“I’m just speechless,” remarked East Central Community College head softball coach Scott Hill following his team’s 7-1 victory over Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Saturday, May 8 for the program’s first Region 23 championship.
Hill, after gathering his thoughts following the historic victory at Traceway Park in Clinton, praised his team for the historic accomplishment.
“This is not only a team with a lot of talent…it’s a team with even more character,” said the seventh-year head coach whose squad finished runner-up in the MACJC State Tournament held the previous week at Itawamba Community College in Fulton. “I am very proud of each and every player.”
Hill’s thoughts quickly turned to the NJCAA Division II Softball Championship, where his Lady Diamond Warriors will carry a 44-9-1 record to the prestigious event, scheduled May 20-22 in Normal, Illinois.
“It means a lot to this program and the College to be able to go on and continue playing at the nationals,” Hill said. “It’s just a great accomplishment for our players.”
It was a slow start for the EC offense in the title game against Gulf Coast, the same team the Lady Diamond Warriors defeated 3-1 a day earlier in the semi-finals of the three-day, double-elimination event.
After the Lady Bulldogs went up 1-0 on Kayla Morgan’s home run in the top of the third inning, EC grabbed the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth on Hannah Lee’s bases-loaded single that scored two Lady Diamond Warriors for a 2-1 advantage. Paige Holsen of Union scored later in the inning and EC led 3-1 after the fourth frame.
East Central tallied four more runs in the sixth inning, following six-straight singles by Lady Warrior batters.
Lee, a Leake Academy product from Philadelphia, also belted a double and had two RBIs to lead the offense.
Contributing two singles each were Kasie Buckley, Summer Alexander and Brittany Cochran, all of Newton County, and Holsen. Buckley and Alexander also knocked in a run each.
Lauren Nicholas and Hailey Chisolm, both of Neshoba Central and Taylor Bailey, a product of Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, each had a single. Nicholas and Chisolm were also credited with an RBI each.
Bailey went the distance for her third-straight win in the regional tournament and improved to 24-7 on the season. She allowed one run on seven hits. She also fanned a batter and walked one.
ECCC 3, GULF COAST 1
The semi-final battle stayed scoreless until the fifth inning when EC pushed one run across home plate for a 1-0 lead. The Lady Diamond Warriors added two runs in the sixth. Gulf Coast scored its only run in the top of the seventh on a home run by Sarah Smaltz.
Holsen led the EC offense with a double, two singles and an RBI. Bailey doubled and singled and also knocked in a run. Singles each were recorded by Alexander, Buckley and Cochran. Lee was credited with an RBI.
Bailey got the win on the mound, allowing one run on five hits. She also fanned three batters.
ECCC 4, LSU-Eunice 3
East Central began tournament action by rallying for a 4-3 victory over top-ranked Louisiana State University at Eunice.
The Lady Diamond Warriors, ranked 13th prior to competition, trailed 3-0 until the sixth inning when four runs crossed the plate, and EC and held on for the upset win.
Alexander led the offense with a double, single and two RBIs. Buckley also doubled and knocked in two runs. Singles each were recorded by Cochran, Bailey and Olivia Maher, a product of East Ascension High School in Gonzales, La.
Bailey got the win, allowing three runs on eight hits. She also fanned four batters.