By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Aug. 8, 2003
A pair of classics and an interesting matchup of highly successful teams from last fall highlight the opening days of action in the 2003 slow-pitch softball season.
Five schools will be competing in a classic format at Clarkdale. Tonight's varsity game has Enterprise meeting Newton County at 7 p.m. Other schools participating are Northeast Lauderdale, Neshoba Central and host Clarkdale.
Three teams will be competing Saturday in a round-robin event at Southeast Lauderdale. Quitman takes on Southeast at 10:30 a.m. Newton squares off with Quitman at noon with Southeast hosting Newton at 1:30 p.m.
Although it isn't a tournament, defending Class 3A state champion West Lauderdale and 2002 Class 1A state runner-up Union meet in a pair of games tonight and Saturday. Tonight's game is at Collinsville at 7 with Saturday's matchup at Union also being at 7 p.m.
Saturday's action in the Clarkdale Classic has the defending Class 2A state champion Lady Bulldogs of host CHS taking on 2002 Class 4A state runner-up Northeast Lauderdale at 11 a.m. with Neshoba Central facing Enterprise at 1:30 p.m. Newton County and Northeast meet at 4 p.m. with Clarkdale taking on Neshoba Central at 6:30 p.m.
Junior varsity games between the teams listed will precede each of the varsity contests.
Clarkdale expects this year's group of Lady Bulldogs to make another run at a state crown.
Neshoba Central lost only one senior from last year's Class 4A squad that was ousted from the playoffs by eventual state champion New Hope in the North State finals.
Newton County lost nine seniors from its 2002 Class 3A South State runner-up team.
In other action this weekend, Lake also opens its season tonight by hosting Morton. In academy fast-pitch action, Leake Academy hosts Kemper Academy Saturday in Madden.