Meridian to host softball festival
By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
April 4, 2003
Sixteen games are on tap for Saturday when Meridian High hosts its second Meridian Wildcat Fastpitch Festival at Northeast Park.
Lady Wildcat head coach Susan Frazier said the format has been switched from a tournament to a festival format.
Teams will not be divided into any divisions or brackets. The format will be 16 prearranged games that will be played in a time limit of 1 hour, 15 minutes or five innings, whichever comes first. Teams will use the International tie breaking at the completion of the fifth inning.
The Lady Wildcats (12-6) will play West Point at 11 a.m., and they will wrap up the day against Petal at 3:30 p.m.
The Southeast Lady Tigers, coached by Joe Miller, will play three games. Southeast opens the tournament at 9:30 a.m. against Wayne County.
Southeast then takes on West Lauderdale at 12:30 p.m. The Lady Tigers' final game will come against Quitman at 2 p.m.
West Lauderdale opens its day at 9:30 a.m. against the Quitman Lady Panthers. The Lady Knights' final game will be against Brandon.
Brandon enters as one of the 11-team festival's top teams. The Lady Bulldogs beat Meridian 5-0 on Tuesday night, as Brittany Williamson tossed a no-hitter.
Brandon is set to play New Hope, West Lauderdale and West Point on Saturday.
The Meridian coach said Northwest Rankin and Houston will have two strong clubs, as well. Houston will play Petal, Northwest Rankin and New Hope. Northwest Rankin will play Petal, New Hope and Houston.