By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
June 28, 2002
One group of softball all-stars will be breaking new ground Saturday while another will keep a tradition going for at least one more year.
For the first time, the Mississippi Association of Coaches will sponsor a fast-pitch all-star competition. The doubleheader will take place at Hinds Community College beginning at noon. Five area players and one area coach were picked for the inaugural event.
Four of the five are on the South squad. The players are first baseman Ashley Satcher of Class 1A-2A state champion Clarkdale, pitcher/outfielder Krissi Harris of Class 3A state champion Newton County, Ashley Mathis of Enterprise, and Stephanie Nelson of Meridian. Coaching the South is Clarkdale's Rick Roberson along with Harrison Central's Jimmy Parker, who led the Red Rebelettes to the Class 5A state title in May.
The lone area player on the North team is Union pitcher/shortstop/outfielder Lindsey Cassel.
Completing the South roster are Suzi Grubbs, Jessie Mavromihalis, and Candace Joe of Pascagoula, Emily Laird and Sissy Waldrup of South Jones, Letrice Harris and Maria May of Gautier, Dawn Harrison and Amanda Knight of Harrison Central, and Candice Bailey of Moss Point.
On the North roster are Heather Nails of Kossuth, Paige Lemmons of Northwest Rankin, Stacy McCommon and Jennifer Swan of Amory, Stacie Creel and Nicky Ruffin of Clinton, Katherine Sinele and Mollie Buchanan of Madison Central, Shelley Frazier and Casey Colvin of New Hope, Maggie McEwen and Leigh Anne Lunsford of Southaven, and Elisabeth Eads of Grenada. North coaches are Michael Chambless of Clinton and Morris Hunter of Southaven.
Four area players were picked for the slow-pitch all-star games which will consist of a best-of-three series beginning at 5 p.m. at Raymond High School. Three are on the South roster. They are first baseman Betsy Clark (.570, 47 RBIs) of Class 3A state champion Newton County and shortstop Amber Joyner (.433) and outfielder Hayley Scarborough (.534, 47 RBIs, 23 extra-base hits) of West Lauderdale. Coaching for the South are Hickory native Mark Fanning of St. Andrew's and Lucy Young of Warren Central.
First baseman Andra Daniels of Meridian was selected to the North squad.
Completing the South roster are Lacey Renee Morris of Florence, Kendra Satchfield of St. Martin, Bridget Stephens of Pearl, Anna Marsh of St. Andrew's, Marilyn Landers of Warren Central, Holli Bass of West Lincoln, Robbi Dampier of Lawrence County, Brandi Howell of Petal, Shay Hyatt of George County, Ginny Dunaway of Brookhaven, and Kenya Smith of Class 5A state champion Moss Point.
Completing the North team are Jennifer Johnson of Class 5A state runner-up Northwest Rankin, Eugenia Beeks of Smithville, Heather Harris of Class 3A state runner-up Amory, Brandi Pierce of Mooreville, Bethany Sherard and Ashley Wilbanks of Kossuth, Shera Edwards and Rebekah Crider of Tupelo, Sara Beth Lewis and Lori Vaughan of Class 2A state champion Hatley, Elizabeth Davidson and Yolanda Ellis of Columbus, and Staranna Frazier of New Albany.
Coaches for the North are Mike Hathcock of Hatley and Phil Webb of Smithville.