2007

WEDNESDAY. FEBHGARY 28. 2007 THE SCOTI COl'~TY TL"r1ES . 15 Lady Diamond Warriors ~ooking For Repeat BASEBALL 200~

Union is the lone starter from the 2006 squad, which captured a second– straight MACJC Central Division title while also posting a record 41 victories against just s ix defeats. In addition to Kennedy who was a second team, All-Central Division selection last year- other returnees who saw significant playing time include infielder Amanda Schmidt of Carthage and catcher Tiffany Thomas of Union. All three players experienced stel– lar careers at their respective high schools. Kennedy received All-State and All-District recognition and twice received team MPV honors in addi– tion to being named best offensive player and receiving the Yellow Jacket Award. Schmidtwas named All-District and received team MVP, best offensive player and best infield– er awards. Thomas was a three-time All-State selection and was presented her team's best defensive player and best offensive player awards. Other returnees include outfielder Jessica Shannon of Carthage, infielder/ outfielder Candace Griffm of Philadelphia and catcher/infield– er Kayla Mullinax of Stringer. Shannon received All-District hon– ors at CHS, where she was also named best outfielder and best offen-

and Kimbo Seale of Clarkdale; pitch er/ outfielder Kady Chandler of Neshoba Central; and inficlclct·s Shenique Brass of Philmlc•lphw and Laura Smith of NPshollil Central Hillie rrccived Ali ·SI:tle, All District and AI!:Siat• lullllli"S :11111 Wll tlw n !dllll'lll o(L:uly H•WIH 1 1 lu~til defcll~IVI' pl:tyt I ,lllllllll!lllr) hWlll ol Easom was <:r•lt •c tt !cl J\ll· fliSii'ir~ l and reccJwd lwt tc·.un's hustltltllul best offcns •v<• play(•r .twnnl~ \.tlu:•, '' s ix-year letter wmncr, wns an All Star and team MVP award winnct: Little earned a pitching award as a member of the Lady Cougar squad. White received All-State, team MVP and hustle awards. Seale was named to All-State and All-Star squads and received her team's captain and RBI awards. Chandler was selected All-State, All-District and All-Star and received team MVP :mel husth! awards. Smith wns also nil J\ 11 -S I:ttl• and All <;t;n Sf!lt•c;t toll SPt'Vi llt' .t' 11 111 . ,, liGtnul fllil"t:• 101 nwr Lltdy I >ntllottd Wurl'icws ,Jcnnifi•r Snut h and Homin iqllt' Mapp. Serving as managers are Alex Deason and Jafreeia Malone; Brooke Harrell of Morton; Michael Gregory, Mike Pientowski, and Morgan Bryars.

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES ECCC PUBLIC RELATIONS

DECATUR With only one starter returning from last year's champi– onship squad that also set a record for team wins, fourth-year head coach Scott Hill said a return to post– season play will depend on how quickly this year's version of East Central Community College fast– pitch softball can come together as a team. But if the past is an indicator for success, the Lady Diamond Warriors will be celebrating a fourth-straight winning campaign in 2007. "This team should possess speed throughout the line-up. Hopefully this will allow us to be aggressive enough to make some things happen and put up sufficient offensive num– bers," Hill said. He also expects his Lady Diamond Warriors to "play hard" and provide "plenty of excitement" for fans. And, as expected, Hill hopes that his team will again meet its two main goals: • Have a winning season. • Make the playoffs - just as they have the past three seasons. Their quest for another champi– onship season began Feb. 13 against Pearl River Community College. Outfielder Loren Kennedy of

ECCCPHOTO Andie Easom of Sebastopol Is a member of the 2007 fast pitch softball team at East Central CommunityCollege In Decatur. Easom Is a fresh– man outfielder fOf' the Lady Diamond Warriors, who are led bY fourth-year head coach Scott Hill. sive playrn~ Frcshm'tn team members are out fielders SotHi rcin Jlillie of Neshoba Cen tral and A11die Easom of Sebastopol mJielder / pttcher Chasity 'Y.th•s of Union; outfield– crs/pilchtir~ Lindsey Stevens and Lindsey l.itt lP. both of Newton County; outfielders/pitchers Whitnet• White of Neshoba Central

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