By Staff
FORCED OUT In the top photo, South's Gina McCloud of Lawrence County forces out North's Beka Payne of Mooreville at home plate. Below, South's Emily Howard of Clarkdale charges in to scoop up a ball that fell in for a hit. PHOTOS BY PAULA MERRITT / THE MERIDIAN STAR
By Steve Swogetinsky / special to The Star
June 27, 2004
DECATUR The South All-Stars blanked the North in both Mississippi High School All-Star fast-pitch games Saturday at the Mack Fanning Softball Field Complex at Newton County High School.
The South won the first game 1-0 and took the second game 5-0.
Courtney Davis of Pascagoula High School and Brittany Ladner of Harrison Central shared the South Most Valuable Honors, while Lacie McCulley of Southaven was named the North MVP.
The game was sponsored by the Mississippi Association of Coaches. The South leads the series 2-0-1.
Megan Bateman of Brookhaven, who would have played for the South, missed the game after breaking her leg in practice Friday. She was to have had surgery Saturday.
South 1
North 0
Shelly Berry of Petal scored the only run of the game in the sixth inning.
Berry got on with a single and advanced to second base when the ball was put in play by Leah Kilpatrick of Columbia. Kilpatrick was forced out at first, and Berry continued on to third.
As she slid into third, the ball was over thrown, and Berry hustled home for what would be the winning run.
Kelly Stokes of Lawrence County was the winning pitcher, as she pitched a one-hitter. McCulley took the loss but only allowed two hits. Both pitchers recorded four strikeouts.
The North left the bases loaded in the second inning. The South left three runners stranded during the game.
South 5
North 0
The South team struck early and Brittany Ladner of Harrison Central pitched a no-hitter to secure the victory.
Ladner went 19-6 in the regular season at Harrison Central and pitched six no-hitters.
Berry led off with a walk and advanced to second of a past ball. She moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored when Davis put the ball in play with a fielder's choice.
The South added three runs in the second inning.
Catcher Megan Pittman of Harrison Central led off the second with a walk. She stole second and moved to third on a fielder's choice. She scored on the single of Gina McCloud of Lawrence County, making the score 2-0.
Berry singled and scored on Davis' single, and Kilpatrick got on with a fielder's choice and scored on a wild pitch for a 4-0 South lead.
Kilpatrick singled in the fourth and scored on Davis' single to end the scoring.
The South hitters banged out seven hits. Davis was the winning pitcher, and Brittany Griffin of Caldonia took the loss.