NMO wins 14-under slow-pitch gold medal

By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
June 18, 2001
North Meridian Optimist went 4-0 to win the 14-under division of the State Games of Mississippi slow-pitch softball tournament at Sammie Davidson Complex Saturday.
Gold medal winning NMO beat Biloxi 14-11 in the championship game. Biloxi got the silver medal with Ladies Choice taking the bronze in the 10-team tournament.
NMO 14, Biloxi 11: North Meridian scored 11 runs in the second inning to take a 12-0 lead and held off a late rally by Biloxi to capture the gold medal.
Amber Gray and Jennifer Bristow both had a single and a homer for NMO. Jessica Moore had a single and a triple. Jo Havard had a single and a double. Kirby Rutledge and Shannon Creel both had a pair of singles. Carsheena Blanks added a home run.
Biloxi got three singles apiece from Michelle Williams, Samantha Rollberg, Rilee White, and Amanda Jarrett. Patrice Parker had a single and a home run.
NMO 13, Ladies Choice 9: North Meridian advanced to the finals with the four-run win over Ladies Choice. A five-run fourth frame keyed the NMO victory.
Lizzie Williams had a single, a triple, and a homer for NMO. Jo Havard had two singles and a triple. Kirby Rutledge and Jennifer Bristow both had three singles, while Shannon Creel, Grace Watkins, and Kim Crawford each had two singles.
Alexis Lowery had a single, a double, and a triple for Ladies Choice. Jill Beattie had three singles. Jordan Fisher, Taniya Wallace, Michelle Parker, and Morgan Wells each had two hits.
In other games,
16-under
Biloxi easily defeated North Meridian Optimist 14-1 in the finals of the 16-under division Saturday night at Northeast Park.
NMO got the silver medal with Express, a team composed of players from several local schools, taking the bronze. Eight teams competed in the 16-under division.
Biloxi 14, NMO 1: A six-run third inning highlighted Biloxi's win over North Meridian.
Biloxi got a double and a triple from Rachel Hollis, two singles and a double from Kelli Fayard, and two singles each from Krissi Moore and Christia Gibson.
NMO got two singles from Jodi Darnell and a double from Shalonda Mitchell.
NMO 11, Express 7: North Meridian advanced to the finals with the four-run win.
NMO got four runs in both the fourth and sixth frames with Express getting all of its runs in the fourth.
Erin Murphy had two triples to lead NMO. Celia Covington added a single and a double.
Express was led by Courtney Godwin's three singles. Express also got a single and a double from Sherry Randell and two singles each from Amber Joyner, Betsy Clark, and Sarah Williamson.
12-under
Columbus Express 14, Biloxi 4: Columbus Express scored in every inning as it took the gold medal with the 10-run win over Biloxi.
Megan Parker had two doubles and a single for Columbus Express. Morgan Elmore had a single and a triple. Megan Johnson had a triple, while Tammy Marshall had a pair of singles.
Jeanna Erickson had two singles to lead Biloxi.
NMO 12, West Lauderdale 8: North Meridian used a seven-run second inning to beat West Lauderdale.
NMO got a single and a homer from Brittany Simmons, a single and a double from Artesian Boyd, and a double from Leanna Young.
West Lauderdale got a double and a triple from Kayla Eubanks and a triple from Katie Nabors.
Biloxi 8, NMO 2: Biloxi scored three times in both the third and fourth frames to eliminate North Meridian.
NMO got a pair of singles from Bayleigh Creel.
Jeanna Erickson had a pair of home runs to lead Biloxi.
In other games, Bayou View Babes eliminated Kossuth 14-13, Columbus Express dropped Hot Shots into the losers' bracket with a 21-10 loss, Biloxi ousted Bayou View Babes 14-7, and Biloxi eliminated Hot Shots 7-5.
10-under
Corinth 7, Young Sales Bulldogs 4: Cayla Coleman homered for the Young Sales Bulldogs in their loss to Corinth.
Biloxi 19, Young Sales Bulldogs 11: Biloxi scored six runs in the first inning and added five more in the fifth in eliminating Young Sales Bulldogs.
Morgan Swancey had three singles and a double for Young Sales. Lauren Rogers, Erin Adcock, Paige Shepard, Stephanie Felton, and Whitney Wright each had two singles, while Cory Roberson added a double.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com.

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