2005

WEEK OF ~ ')_

Area JUCOs face off in tournament DECATUR - Six community college fast-pitch softball teams will battle for one ber th in the NJCM Division II Championships this weekend at East Central Commu– nity College. The tournament counts as both the MACJC state and NJCAA Region XXIII Division II champi– onships. Play begins today at 1 p.m., when Meridian Community College takes on Northwest Mississippi Commu– nity College. At 3 p.m., the Lady Warriors of East Central square off with Copiah-Lincoln Community College. At 5 p.m., the Meridian-North– west winner faces Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, while at 7 p.m., the ECCC-Co-Lin winner meets Northeast Mississippi Com– munity College. East Central went 15-1 on its home field this spring, excluding two forfeits from Coahoma Com– munity College. "It means a lot to be right here on our field," said Scott Hill, who is 57-19 in his second year as ECCC head coach. "You have pride in playing well at home. We've done well thus far at home. We'll have a lot of fans here, and that means a lot to us. Our fans have been really good all year in supporting us. We By Marty Stamper staff writer

most entertaining things that's happened around here in a while. I think everybody will get their money's worth." East Central enters the tournament with a 31-3 record and a 24-game win streak. Marley Smith of Union is 15-0 with a LOt ERA Lindsey Smith of Neshoba Central is 8-2, while Lindsay Walker of Union is 4-0. Kristin Chaney of Newton County is the LadyWarriors' top batter, as she sports a .508 average with four dou– bles, two triples, and 11 RBis. She is 15-of-15 in stolen bases. Smith bats .458 with three doubles and 17 RBis. April Boyd ofAdams County Chris– tian School is batting .403 with 13 RBis and 18 steals. Other top hitters are Erica Hardin (.386), Dominique Suzanne Chaney (.366), 0 breisha 1 Davis (.341), Shelly Ferguson (.333), Abby Miller (330), and Lauren ·white (.311). Fer– guson has 14 steals, while Miller has 1"'0..._---- ' Mapp (.377),

South, you've got Co-Lin and Gulf Coast who have been winning a lot of ballgames. In our Central Division, you've got the defending state champions in Meridian. They went to Iowa last year and know what it takes to get there. They're hungry to do well in this tournament." Tickets are $5, which are good for all the games in a day. "We invite everybody to come out," Hill said. "I think it's going to be one of the

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need to do our part and give them something really good to watch." Hill sees no favorite in the field. "When you're looking at all six teams, I think you're looking at a bunch of teams that can come in here and win this tournament," Hill said. "There's not going to be an ea~y ballgame. Northeast and Northwest traditionally have good programs. Down

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