By Staff
Star Tracking …
April 11, 2001
DECATUR Mack Fanning knew he could put a lock on the Division 5 fast-pitch title with a win here Tuesday night. So when it came to the decision of whether to start senior ace April Bufkin for the second straight night against rival Clarkdale, Fanning went with his gut instinct. Bufkin tossed her second complete game in as many days, and Newton County scratched out a pair of late runs to knock off the visiting Lady Bulldogs 5-3. The win, coupled with Monday's 7-3 win at Clarkdale, improved Newton County to 25-2 overall. The Lady Cougars are 12-0 in division play and have all but mathematically wrapped up the regular-season crown.
Momentum is something that can win or lose ball games. But as was the case this Tuesday night at Clarkdale, it's how a team responds to that momentum that can sometimes make the biggest difference. Clarkdale (21-5) moved to 9-2 in division 7-2A as it answered every Seminary charge and put away the visiting Bulldogs 13-10. Roland Gatlin's crew had to respond to two four-run innings by Seminary in order to survive.
April 11, 1997
Coby Miller solidified his reputation as the fastest man in junior college track at Thursday's Meridian Juco. The Meridian Community College freshman sprinter ran a 9.67 hand-timed 100 meters at Thursday's meet, which translates into a 10.01 with USA Track and Field conversion factor. Miller's time should be one of the fastest 100 meter times in the nationals this year.
Top-ranked Meridian Community College exploded for six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to snap a 3-3 tie and lift the Eagles to a 9-3 win Thursday night against the visiting Bevill State (Ala.) Bears in junior college baseball action. With the win, MCC improves to 35-3. The loss drops Bevill State to 10-19. The Eagles defeated Bevill State 15-9 earlier this season on the road. MCC will be back in action Saturday on the road for a doubleheader at No. 7 Dekalb (Ga.) College.
April 11, 1992
STONEWALL After struggling nearly all afternoon with hardthrowing Enterprise righthander Jason Wilkins, the Clarkdale baseball team found a little magic in the sixth inning. Four of Clarkdale's five hits on Friday came in the sixth, as well as the tying and go-ahead runs that gave Clarkdale a 4-3 Division 5-2A victory. Despite Wilkins' eight strikeouts, Clarkdale was able to score twice in the sixth when Wayne Rainer singled home Brian Hart to tie the game 3-3. After Rainer stole second, Brad Freeman singled to left on an identical ground ball to Rainer's which found a hole between short and third to put the Bulldogs ahead 4-3.
Ryan Satcher
Sports Faces …
Kelly Sterling
Kelly Sterling is a tennis player at Meridian High School. Sterling is just in the seventh grade but she is already carving out a good first season for coach Thad George's Wildcat net team.
When things aren't going well, Sterling says she likes to stay positive.
Jeff Byrd