Under McMinn, MH Chiefs claim third straight baseball state championship 5/16/2014
Published 12:00 am Friday, May 16, 2014
Signing with Williams Baptist were (left to right) twins Cody Harbour, Williams Baptist head coach Frank Lee and Clay Harbour. Photo submitted
Submitted by Rachel Jackson
Magnolia Heights
Magnolia Heights Chiefs’ baseball team just captured their third state championship in a row.
In three seasons, they have a combined record of 104-11. The Chiefs have received a lot of help from players with ties to Panola County.
Chris McMinn, graduate of South Panola and son of Ronald “Runt” and Becky McMinn, has led the Chiefs to the championship series six out of the nine years he has been head coach.
He has been named MAIS Coach of the Year 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and last year was named Clarion Ledger Coach of the Year.
McMinn attributes his success as a coach to his father, former coach at South Panola High School.
The Chiefs swept Oak Forest for the championship by defeating them 14-2 and 10-1. Last year’s team had a record of 37-0 and was ranked eighth in the nation.
Forest Mackey, a senior on this year’s team, is from Sardis. Many former players and current players are able to go play at the next level.
