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The Central-Hayneville Lions recently became the Class 1A Area 5 Champions, a feat that hasn’t happened since 1982.

Much like the 1982 Lion’s team, the 2022 Lion’s was knocked out of state playoffs when they lost to Choctaw County 17-9 and 3-12 on Friday, April 22.

The Lion’s baseball team is lead my Coach Michael Perry who joined the school in 2018. Perry is also the football coach where he coached them to the playoffs in 2020, the first time the Lion’s football team competed in the state playoffs in 34 years. The football team returned to playoffs the following year.

Perry has two season’s coaching baseball under his belt. Last season, the Lion’s made the playoffs as area runners-up.

Perry and Lowndes County Athletic Director Nickles Rankins have worked hard to bring Lowndes County Athletics into a force to be reckoned with. Rankins came to Lowndes County Schools with 18 years of extensive coaching, teaching, and administrative experience. He has applied his experience in building up the athletic departments in the county schools ensuring that any child who wants to play is allowed that option.

In a county known for basketball, Perry and Rankin are working to ensure it becomes a triple threat.