Held scoreless for only the second time this season, East Central Community College’s fast-pitch softball team fell short in its quest for a first state title and was blanked 2-0 by Pearl River Community College Friday, April 30 in the championship game of the MACJC State Softball Tournament held at Itawamba Community College in Fulton.
The Lady Diamond Warriors (41-9-1), who captured their first ever MACJC South Division title and entered the two-day state tournament as the South’s top seed, managed just one hit off Pearl River’s Sheila Hall – a single by freshman Kasie Buckley, a product of Newton County High School. Hall, whose record improved to 12-9 on the mound, also fanned two Lady Warriors in helping lead the fourth-seeded Lady Diamond Wildcats (30-18) to their first state softball title.
Freshman Taylor Bailey (20-6) went the distance for EC and took the loss, allowing two runs on nine hits. She also fanned eight batters. Bailey is a product of Bowie High School in Austin, Texas.
EC and Pearl River split two doubleheaders during regular season competition.
Both squads qualify for the Region 23 Tournament scheduled May 6-8 at Traceway Park in Clinton. The Lady Diamond Warriors begin the double-elimination event by taking on the Itawamba/LSU-Eunice winner at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 6.
The Lady Diamond Warriors advanced to the state title game by defeating Holmes (8-0) in first-round action and Copiah-Lincoln (7-4) in a semi-final match.
Scott Hill serves as head softball coach and Kristin Chaney is his assistant.
ECCC 7, CO-LIN 4
Summer Alexander’s three-run homer in the third inning gave the Lady Diamond Warriors a 3-2 advantage and the boost the squad needed in claiming a 7-4 win over No. 3 seed Copiah-Lincoln in a semi-final game.
Other top sluggers include Lauren Nicholas of Neshoba Central, three singles; and Buckley and Brittany Cochran, also a Newton County product, two singles each. Singles each were recorded by Bailey, Hailey Chisolm of Neshoba Central, Paige Holsen of Union and Morgan Malone of Madison Central.
Hannah Lee of Leake Academy was credited with two RBIs, Cochran and Holsen knocked in a run each.
Bailey was the winning pitcher, allowing four runs on 10 hits in the seven-inning battle. She also fanned two batters.
ECCC 8, Holmes 0
The Lady Diamond Warriors began state tournament competition by cruising 8-0 over Holmes Community College.
Buckley tripled, doubled and singled and Cochran had three singles to lead the offense. Other sluggers included Bailey, double and single; Alexander and Lee, two singles each; and Nicholas and Malone, singles each.
Cochran also led in RBIs with two. Credited with an RBI each were Alexander, Chisolm, Buckley, Lee and Malone.
Bailey went this distance in the six-inning matchup and allowed just two hits. She also fanned three batters.