ECCC Lady Diamond Warriors Fall In State Tourney; Prepare for Region 23

East Central Community College’s hopes for a state softball title were nixed by the Lady Tigers of Northeast Mississippi Community College who scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 5-4 decision Friday night in the MACJC State Tournament held at Clinton High School.

The Lady Diamond Warriors began the double-elimination event by defeating Itawamba Community College 9-1 Thursday afternoon then fell 6-0 to Copiah-Lincoln Community College Thursday night. East Central rallied to defeat host Hinds Community College 6-3 Friday afternoon prior to falling to Northeast in an elimination game.

Gulf Coast and Copiah-Lincoln will battle for the state title Tuesday in Clinton. The championship game was scheduled for Saturday but was rescheduled due to the weather.

East Central, which sports a 26-16 overall mark under fifth-year head coach Scott Hill, is among six teams to qualify for the Region 23 Tournament scheduled May 2-4 at Traceway Park in Clinton. The Lady Diamond Warriors begin the double-elimination event by taking on Northeast at 2 p.m. Friday.

The Lady Diamond Warriors managed just four hits in the loss to Northeast, singles each by Sondreia Hillie of Neshoba Central, Shenique Brass of Philadelphia, Haley Chipley of Carthage and Allison Phillips of Leake Academy.

East Central scored single runs in the third and sixth innings and two in the seventh. Northeast tallied three runs in the first, one in the third and the game-winner in the seventh.

Erin Breland of Philadelphia took the loss for EC on the mound, allowing five runs on eight hits through five and two-thirds innings. She walked one batter.

In the win over Hinds, EC erased a 3-1 deficit by scoring five runs in the top of the seventh for the 6-3 victory.

EC hitters were, Brass, triple; and Hillie, Chipley, Phillips, Lindsey Stevens of Newton County, Amy Sharp of Neshoba Central and Emily Thrash of Sebastopol, singles each. Brass and Thrash led in RBIs with two each. Hillie also knocked in a run.

Amber Smith of Union went the distance in earning the win for EC on the mound, allowing three runs on eight hits. She fanned three batters and walked six.

In the loss to Co-Lin, the Lady Diamond Warriors managed just three hits, a triple by Brass and singles by Hillie and Thrash.

The Lady Wolves scored three runs in the first, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to claim the shut out.

Codee Russell of Leake Academy took the loss for EC on the mound, allowing four runs on four hits through five innings.

EC pounded 12 hits in cruising past Itawamba to begin tournament action.

Whitnee White of Neshoba Central led the offense with a double and three singles. Laura Smith, also a Neshoba Central product, had a double and single, and Hillie belted two singles. Recording doubles each were Brass and Lindsey Stevens of Newton County. Singles each were registered by Phillips and Amy Sharp of Neshoba Central.

White and Smith led in RBIs with two each.

East Central scored single runs in the first and second innings, two runs in both the third and fourth innings and three runs in the third.

Amber Smith of Union went the distance for the EC in the six-inning matchup to earn the win. She allowed just one run on one hit. She fanned two batters and walked two.