By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Oct. 28, 2001
JACKSON The Newton County Lady Cougars have been on a mission this fall. Their only goal was to win the Class 3A state slow-pitch softball championship.
The Lady Cougars' crusade came to an impressive end on a windy Saturday afternoon at Legion Park with a 9-1, 11-1 sweep of Amory in the Class 3A championship series.
Newton County never trailed in the two games. For their eight playoff games, the Lady Cougars outscored their opponents 83-6.
In the first game, the Lady Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Kristin Chaney tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Suzanne Chaney.
Newton County went up 4-0 in the second inning. Betsy Clark and Krissi Harris had one-out singles with Kristal Burton receiving an intentional walk to load the bases. Jennifer Smith slapped a two-run single with the third run coming when Amory shortstop Keri McFarling's attempt to turn a double play sailed well over the fence.
Amory got its lone run in the top of the third as Leslie Jackson singled and scored on an outfield error on a single by Jessica Neal.
The Lady Cougars added a run in the bottom of the fourth as Harris reached on an error and scored when Smith's fly ball was dropped in right field.
Newton County tacked on four insurance runs in the fifth. Obreisha Davis, Holly Jackson, Kristin Chaney, Suzanne Chaney, and Dominique Mapp ripped consecutive singles with Joy Cavenaugh adding a run-scoring fielder's choice. The final run came home when Shelly Ferguson's ground ball was booted at second base.
Kristin Chaney and winning pitcher Suzanne Chaney (33-3) each had two of Newton County's 11 hits.
Jackson, Neal, and Jennifer Swan each had two hits for Amory. The Lady Panthers committed five errors to one for Newton County.
Newton County scored twice in the top of the first inning in the