By Staff
ON THE FIELD MHS' Brittany Simmons makes an outfield catch on a Petal ball. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Carver Rayburn / staff writer
April 6, 2003
Eleven schools from around the state squared off against each other in fast-pitch softball action in the Meridian Invitational at Northeast Park on Saturday.
Despite off-and-on drizzling rain, all scheduled games were completed. Meridian High coach Susan Frazier was pleased with the way the tournament went.
The Lady Wildcats dropped a pair of games on Saturday. Meridian lost to West Point 4-3 and dropped an afternoon game to Petal 5-1.
Je'taime Ross lead the Lady Wildcats against West Point with a 1-for-2 outing at the plate.
Meridian's Erin Murphy went to the mound against Petal giving up five runs on 10 hits.
Petal wasted little time in producing offense. The Lady Bulldogs scored three runs off six hits in the top of the first inning.
Katie McCrary slapped a lead-off infield single to get Petal started. After Murphy got Shelly Berry to fly out, Jill Wedgeworth gave Petal its first two runs of the game with a two-run home run.
The Lady Bulldogs followed the homer with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases.
Andrea Diehl knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly, but Murphy was able to get out of the inning with any further damage.
Petal added an insurance run in the top of the third inning with the aid of a passed ball and a Summer Clark RBI single.
The Lady Wildcats attempted to put together a late rally but Petal pitcher Katie McCrary was able to hold on for the Lady Bulldog win.
Meridian dropped to 13-8.
Meridian got on the scoreboard courtesy of a passed ball by Petal.
In other action from the tournament, West Lauderdale beat Quitman 6-5, Wayne County fell hard to Southeast Lauderdale 13-1, Houston beat Northwest Rankin 9-7, Brandon got by West Lauderdale 14-1, New Hope beat Brandon 6-5, Southeast Lauderdale beat West Lauderdale 6-5, and Quitman beat Southeast Lauderdale 6-0.