feeling knowing we accomplished this; however, we now had a chance to improve on it.” First, however, four games remained on the schedule.

After having gone up 8-0 on Jackson Christian School, the Diamond Owls allowed the Eagles to score nine unanswered run to win by a score of 9-8. With Collierville, Briarcrest, and ECS to follow, the Owls would have to respond accordingly to ensure they finished the season strong. 

Going into Collierville, the staff decided that pitching would be saved for the final two games; however, the Owls, once again, showed signs similar to their performance, falling behind 12-1. But the Owls did not give in and ended up losing by a score of 15-9.

“As silly as this sounds, I thought the boys competitive spirit was significant in this game considering the two games we had coming up,” explained Coach MacMillan.

“It also showed signs of a team that would not give up no matter what the score. In doing so, it was a game in which we lost on the scoreboard but got a little better because we learned something about ourselves.”

With regular-season play almost complete, the two most important games of the year were on the horizon with Briarcrest and ECS. In a pitcher’s dual and tightly contested ballgame, the Owls defeated Briarcrest, 3-2, assuring the Owls a two-seed in the West Tennessee Regional Tournament. The Owls followed up on Friday beating ECS 2-0 behind the strong pitching of sophomore Tyler Massey.

With an overall record of 8-2 in league play and two-seed, the Diamond Owls opened up regional play against First Assembly Christian School.

After a close first inning, the Owls were able to take advantage of walks as well as timely hitting to pick up a 17-2 win. With the win, the Owls once again faced Briarcrest with the winner earning a seed in the 2006 State Tournament.

“Our previous two games had been wars, and I just wanted to make sure the boys were relaxed, prepared, and confident in each other,” shared Coach MacMillan.

Senior Max Prokell gave the Diamond Owls some breathing room with a home run in his first at-bat. However, the game would remain close with the Owls up 6-3 going into the bottom of the fifth.  In that inning, MUS scored seven runs to earn the school’s second trip in school history to the State Tournament as well as a date with CBHS in the winner’s bracket finals.

In the opening round of the D2 State Tournament, the Diamond Owls defeated Knoxville, runner-up in the 2005 State Tournament, by a score of 5-2. The win marked the school’s first ever victory in the State Tournament.

In the quarterfinals of the winner’s bracket, the Diamond Owls jumped out early on Battle Ground Academy (BGA), scoring four runs in the top of the first, but poor defense would be costly as BGA defeated the Owls, 9-4. With the loss, the Diamond Owls had to turn around forty-five minutes later and play Knoxville Webb in an elimination game. The Owls defeated Knoxville Webb, 3-2, to advance to the semifinals against an undefeated BGA ball club.

In order for the Diamond Owls to advance to the State Championship game, they would have to beat BGA twice. In the first game, the Owls offense provided all the run support needed in their 10-3 win.

In the second game, the Owls once again jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but BGA continued to fight and work their way back into the game. With score tied at 6, BGA scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead. However, the Diamond Owls continued to scrap, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh before falling by a final score of 10-9.

“I can’t say enough about this team’s mental toughness, physical play, and love for one another throughout the State Tournament,” shared Coach MacMillan.

“It was a pleasure watching nineteen players come together as one, and I am thankful for the memories each will take with them from this experience. As their coach, alumnus, and former player, I thank each of them for not only the memories they provided us (coaching staff) but also the way they represented their families, their team, and the U.”

The Diamond Owls finished the season with an overall record of 22-18. While seniors Sam Coates, Matt Henning, John Hensley, Donnie Malmo, Max Prokell, Zach Rutland, and Will Sandlin graduate, the Owls return twelve lettermen next year and hope to build off of their 2006 experience.

Diamond Owls Begin Practice On Monday

MUS Baseball will start practice on Monday, February 13, in preparation for the 2006 season that opens up March 15 against Millington High School in the Metro Invitational Tournament.

Head Coach Marc MacMillan ’92 is enthusiastic and excited about the start of the season.

“The process of preparation began with summer baseball and continued with our physical-development program throughout the fall and winter, so the first day of practice brings an sense of optimism and excitement.”

The Diamond Owls are coming off of a year in which they won 24 games and finished runner-up during the regular-season divisional play. However, Coach MacMillan is aware that this year’s team is different than his 2005 club.

“Our 2005 ball club was made up of an experienced group of seniors, many of whom had played at the varsity level since their freshman year. Their experience and excellent leadership allowed for a successful season, both on and off the field,” said MacMillan.

“Our 2006 squad has 12 letterman returning, including seven seniors. Our senior leadership will continue to be very good. The on-the-field experience level, however, will dictate the need for patience early in the season and development throughout in preparation for the D2 West Tennessee Regional Tournament.”

The Diamond Owls preseason and regular-season schedules are available on the MUS Baseball website.

MUS Baseball Announces 2006 Schedule

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.”

Diamond Owls Complete Record Season

The 2005 Diamond Owls posted the one of the best seasons in school history, finishing in first place in the 2005 Pepsi Challenge and as the runners-up in league play.  The team earned 24 wins, the second most in school history, which included victories over CBHS, Germantown, Bartlett, ECS, and Briarcrest.

“It was an exciting and memorable year,” Head Coach Marc MacMillan said. “When you beat schools like CBHS, Germantown, Bartlett, and Cordova, you know you are picking up quality wins. Such experience allowed us to have additional success in our division against rivals Briarcrest, ECS, and Harding.”

After starting the year 5-0, the Diamond Owls entered division play with energy and momentum and continued their winning streak, 6-0. Following losses to CBHS and ECS, the Owls finished at 8-2 and earned the number two seed in the D2 West Tennessee Regional Tournament. With expectations high, the Owls unfortunately dropped their first two games to end their historic year.

“We accomplished our goal for the regular season, and although I feel this team deserved a better ending, we just didn’t earn it,” said Coach MacMillan. “While our final losses may leave a bitter taste now, I feel these players will be able to look back and appreciate their hard work and accomplishments in due time. I just can’t say enough about this group of boys and the fine season they put together.”

The Diamond Owls finished the season with an overall record of 24-12. Although the team will lose seniors David Delugach, Warren Grimm, Michael Haas, Mason Mosby, Rob Park, and Brent Phillips, 12 letterman will return in hopes of building on their 2005 success.

Mosby Commits To Rhodes College

Mason Mosby '04, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marlin L. Mosby, III, committed to play football and baseball for the Rhodes College Lynx. The senior’s ability to excel in multiple positions has been a great strength for the Owls on both the baseball diamond and the football field.

As a linebacker and former tight end for the varsity football team, Mosby led the defense all season and was named the defensive MVP of the 2004 State Championship game. Mosby also played first and third base for the varsity baseball team his sophomore and junior years, but boosted the strength of the Diamond Owls' infield at shortstop this past season. Hitting over .400 for the year, he was a force at the plate as well. 

“We are very excited that Mason will continue to play football at Rhodes,” said Head Football Coach Bobby Alston. “He is a great football player and someone who excellently portrays all of those character traits we expect from an MUS man.”

Head Baseball Coach Marc MacMillan echoed Alston’s assessment: “Rhodes is getting a scholar and a highly self-motivated athlete who has made a significant contribution to MUS athletics by participating in both football and baseball. I am very excited for Mason and his family as Rhodes will provide him with the opportunity to continue to maintain his high standards of academic performance and athletic competition.”

Following a formal signing with members of the Rhodes coaching staff, Mosby voiced his enthusiasm: “I’m really excited to be able to play baseball and football at Rhodes,” he said. “The overall quality of the school is excellent, and I’m looking forward to outstanding academic and athletic experiences.”