While year one of the Brian O’Connor era in Starkville ended short of advancing to the College World Series, one of the Mississippi State skipper’s best young players has been named National Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game.

Jacob Parker, a Purvis native who turned down an early start in MLB to play for O’Connor, became the fourth Bulldog and first since Christian MacLeod in 2020 to earn a National Freshman of the Year award. Before that, J.T. Ginn won the Perfect Game honor in 2019.

Parker wrapped up his freshman campaign with three hits – two of which were home runs – and four RBI in Mississippi State’s two-game super regional against Georgia last weekend. He finished the season with a .339 clip from the plate with 18 home runs and 62 RBI.

In the process, Parker broke the program record for most home runs by a freshman and finished second on the team in the category. The outfielder added 10 doubles, one triple, and seven stolen bases.

In addition to his Perfect Game honor, Parker was also tabbed as a Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Freshman All-SEC, and the Most Outstanding Player of the Starkville Regional.

Parker could pull in another honor this week when Baseball America announces its Freshman of the Year recipient on Thursday. He is one of five finalists, alongside Texas pitcher Sam Cozart, North Carolina pitcher Caden Glauber, Texas outfielder Anthony Pack Jr., and Stanford outfielder Teddy Tokheim. The only other Bulldog to ever win the award is Rafael Palmeiro, who did it in 1983 before later going on to play 20 seasons in the MLB.

• Two brothers were arrested in Mississippi following a manhunt for the shooting of a Covington County deputy.
• The deputy was shot during a traffic stop that led to a vehicle chase and was last reported in stable condition.
• The arrested brothers are also related to a teenager charged with capital murder in a separate case.

Mississippi authorities said brothers Cortavious Lawayne Hobbs, 18, and Cortavion Dewayne Hobbs, 19, were arrested June 9 without incident, ending a manhunt tied to the shooting of a Covington County deputy.

The shooting occurred between 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Monday, June 8, in Mount Olive when deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle.

The Covington County Sheriff’s Office said the vehicle failed to stop and fled, leading deputies on a chase down U.S. Highway 49 before arriving on a gravel road near Greer’s CashSaver store.

The sheriff’s office said the vehicle “became stuck,” and the driver exited the vehicle with their hands raised. Investigators said other occupants exited the vehicle and fired shots at deputies on the scene.

A deputy was shot during the interaction with the suspects near the Covington, Smith and Simpson County lines.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said Yates Rodney was the deputy injured.

Smith County Sheriff Joel Houston said the bullet struck the deputy above his vest and beneath his arm, causing life-threatening injuries. Rodney was transported to Forrest General Hospital, where he was last reported to be in stable condition.

A second deputy provided backup and returned fire during the encounter but was not injured, authorities said.

On Monday evening, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation initially issued Blue Alerts for two suspects identified as Zykerian Magee, 19, and Cortavion.

The Covington County Sheriff’s Office later announced that Magee turned himself in and, after being interviewed by investigators, was determined to have been misidentified.

MBI updated its alert stating Magee was cleared as a suspect. Authorities then notified the public that officers were searching for Cortavion and his younger brother Cortavious.

Large-scale cockfighting operation: Cockfighting bust lands Mississippi landowner and 59 people in custody. Here’s what to know

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said Cortavion and Cortavious were apprehended around 1 a.m. Tuesday in the general area of the incident. The brothers were found hiding under a house, the sheriff’s office said.

Covington County Sheriff Darrell Perkins said the two suspects in custody are also the brothers of Cordarius Laray Hobbs, 17.

Cordarius faces charges of capital murder, burglary and aggravated assault in the June 3 deaths of 74-year-old Billy Blair and 71-year-old Virginia Carol Blair, a married couple, during a standoff in Simpson County. Cordarius previously pleaded not guilty to 13 felony charges in the case.

According to investigators, Simpson County deputies were conducting a welfare check at the Blairs’ home when they believe they interrupted a burglary in progress. Authorities said Cordarius shot a deputy and held law enforcement at bay for several hours before he was eventually taken into custody.

What is a Blue Alert?

The Mississippi Blue Alert System is an alert activated when a law enforcement officer is injured, killed or missing in the line of duty and the suspect remains at large.

A Blue Alert is designed to quickly alert the public, media and other agencies so they can help locate and apprehend the suspect before further harm can occur.

A Blue Alert uses multiple communication channels such as TV, radio, mobile phone alerts and highway message boards, to spread suspect descriptions and vehicle details.

The national system, National Blue Alert Network, was created under the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015, named after two New York City police officers who were killed in an ambush attack.

Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from June 8 drawing

01-05-08-17-27

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 8 drawing

Midday: 2-0-1, FB: 8

Evening: 3-7-0, FB: 9

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 8 drawing

Midday: 4-1-1-5, FB: 8

Evening: 0-6-8-4, FB: 9

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 8 drawing

Midday: 12

Evening: 04

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Story continues below gallery.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.

Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:

Mississippi Lottery Corporation

P.O. Box 321462

Flowood, MS

39232

If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.

Mississippi Lottery Headquarters

1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100

Flowood, MS

39232

Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.

When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?

• Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
• Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
• Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
• Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).