Evan Goolsby

Ripley, MS | Ole Miss

[crazy…🧊 @2019_MyYear]

We really flipped a midrange based player who’s terrible in the playoffs and a benchwarmer for a Hall of Famer Kawhi Leonard TWICE

[Hayden Federico @haydenfederico3]

No place I’d rather be. Run it back @OleMissBSB 🤘🏼

[SHIRTLESSRUSSO @SHIRTLESSRUSSO1]

Ty Long must be in the state penitentiary

[Baseball Quotes @BaseballQuotes1]

BAT FLIP OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

[Southern Miss Baseball @SouthernMissBSB]

First of three at The Pete.

#OTR | #ETM | #SMTTT

[Southern Miss Baseball @SouthernMissBSB]

Up close and personal!!

#OTR | #ETM | #SMTTT

[Baseball Quotes @BaseballQuotes1]

This is why you don't bunt

[Keith Carter @KeithCarterOM]

Let’s go! No one better @CoachGolding! Excited for the next few weeks and for the future of @OleMissFB. Players and staff ready to go win a natty! #CFP

[Mississippi Sports @SocialSportsMs]

To a few generations of baseball loving boys in Ripley, Joel Gafford hung the moon. The next generation, kids just about to enter junior high or a little younger, they had “play for Gafford” on their bucket list.

Joel Gafford is the winningest baseball coach in Tippah County history. He was at Ripley for 15 years and there are students playing for the Tigers who have never known anything but the nicknames, quotes and program that Coach Gafford built.

There were more than a few times that Gafford and I talked about how the Tigers would graduate a big, successful class and everyone would write them off in the preseason the next year only for his Ripley squad to win a bunch of games, make the playoffs, win a district title. He would always credit that to the program that was in place more so than anything.

The sudden loss of someone who became synonymous with Ripley baseball gives the current Tigers returning next season a unique opportunity. You heartbreakingly won’t get to play for Coach Gafford next season but you will get to play FOR Coach Gafford. Meaning: you get to carry forward the program as a standard bearer for the next generation, a lofty expectation for high school students but one I know your coach prepared you for.

Excuses are for those who need them.

Eat breakfast. Go Tigers.

[Daily Journal Sports @DJournalSports]

If you've not heard by now, Ripley baseball coach Joel Gafford has passed away at the age of 40. He led the Tigers for 15 seasons and guided them to the Class 4A state finals last season. Rest easy, Coach. #djpreps

[Mississippi Sports @SocialSportsMs]

I’ve covered a lot of coaches over the years. It’s extremely rare that a coach stays in one place for more than a decade nowadays. It’s even more rare that those long time coaches have the universal respect and love from all of their former players.

Joel Gafford was one of those coaches.

He became synonymous with Ripley baseball.

He demanded the best from his guys but one thing was clear…those were HIS guys.

A prime example of that: the media swarmed Ty Long after his masterful pitching performances at the state championship final game, a tough loss for the Tigers. Gafford came up to Ty, put his arm around him, and was right there with him the whole time.

Me and Gafford would text and talk occasionally, about sports mostly. Over a decade+ of covering him, we became friendly. He thanked me for covering his Tigers, never wanted any credit for anything, and always said the program was bigger than him.

Thanks for all the baseball banquet invites and signing day heads up over the years Coach. I’ll miss the “eat breakfast. Go Tigers” Tweets and I’ll miss you.

[Southern Miss Baseball @SouthernMissBSB]

BARRETT BOMB 💣💣💣

#EverythingMatters | #SMTTT

[Southern Miss Baseball @SouthernMissBSB]

𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲

🆚: at Texas State
⌚️: 6 p.m.
📍: San Marcos, Texas
🏟: Bobcat Ballpark
📺: https://t.co/Qf86iAmFtH
📻: https://t.co/sZGBQeSWbU
📊: https://t.co/DmtKxbHkqB

#EverythingMatters | #SMTTT

[Right Field Roost @USMRFRoost]

Ty Long with his first collegiate hit & RBI in the 8th inning here vs ULM! Hats off to him.

[⚾RHS Baseball⚾ @ripleybaseball]

Video of Ty’s 1st career hit, which was a 2out RBI, narrated by his older brother Bill.

[Southern Miss Baseball @SouthernMissBSB]

Still D.R.E.Y. 😎

101 off the bat for the lead. Shoutout to Ty Long for the wheels to score from first

@DreyBarrett | #EverythingMatters | #SMTTT

[Southern Miss Baseball @SouthernMissBSB]

Help us wish Ty Long a happy birthday!

Enjoy your day, Ty!

@Ty_Long2 | #EverythingMatters | #SMTTT

[⚾RHS Baseball⚾ @ripleybaseball]

Happy Fathers Day