By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
March 27, 2001
DECATUR The Newton County Lady Cougars used two big innings to take a 7-0 division win over Philadelphia in Monday night's fast-pitch softball action.
Newton County struck early, getting three runs on two hits in the first inning and then adding four insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The win upped the Lady Cougars' overall record to 18-0 and their league mark to 7-0. It also extended Newton County's win streak to an impressive 25 games dating back to last year.
Kristin Chaney and Stephanie Airhart led off the bottom of the first inning with singles and scored after Philadelphia misplayed two fly balls in the outfield.
Newton County senior pitching ace April Bufkin played cat and mouse with the Lady Tornadoes most of the night, letting them get runners on base in every inning but the seventh, but never letting them cross the plate as Newton County posted its eighth shutout of the year.
Bufkin (11-0) struck out 12 and walked six. She allowed only two hits.
Philadelphia had its chances early.
In the bottom of the fourth, Krissi Harris led off with a bunt single for Newton County. After a fielder's choice, Kristal Burton slapped a single up the middle that got past the Philadelphia center fielder allowing Ferguson to score. Kristin Chaney added an RBI-single in the inning, while Dominique Mapp's single drove in a pair of runs.
Kristin Chaney went 3-for-4, all singles. Airhart had two singles as Newton County had nine hits.
Airhart turned a 4-3 double play in the top of the sixth to end the inning.
Jennie Battle (6-4) took the loss as Philadelphia fell to 7-4 both overall and in division play.
The Lady Tornadoes had a double from Rhonda Munn and a single from Krystal Moore.
Newton County hosts Choctaw Central at 4 p.m. on Wednesday while Philadelphia travels to Noxapater for a 4 p.m. contest on Thursday.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com.