Rains sweep away first day of MACJC softball tourney

By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
May 4, 2002
Heavy rain put an end to the first day of the 2002 MACJC/Region 23 Women's Fast-pitch Softball Tournament before it could begin in Booneville.
All of Friday's games were postponed. Play will now begin this morning and continue through Sunday.
Games will begin at 10 a.m. East Mississippi (18-18) is tentatively scheduled to play East Central (21-13) at 2 p.m. The game may be moved up to noon if a field is ready. If not, it may be until 6 p.m. later on Saturday.
Because of the wet fields, only one game can be played at a time until the other fields dry out.
Other first round games in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament include: South No. 1 seed Gulf Coast (24-8) taking on North No. 4 seed in either Itawamba or Mississippi Delta. Host Northeast, the top seed from the North, faces Hinds while South No. 2 in Pearl River plays either Itawamba or Delta.
Gulf Coast, ranked No. 7 in the May 1 NJCAA national poll, is the tournament favorite. The Lady Bulldogs are the defending state and Region 23 Champs.
East Mississippi, which at one time led the North Division, is led by sophomore shortstop Jep Vaughn (.528) and second baseman Kayla Murphy (.489).
East Central is paced by Emily Casey who is 14-6 with a 2.67 ERA. She is also batting .301 with 16 RBI. Sommer Averett bats .444 with 12 doubles and 14 RBI.
The Lady Warriors are 2-0 this season against EMCC having won 5-4 and 4-2 on Feb. 19 in Decatur.