By By Marty Stamper / EMG Sports Assistant
Oct. 6, 2002
DECATUR – Saturday's four-team softball tournament at Newton County High School had a definite playoff atmosphere. That's largely because the four teams that participated are expected to go deep into the playoffs which begin on Oct. 15.
The host Newton County Lady Cougars beat Northeast Lauderdale 9-4 in the first round and Neshoba Central 5-3 in the championship.
Other games saw Neshoba beat West Lauderdale 12-5 and West knock off Northeast 7-3.
It was a good tuneup for all of the participants.
Heidelberg forfeited its entire season due to a lack of interest.
In their two games, the Lady Rockets had a tournament-best 36 hits. Newton County was second with 22.
The Lady Rockets have wins over Top 10 teams New Hope, Newton County, and now West Lauderdale this fall.
Newton County 5
Neshoba Central 3
The Lady Cougars rallied from a 3-2 deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth and added an insurance run in the sixth in beating Neshoba.
The Lady Rockets had just scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to come back from a 2-1 deficit. One run scored on Kady Chandler's sacrifice fly with the other coming on an error.
Leading 2-0, the Lady Cougars left the bases loaded in the bottom of the second when Kristin Chaney grounded out to end the inning.
Newton County got an RBI-single from Holly Jackson and another run on an error to go back up 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth.
In the sixth, Jennifer Smith singled home Mallory Shumake from second base for an insurance run. Shumake was running for Obreshia Davis who had singled.
The 21-4 Lady Cougars won despite being outhit 15-9. Smith and Kristin Chaney both had two hits.
Suzanne Chaney (12-3) got the win.
Sarah Williamson, who finished the day 7-for-8, went 3-for-4 for the Lady Rockets, 19-6. Jessi Nowell and Laura Smith had two hits apiece. Lindsey Smith took the loss.
West Lauderdale 7
NE Lauderdale 3
The Lady Knights scored six runs in the bottom of the third in winning the consolation game. Winning pitcher Sommer Jones had a two-run double in the inning with Amy Frazier, Brook Bounds, and Katie Moulds adding RBI-singles.
Northeast outhit West 11-10.
Frazier, Jones and Holly Herrington, each had two hits for West, 19-6.
Jennifer Bristow and Jana Olczak both had RBI-singles for Northeast, 20-6. Capri Norris had a pair of singles. Blair Rawson got the loss.
Neshoba Central 12
West Lauderdale 5
The Lady Rockets scored eight runs with two outs in the bottom of the fourth in beating West in the day's opener. Alana Moore had a two-run double in the inning with winning pitcher Lindsey Smith, Dacie Brantley, Celeste Burt, and Laura Smith each having an RBI-single. Allison McDaniel had a two-run single.
Sarah Williamson went 4-for-4 for Neshoba, 19-5, while Kady Chandler was 3-for-5 and Jessi Nowell was 3-for-4. Smith, Brantley, Moore, and Amber Dean each had two hits. Both of Moore's hits were doubles as she drove in three runs.
Neshoba outhit West 21-10.
Amy Frazier went 3-for-4 for the Lady Knights, 18-6. She had a two-run single in the fifth. Holly Herrington and Kirby Rutledge both had a pair of singles. J.J. Huggins had a solo homer to lead off the fourth. Kristina Gardner took the loss.
Newton County 9
NE Lauderdale 4
In the day's second game, the Lady Cougars scored four runs in the first inning and added three more in the third in beating Northeast.
Northeast got two runs in the first inning and two more in the second.
Kristin Chaney, Suzanne Chaney, Dominique Mapp, and Lauren Barrett each had two hits for the Lady Cougars. Winning pitcher Suzanne Chaney's two-run double in the second inning gave the hosts a 6-4 lead as she upped her record to 11-3.
Sylendria Johnson had a two-run triple, while Barrett and Jennifer Smith both had an RBI-double as the Lady Cougars improved to 20-4.
Raleigh Odom and Danielle McCoy both had two hits for Northeast, 20-5. Grace Ann Watkins had a two-run double. Blair Rawson took the loss.
Newton County outhit Northeast 13-10.