By By Robbie Robertson / The Newton Record
June 29, 2003
DECATUR In fast-pitch softball, pitching is the name of the game.
For the Mississippi Association of Coaches South team all-stars, they had
all they needed.
The South squad swept a pair of games from the North squad by scores of 3-0 and 7-1 at Newton County High School on Saturday.
In the first contest, East Central's Stephanie Comeaux struck out 17 batters and gave up just two hits in the shutout effort. For her play, the Mississippi State signee was named co-Most Valuable Player along with East
Central's Hayle Guess. In the second contest, Newton County's Lauren Barrett and Harrison Central's Shelley Lavender combined on a no-hitter.
the defense play behind them," Newton County and South coach Mac Fanning said. "This was a group of girls that became a close-nit group in just a few days.
South 3
North 0
The North all-stars got all the offense they needed in the first inning of the first contest.
Newton County's Kristen Chaney led off the game when she reached on a passed ball. She later scored on an RBI single from Comeaux.
Comeaux came around on an RBI double from Guess and the South all-stars led 2-0 after an inning of play.
Meanwhile, Comeaux was zipping through the North lineup, striking out the side in the first three innings en route to her 17 strikeouts.
try to do my best and let the defense make plays behind me. I usually
average about 18 strikeouts a game so I'm kind of used to it."
But the defense didn't have to make many plays behind her, as only two outs didn't involve Comeaux.
game," Union and North coach Rick Casey said. "They did an outstanding job pitching and put some pressure on us. What else can you say?"
The South scored its other run in the third inning when Guess singled and
later scored on a wild pitch.
South 7,
North 1
The second game produced more good pitching as Barrett and Lavender combined for a no-hitter, allowing only three baserunners to reach two via errors.
Barrett started the game and went three innings and allowed only one
baserunner on a leadoff walk in getting the win.
all year for us. She threw strikes and let her teammates make plays behind
her."
Lavender closed out the contest without allowing a hit, although the North
dented the scoreboard on an unearned run in the fourth inning.
The South got the runs it needed in the top of the second inning as Brandon's Amber Williamson drove in Harrison Central's Brandi Farmer and St.
Martin's Cynthia Hayes on an infield hit.
Meanwhile, Barrett was just the opposite of Comeaux as she relied on the
left side of her infield to supply all of her outs.
The South squad added two more runs in the third when Farmer and Hayes both scored again with Brandon's Melissa Wells getting the 2-RBI hit this time.
The South team scored a single run in the sixth and two more in the seventh
for the final margin.
In the contest, Hayes led all hitters with a 3-for-4 effort and scored three
runs. Kristen Chaney reached base three times in the contest and played
three different positions in the two games.