By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Oct. 17, 2001
Meridian swept Clinton in a high-scoring first-round series in the Class 5A state softball playoffs Tuesday at Clinton.
The Lady Wildcats rallied from a 12-2 deficit after one inning in the opener to take a 32-21 victory. In the second game, Carsheena Blanks' three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh gave Meridian a 12-10 win.
In the first game, Meridian scored seven times in both the second and fourth frames, picked up six runs in the top of the sixth, and added nine more in the seventh for the victory.
The teams combined for 21 errors with Clinton booting the ball a dozen times and Meridian nine times.
Valerie Sherman had five hits for Meridian, including three home runs over the 225-foot fence. Ebonee Ball, Stephanie Nelson, and winning pitcher Laura Bowles each had four hits with Nelson having a pair of doubles.
Erin Murphy, Andra Daniels, and Ashley Brown each had three hits with Blanks and Eron Hodgins both having two hits. Two of Brown's hits were doubles.
Brooke Bradley and Shundrell Spann both had two hits for Clinton including a grand slam apiece. Nicky Ruffin had four hits including a pair of doubles.
In the second game, Clinton scored three times in the top of the seventh to take a 10-8 lead only to have Brown hit a sacrifice fly and Blanks a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning for the win.
Blanks had three hits including a pair of homers. Daniels and Stephanie Mosley both had three hits as Meridian improved to 21-11. Bowles was the winning pitcher.
Ruffin again had four hits to place Clinton as the Lady Arrows finished 14-16. Becca Estes (14-15) took the loss in both games.
Dashia Brandon had four hits including a double and a homer. Kris Smith added a pair of home runs.
Union 8-19
Ethel 3-1
In Class 1A, homestanding Union swept a pair of games from Ethel to improve to 23-4.
In the opener, the Lady Jackets erased a 3-1 deficit with six runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Union outhit Ethel 13-4. Marley Smith had a single and a double. Lauren White had a two-run double and finished with three RBIs. Morgan Breland, Tiffany Thomas, and LaSaundra Harrison each had two singles with Lindsey Cassel adding a triple. Madison Brantley (19-4) was the winning pitcher.
Brantley (20-4) tossed a no-hitter in the second game as Union completed the sweep. The Lady Jackets had 22 hits, while committing five errors.
White had three hits including a two-run triple and a bases-loaded triple as she drove in six runs. Thomas had two singles and a double to plate four runs. Cassel had a single and a double to drive in three runs. Breland and Smith both had three hits, while Harrison and Kelly Skinner both had two. Morgan Milling added a two-run double.
Wesson 13-8-10
Enterprise 3-9-8
The Lady Bulldogs forced host Wesson to three games in Class 2A before having their season end.
In the series opener, Brittany King and Brittany Smith both went 3-for-4 to lead Wesson to the 10-run win. Ashton Smith went 2-for-3 to lead Enterprise.
In the second game, the Lady Bulldogs drew even in the series with a 9-8 victory as Ashley Mathis, Brittany Speed, Chastity Stingley, and Shannon Creel each had two hits.
Maggie Morgan and Kail Baldwin both had two hits for the Lady Cobras.
In the decisive third game, Wesson led 5-0 through three innings and held off Enterprise for the series clinching 10-8 win.
Morgan Robinson went 3-for-4 for Enterprise which finished 12-11, while Mathis, Charlie Speed, and Amanda Parker each had two hits.
King had three hits for Wesson with Smith adding two.
Florence 8-20
Quitman 2-10
Quitman dropped two games at Florence in Class 4A to finish its season.
In the first game, Ashley Dear and Mandy Walker each had three hits for Florence with Dear having a home run. Alicia Griffin, Lacey Morris, and Shannon Bragg each had two hits with Griffin having a home run.
Shaquilla Mack had a homer for Quitman.
In the second game, the Lady Eagles took advantage of their short fence to belt five home runs.
Morris went 4-for-4 with three homers. Griffin also had a homer as did Bragg, who went 3-for-5. Dear went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles.
Mack had two hits including a homer for Quitman. Emily Vanlandingham had three hits while Rebecca Riley had two for the Lady Panthers.
Florence had 21 hits to 16 for Quitman in the nightcap.
Janna Morrison was the winning pitcher in both games to up her record to 21-9. Florence improved to 23-9 with the sweep.
Warren Cent. 11-12
Wayne County 1-5
Warren Central swept Wayne County in Class 5A action at Vicksburg.
Trance Peeples had a single, a double, and three RBIs for Warren Central in the opener. Anna Mitchell went 3-for-3, while Ashley Chaney also had a single and a double.
In the second game, Cartier Powe and Britta Howard both had two hits for Wayne County.
Chaney, Mitchell, Marilyn Landers, and Lauren Anderson each had two hits for Warren Central as the Lady Vikings improved to 27-7.
Hayley Martin (19-6) was the winning pitcher in both games.
Nanih Waiya 11-10
French Camp 7-0
Nanih Waiya improved to 15-6 with the Class 1A sweep at French Camp.
In the opener, the Lady Warriors rallied from a 6-1 deficit through three innings with Courtney Graham's three-run homer in the top of the fourth sparking the comeback.
Kristy Hickman went 3-for-4 for Nanih Waiya with Jessica Oswalt going 2-for-4. Graham finished 2-for-4.
The Lady Warriors breezed past French Camp 10-0 in the nightcap after scoring four times in the bottom of the first inning.
Hickman, Oswalt, Jaimee Jones, Ashley Pugh, and Heather Steele each had two hits for Nanih Waiya.
Liz Kirk (15-6) was the winning pitcher in both games.
Nanih Waiya will host West Lincoln in second-round action on Saturday.