2004

WEEK OF fe'o. / f.v

earn debuts hursday

EC sof ball A nev: era in East Central Commtmity College softball get" under way Thursday when first-ye11r lw,1d toach Scott Hill leads his I ady W01rrior:. ,1gainst Jones County Junior C0llegl' in LlhsvJliC'. Hill, a former I·CCC Diamond Warrior who successfull) led b.t~eball and slow-pitch ~oftb.tll te.1ms nl Philadelphia High School p1 ior to join– ing the East Central staff, takes over for longtime coach Mike Anderson who retired foliO\\'ing the 2003 campaign. Anderson had directed the Lady Warrior softball program smce ih inception in 1992. The new Ladv Warrior head mentor said he "eagerh• ~mticipateo;" the start of the campaign, especiall) '' tth such a talented, although ) oung, squad. "I am very pleased \\ ith the young ladies on this team," Hill satd. "'v\e are made up of mostly first-yc,1r players, so I think there will be a learning period to start the ~eason. Once "c get a fev. games under our bl•lts, I thmk v; t will be okay "Thus far, it hu" been a real pleasure

Hill welcomes 14 freslunen, includ– ing five members of Newton County's 2003 Class 3A state championship team. They are outfielders Shelly Ferguson and Obreisha Davis, middle infielders Kristin Chaney and Suzanne Chancy, and pitcher I outfielder Lauren Barrett. Hill said the grou~ from Newton COtmty, "brings a lot of talent to the team because of the success thev had in high school, winning three f~st-pitch state titles." Other freshmen are infielders Lindsey Bostick, Mandy Eakes, and Jhaun Spamecht, all of Philadelphia; infielder I outfielder I pitcher Marley Smith of Union; infielder Kristi \Villis of Choctaw Central; Infielder I catcher Alana Moore of Neshoba Central; infielder Kotreece Bender of 1 ewton; outfielder Crystal White of Pelahatchie; and outfielder I pitcher Lisa Wolf of Traverse City, Michigan. Hill said Smith, "brings versatilitv to the squad and ""ill be depended on heavily. She also comes from a very good high school program at Union."

preparing for the upcoming season with these young ladies on a daily basis. "I think the fans will be pleased by what they see. We will be a very scrap· py team, and one that will work very hard every time out. I get the feeling that our players will have a lot of char– acter and will not settle for mediocrity." Hill said the strength ot this year's squad is probably the defen~e. "We have a chance to be a good defensive squad. I don't think you will see us hitting the long ball all that often, but I think ·we will be able to move run– ners a number of different wavs." The lone starter from last year's team is Krissi Harris, a product of Newton County High School. "Krissi is a very versatile player who will be asked to play a number of dif– ferent roles," Hill said. "She can play both outfield and intield effectively, \Vhile possibly being asked to a~sume some pitching duties." Other returning plavcrs .1rc ti r~l baseman Summer R1tchie and third baseman Samantha Purtridge.

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CARTHAGINIAN

LAKE MESSENGER

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SCOTT COUNTY TIMES -----------------

UNION APPEAL

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