By By Austin Bishop/Special To The Star
June 17, 2001
A two-hour delay before the start of their State Games of Mississippi event led the participants in stickball to pull out before ever playing.
The stickball tournament, which consists of four teams, all made up of community teams from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was scheduled to begin play at 4 p.m. at Ray Stadium on the campus of Meridian High School.
Due to two-person volleyball, which is also played on the football field at Ray Stadium, getting started 90 minutes later than expected, the stickball teams had to sit around and wait before their event could get started.
Taft said he got a call around 5:30 p.m. that the volleyball was still going on, and that the stickball teams were getting ready to leave.
He said he was disappointed that the stickball event was canceled but hoped it would be held next year.
Taft said the delay in getting started had to do with getting the area cleaned up before the volleyball could begin.
Four games were set to be held, with two semifinals, a consolation and a championship game scheduled.