By Staff
In the photo at top, Clarkdale's Tessa Gamble (left), Mamie Cumberland and Amanda St. Pierre (16) smear shaving cream on each other after winning the Class 2A title. PHOTOS BY PAULA MERRITT / THE MERIDIAN STAR
By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
Nov. 1, 2002
JACKSON The Halloween costumes came on a bit early for the Clarkdale Lady Bulldogs.
With the sun fading toward Halloween evening, the Lady Bulldogs were busy making themselves into something out of the first Ghostbusters movie. They resembled the crew right after Mr. Marshmallow Man exploded.
Shaving ream was everywhere. On faces, on uniforms, on coaches and on principal Jan Miller. But instead of calling them Ghostbusters, one can call the Lady Bulldogs the State 2A Champions of Mississippi Slow-pitch Softball.
Clarkdale completed a perfect playoff run to the State 2A title on Thursday here at the V.A. Fields at Legion Park. The Lady Bulldogs swept all eight of their postseason games including the final two against a tough Mooreville squad.
Three strong middle innings-worth of hitting gave Clarkdale game one 14-11. Then in game two, Coach Rick Roberson's team used solid defense to beat the Lady Troopers 4-3.
The championship is the fourth for Roberson and Clarkdale and the first since a twin-peat in 1995-96.
Much like last year, Clarkdale won the first game. But in 2001 Hatley rallied for two straight wins.
Senior Jor'Dan Orr who had three hits in game one and then made one of the two big defensive plays in game two, exulted in the moment, shaving cream and all.