Mississippi State baseball hosts Alabama at Dudy Noble Field this weekend. Following their midweek Governor’s Cup victory over Ole Miss, the Diamond Dawgs (30-15, 12-9 SEC) have won eight of their last nine games.

Despite some of the frustrations of this season, which were amplified given the struggles of the last two years, State is not only in position to return to the postseason. They suddenly have a very good chance of hosting. A series win over #15 RPI Alabama would go a long way towards making that happen.

The Crimson Tide are 28-16 on the season and 9-12 in the SEC. First year HC Rob Vaughn has done a fantastic job with the Tide thus far. His squad has impressive series wins over Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arkansas. They have struggled on the road, however, getting swept at both Georgia and Kentucky.

Bama is one of the better hitting teams in the SEC. They’re third in the conference in batting average (.311) and fourth in both slugging (.538) and runs scored (351). They don’t walk or strikeout frequently nor do they play small-ball. This is a team that tries to hit it hard, and they do it well.

Third-baseman Gage Miller is having an outstanding year, leading the team in average (.386), RBI (47), and home runs (18). Five other members of the Tide lineup are hitting .300 and three others have double-digit home runs.

State’s pitching staff has done a good job against some of the better lineups they’ve faced this year. They’ll be tested again with Alabama.

Pitching has not been a strong suit for Alabama this year. In SEC games, the Tide have a team ERA of 6.71 and a batting average allowed of .271, both of which put them towards the bottom of the conference.

Friday night Ace Gage Farone has been solid with a 3.68 SEC ERA. Saturday starter Zane Adams (5.06) has been at bit more up-and-down, and Sunday starter Ben Hess (10.21) has struggled mightily. Their bullpen has struggled as well. Alton Davis (5.14) has been their most consistent reliever, but beyond him they don’t have much.

Ironically, Mississippi State’s lineup has seemingly struggled the most this season when facing weaker pitching staffs. Ideally they can reverse that trend this weekend.

A Mississippi city councilman agreed to forfeit a monster truck and nearly $2 million after a federal investigation revealed he sold illicit drugs advertised as CBD, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Robert Leon Deming, III, who serves on the Biloxi City Council, sold over $2 million in illegal synthetic cannabinoids as vape additives that he labeled as CBD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said following a yearslong probe by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The DEA received complaints in 2022 that customers became ill after using some of Deming’s products, and his employees discussed in group chats how the additives were too strong and could hurt customers, according to prosecutors.

“A public official’s side job should not be running a business that distributes millions of dollars in illegal controlled substances and endangers the health and safety of its customers,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “We appreciate the hard work of investigators with the DEA, FDA, and MBN to put a stop to the distribution of these dangerous vape additives.”

Feds launched probe into Deming’s business one year after it opened

According to court documents, Deming founded the Candy Shop LLC in 2019 and opened stores in Mississippi and North Carolina. In 2020, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and DEA launched an investigation into his business and found some of the vape products contained illicit additives.

In May 2022, federal prosecutors said Deming gave someone $2,200 to buy about two pounds of a synthetic cannabinoid product known as 5F-AB-PINACA to use in the shop’s vape additives. Investigators also found that Deming’s gross sales of vape additive products containing illegal drugs totaled over $2 million. He was arrested in September and released days later on bond, according to court records.

Deming pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $1 million penalty. As part of the plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit a yellow monster truck with oversized tires, a lift kit, and nearly $2 million.

“Mr. Deming pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in what amounted to a very complicated case hinging upon his knowledge of the existence of synthetic cannabinoids in vape products he sold along with other allegations by the Government,” attorney W. F. Hornsby III told USA TODAY on Thursday. “Mr. Deming’s decision to plead guilty was made after taking into consideration his family, friends, employees, and the totality of the circumstances.”

His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 13.

Synthetic cannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids, such as the one Deming was caught using as vape additives, are a class of lab-made drugs that have similar chemicals to the cannabis plant, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The drug can be cheaper to make and is more likely to go undetected in urine drug screenings, the institute said, but it can cause starkly different reactions compared to natural cannabis products.

Some synthetic cannabinoids are classified under the Controlled Substances Act as Schedule I drug, alongside marijuana, heroin, and LSD. The act categorizes drugs based on their potential for abuse, addiction, and medical use.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical extracted from cannabis plants. It can be found in both hemp and marijuana plants — both are technically cannabis but hemp must have less than 0.3% THC present. CBD is non-psychoactive and shouldn’t contain THC, the chemical that produces the “high” feeling in marijuana.  

The usual CBD formulation is oil, but it is also sold as an extract, vaporized liquid, and oil-based capsule, according to the Mayo Clinic. Food, drinks, and beauty products are among the many CBD-infused products available online, including lip balms, gummies, and creams.

Side effects of CBD may include dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness, and fatigue, the Mayo Clinic warned. The chemical can also interact with other medications. If you have a heart condition or take blood thinners, some doctors recommend staying away from CBD. 

Contributing: Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY