The beginning of a new month is only a day away, which means that warmer weather and spring is right around the corner.

This warmer weather also means the beginning of spring sports in school districts located within Pearl River County.   

The winter sports, soccer and basketball, have come to an end. Some of our local teams were able to find success, which led them to accomplish new goals. At Picayune Junior High School, a new soccer program, led by Head Coach Devin Herrington, kicked-off this year. Children in the seventh and eighth grade had the opportunity to either develop their skills or learn a new sport and in the years to come, Herrington hopes to not only teach the children how to become better athletes, but also how to have fun and make new friends. On the soccer field, both girls and boys soccer teams from Pearl River Central High School advanced to the second round of the state playoffs, a feat that had not been done in recent years, Head Coach Joe Weems said.

On the basketball court, Picayune’s boys and Pearl River Central’s girls basketball teams were able to accomplish their goal of reaching the state playoffs. Also, second-year Head Coach Scott Stephens led the Blue Devils to the team’s first region championship game and second round appearance in the state tournament in recent years.

Now, students, faculty and parents will focus their attention to baseball and softball action in the coming weeks. Spring also marks the last three months before students take their summer vacation. So during the next  few weeks, let’s make sure we go out and support our local athletes as they not only become better at the sport they participate in, but also become a better person through the lessons that they are able to learn through athletics.