2010

Lady Diamond Warriors liopmg success breeds success After six successful years of leading the East Central Com– munity College women's soft– ball program, head coach Scott Hill is hoping the 2010 squad will accomplish what no other team has yet to achieve: a championship sea– son. petitive"South Division begin with his pitching staff. "It appears we will be able to rely on our pitching to keep us in games and give us a chance to be successful," Hill said. ~That will be so key in our ability to advance out of the extremely competitive MACJC South Division." In addition to a strong pitching staff, Hill said he is also "blessed~ with a talented group of returnees and other freshmen. Sophomore squad mem– bers are first baseman Brit– tany Cochran, a product of Newton County High Schoo~ third baseman Hailey ' . . ...... . ........_ '

If the fall campaign is an indicator for success; then this just might be the "year" for udy Warrior softball.The first test of 2010 is Friday, Feb. 19, when East Central takes on Mississippi Delta Community College in dou– bleheader action beginning at I p.m.on the Decatur cam– pus. "We had a really good fall campaign," Hill said."We were satisfied with the way we played in the fall with this team and hope that we will be able to carry that over to this spring." Hill, whose overall record at ECCC is 190-82 and includes three MACJC Central Division titles, knows compe– tition will again be tough this year, as teams are once again divided into North and South divisions for the second– straight year. During previ– ous seasons, competition was divided into North, Central and South divisions.East Cen– t.ral has advanced to post-sea– son play each season during Hill's leadership. Hill said the keys to suc– cess in the "txtremely com-

Chisolm, second baseman Sierra Farlow artd outfielder Emily Breland, all products of Neshoba Central High School; left fielder Hannah Lee of Leake Academy; and catcher Paige Holsen of Union. Cochran, a first-team All– State selection as a freshman, is the top returning slugger with a .361 batting average and 28 R81s. She had two home nms, two triples and a pair of doubles. She also scored 25 runs. Cochran was ~lected the Lady Diamond Warriors' best offensive play– er in 2009. Chishom batted .325 and collected 17 RBls. She also had two homers, three triples and two doubles, and scored 20 runs. She received the most improved player award last year. Farlow posted a .316 bat– ting aver.tge and knocked in two runs. She had one double and scored five runs. Lee batted .243 and had six RBls. She had two home runs, four doubles and scored 14 runs.

Surprisingly, this year's pitching staff includes all freshmen: Taylor Bailey, a product of Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, and former standout at Southeast Lauderdale High School; Kasie Buckley, Newton Coun– ty High School; Morgan Mal– one, Madison Central; and Shelby Smith, Union. Buckley also plays shortstop; Malone, first or third base;and Smith, third base. All four hurlers had accom– plished careers at their respective high schools. ·Bailey's honors include receiving "Player of the Week" recognition by The Clarion-Ledger. Buckley was named All-State and All-Dis– trict and received pitching, RBI and team captain awards. She helped lead the udy Cougars to five state champi– onships. Malone was named best offensive player. Smith was named to All-District and A.IJ..Star teams and chosen a Clarion-Ledger "Player of the Week."She also received best offensive player and ERA (earned run average) awards.

Above are members of the 2010 East Central Community College fast-pitch softball team. Lady Diamond Warriors and their respective high schools include (first row, from left) catcher/infielder PaigeHolsen, Union; Hailey Chisolm, infield– er, Neshoba Central; outfielder Olivia Maher, East Ascension High School, Gonza– les, La.; Sierra Farlow, infielder, Neshoba Central; Shelby Smith, outfielder/pitch· er, Union; Lauren Nicholas, infielder, and Abbie Joiner, outfielder/catcher, both of Neshoba Central; and Chelsea Jones, infielder, Enterprise; (second row, from left) Brittany Cochran, infielder, Newton County; Summer Alexander, outfielder/catch· er, Newton County; Emily Breland. outfielder, Neshoba Central; outfielder Han– nah Lee, Leake Academy; infielder/pitcher Kasie Buddey, Newton County; infield– er/pitcher Morgan Malone, Madison Central; pitcher Taylor Bailey, Bowie High School, Austin, Texas; and (top row, from left) managers Monica James of Leake Academy, Christian Ortega of Forest and SydneyTucker of Neshoba Central; Scott Hill, head coach; and Kristin Chaney, assistant. Holsen bad a .236 batting Newton County High School; average and 18 RBis. She col- Abbie Joiner, an lected six doubles, two triples outfielder/catcher and Lau– and scored 11 runs. reo Nicholas, a second base- In addition to the freshman man/shortstop, both from sion High School in Gonzales, La.

Alexander was named to AU-State andAll-District teams and helped lead Newton County to five State champi– onships. She also received team captain, hitting and defensive awards.

pitching staff, other first-year Neshoba Central; Chelsea team members include Sum- Jones, a first baseman from mer Alexander, an outfield- Enterprise; and Olivia Maher, er/catcher and product of an outfielder fromEast.Ascen-

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