Clarkdale eyes OLA in 2nd round tilt

By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
April 17, 2003
Defending State 1-2A fast-pitch champion Clarkdale will open the second round of the 1A-2A playoffs tonight at Lady Bulldog Field when Our Ladies Academy of Bay St Louis visits.
The best of three playoff series will start with a single game at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the series moves to Bay St. Louis for a second game. If the series is split, a third game will follow at OLA's homefield.
Clarkdale head coach Rick Roberson said his team is looking forward to the second round series with OLA.
Clarkdale swept Enterprise-Lincoln 16-0 and 15-1. The Lady Bulldogs will take a 17-7 record into the second round. OLA is 15-4 on the year.
The Lady Bulldogs are led by junior pitcher Emily Howard who is 14-4 on the season. Howard won both games of the state championship series last year. Two of her losses this season were to defending 5A State champion Harrison Central.
Clarkdale has a strong infield led by shortstop Megan Potate and third baseman JorD'an Orr. Brandi Wright is at second and Lindsey Dawkins is at first base.
At the plate, Potate and Orr are the team's top two hitters. Howard, Sabrina Woodall and Wright are the next three. Casey Meador is credited as being the team's top bunter.
OLA is paced by pitcher Rachel Wright who got the wins in the Crescent's decisions over Mize.