Maybe it was the befuddled look on the batters’ faces. Maybe it was the throbbing pain in his mitt hand, where the 80 mph fastballs were slamming into. Or maybe it was just that obvious that this 12-year-old kid was that much better than everybody else.

Whatever it was, Tyler Wells knew then and there that Michael Busby was something special.

&#8220When we went to the 12-year-old world series I knew Michael was going to be an outstanding player because he just excelled beyond everybody else,” Wells said.

Indeed, Busby crafted quite a name for himself as a pitcher. In three seasons at Porters Chapel, he’s gone 15-2 and struck out 205 batters in 95 2/3 innings.

Last fall, he signed to play at Mississippi State. Wells, Busby’s catcher when they both played for the Culkin Critters youth team, hasn’t turned out too badly either. The Vicksburg High utilityman hit .417 last season, with nine doubles, four home runs and 28 RBIs. He has signed to play at Ole Miss.

Although the former teammates will become bitter rivals next season, it’s the scenario they always dreamed about while growing up.

&#8220We always talked about it. Me and Michael, him being the pitcher and me the catcher, we always talked about playing on the same college team,” Wells said, adding that it was odd they ended up choosing Southeastern Conference rivals State and Ole Miss as their colleges. &#8220It’s interesting. I would’ve never picked that. But it’s going to be fun to be right across from him.”

Wells and Busby turned out to be the most talented of the Critters, but they’re hardly the only ones with athletic ability.

Of the 14 players who spent more than one year with the Critters, 10 will start for Warren County high school teams this season. Wells and Busby will play Division I baseball in 2008, and another ex-Critter, Eric Richards, earned a football scholarship to Mississippi State. Several other former Critters are being recruited to play at junior colleges or smaller four-year schools.

While Wells and Busby were discussing their future, the legacy of the Critters is what Bubba Mims thought about. Mims assembled the Critters as a 5-year-olds’ team and coached them all the way through three Dizzy Dean World Series appearances as 11-, 12-, and 13-year-olds.

Mims died of a heart attack in 2004 – while serving as the head football and assistant baseball coach at Porters Chapel, where most of the Critters ended up. His steady hand cultivated the Critters’ interest in baseball and provided a positive influence that lasts today.

&#8220He was probably one of the biggest influences in my life. He was the greatest role model I’ve ever had. He didn’t like to lose. He wasn’t just a great coach. He was a good man. That’s hard to find,” Busby said. &#8220He didn’t try to make us grow up too soon. He let us have fun.”

Wells agreed. He said playing for the Critters was like hanging out with a big extended family. Even though they’ve split up as a team, it was an atmosphere that’s helped most of them remain close friends to this day.

&#8220It was a blast. Going to hotels as a little 10-year-old, 13-year-old, just riding around the country, it was fun. It was the time of my life. If I could have it to do over again, I would do it over again in a minute,” Wells said. &#8220(Mims) made it more of a fun time. He went out to make it fun more than a job. Even practice, it was a family meeting more than a practice.”

After their time with the Critters, the career paths of Busby and Wells diverged. Both played at Porters Chapel until 2003, when Wells transferred to Vicksburg High. They also took different roads to stardom – Wells through a low-key, hard work approach, and Busby through more natural ability.

Wells was primarily used as a catcher at PCA and with the Critters, but also played in the infield. At VHS, he has become a full-blown utility player. He’s played second base, catcher, third base, shortstop and in the outfield.

&#8220Michael was the impressive one with his arm, but Tyler was a team player,” said Vicksburg infielder Judd Mims, a former Critter and Bubba Mims’ son. &#8220As (Wells) got older, he lit it up and progressed.”

Transferring to Vicksburg played a big part in that progression, Wells said. While it was hard to leave his friends at PCA, he said he hasn’t regretted the move across town and into a good situation.

&#8220It was extremely hard. I grew up with those guys. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to play with them again was tough. But moving over here was a good move for me and it worked out for the best,” Wells said. &#8220I wanted to see a different talent level and where my abilities were, and see how far I could push it. I think I’ve done a good job competing at this level.”

Busby, meanwhile, stayed at PCA – mainly out of respect for Mims. As his talent blossomed and his fastball creeped over the 90 mph mark, Busby became a phenom. There have been constant rumors that he’d transfer to bigger schools like Vicksburg or Warren Central to draw more attention from college and pro scouts.

But honoring Mims’ wishes kept him at PCA, and everything worked out for the best. Busby has still gotten the attention of scouts and won a state championship with PCA last season.

&#8220Coach Bubba always wanted everybody out here. That’s pretty much the main reason I stayed,” Busby said, adding that he did think about transferring a few times. &#8220The thought has come up, but not enough to do anything about it.”

Busby has heard the rumors, though. Barely a month goes by that some message board starts a rumor, or a whisper is overheard and he’s heading to a bigger school – even as he shows up for practice at PCA. Busby said he shrugs off the talk.

&#8220It makes me work harder. Sure, it’s not the same level of ball, but you face some teams that are just as good as any 5A team,” Busby said. &#8220If you can field a groundball in 2A, you can field it in 5A ball. And pitching, instead of throwing a three-hitter you throw a six-hitter. I try to brush that stuff aside.”

Indeed, the only big school in Busby’s future is Mississippi State. And, a few times a year he’ll get to see his old friend Wells in the opposite dugout for Ole Miss.

Not quite the dream they shared as 12-year-old teammates, but close enough to honor the memory of their fallen mentor.

&#8220When Bubba died, we wanted to do it in his memory. We wanted to do something great for him,” Wells said. &#8220It’s just a respect we had with him and he had for us. We didn’t want to let him down, basically.”