By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 2, 2002
The first battle this season between state powers Newton County and West Lauderdale highlights this week's slow-pitch softball action, along with the New Hope Tournament in which four area teams will compete.
Newton County, the defending Class 3A state champion, travels to Collinsville where the Lady Cougars have had no success in recent years for a 7 p.m. Division 5-3A contest on Thursday.
The two have often battled each other for high stakes. West has won five state championships (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, and 2000), while Newton County has won two (1992 and 2001).
In Tuesday's slate of games, Northeast Lauderdale hosts Quitman at 6 p.m. at Northeast Park in 5-4A action and Choctaw Central hosts West Lauderdale for a 5 p.m. 5-3A game. Newton County goes to Carthage for a 7 p.m. 5-3A contest. Another 5-3A matchup has Southeast Lauderdale hosting Philadelphia at 7 p.m. Neshoba Central hosts Newton at 6 p.m. Nanih Waiya hosts Eupora in a 5:30 p.m. contest. Bay Springs goes to South Leake for a 5 p.m. game.
In fast-pitch action, Leake Academy travels to Benton Academy for a 4 p.m. game.
In another game of area interest on Thursday, Meridian takes on Northeast Lauderdale at Northeast Park at 7 p.m.
Clarkdale visits Bay Springs at 6 p.m. in 5-2A play. Neshoba Central plays Philadelphia at 6 p.m. at Burnside Park. Southeast Lauderdale goes to Choctaw Central for a 5-3A game at 5 p.m. Quitman visits Wayne County for a 5 p.m. contest.
Edinburg hosts Union in a 6-1A contest at 6 p.m. Also in 6-1A, Lake hosts Nanih Waiya at 6 p.m. and Noxapater goes to Sebastopol for a 6 p.m. game. Enterprise hosts Newton in a 5-2A game at 6 p.m.
Heidelberg is scheduled to travel to Carthage for a 5 p.m. 5-3A doubleheader, but the Lady Oilers have already forfeited division games to West Lauderdale and Choctaw Central and may not field a team this season.
Clarkdale, Louisville Meridian, and Union will all play in the New Hope Tournament on Saturday. In Pool A are top-ranked New Hope, Clarkdale, Meridian, and Nettleton. In Pool B are Amory, Louisville, Union, and Columbus.
Union takes on Columbus at 10 a.m. followed by Meridian and New Hope and Louisville against Nettleton at 11:15. At 12:30 p.m., Clarkdale takes on Meridian and Louisville squares off with Columbus. The 1:45 games have Union playing 2001 Class 3A state runner-up Amory and Clarkdale meeting Nettleton. Meridian plays Nettleton at 3 p.m. At 4:15, Meridian plays Columbus and Union meets Louisville. Union faces New Hope at 5:30 with Clarkdale squaring off with Amory. Clarkdale closes out with New Hope at 6:45 as does Louisville with Amory.
New Hope is the two-time defending state champion in Class 4A and also won the state title in 1989, 1990 and 1997. Clarkdale has three state titles (1995, 1996, 1997). Meridian also has three state championships (1994, 1996, and 1999). Louisville won it twice (1994 and 1998), while Amory won its state title in 1999.
Northeast Lauderdale travels to South Mississippi Saturday to play in the East Central High School Tournament. The defending 4A state runner-up Lady Trojans will play East Central once and defending 5A state champion Moss Point twice.
In fast-pitch action on Saturday, Leake Academy will play in a tournament at Kirk Academy in Grenada.