Union eyes one more goal
By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
August 7, 2004
UNION The Union Lady Jackets capped a five-year climb up the Class 1A slow-pitch softball playoff ladder by reaching the final rung a year ago.
Now that they have a state championship to their credit, the next step to joining the state's elite programs is to finish with a Top 10 ranking.
Union drilled Ingomar 20-2 and 12-7 to win the Class 1A state crown last year after losing in the finals to Ingomar in 2002. But despite winning the 1A championship, the Lady Jackets were nowhere to be found when The Jackson Clarion-Ledger's final Top 10 poll came out.
Head coach Todd Viverette (103-38, fifth year) would like to see his team add that to its resume this year.
Despite going 27-10 last year, Union was 0-7 against area powers West Lauderdale, Neshoba Central, Clarkdale, and Newton County.
To receive statewide attention, the Lady Jackets will have to take advantage of a schedule that finds them playing many of the traditional slow-pitch powers again this year.
Union opened this season on Thursday with a 16-11 loss to the defending Class 3A state champion West Lauderdale Lady Knights. The Lady Jackets will take on the Lady Knights again at 7 p.m. today at West Lauderdale.
Union faces Class 4A power Neshoba Central twice before the end of August, and will take on 3A power Newton County twice, and 2003 Class 2A state runner-up Clarkdale twice. Union will also play in a pair of tournaments at Meridian on Aug. 21 and Sept. 25. The Lady Jackets are slated to meet Class 4A state runner-up Lawrence County in the first tournament.
While beating the larger schools has been a problem, Class 1A has been a piece of cake. Union has dominated division play over the last four seasons and has won 43 consecutive league games. League foe Sebastopol forced Union to three games in the best-of-three playoff series last fall, but that game did not count as a division contest.
Union's last division loss was on Oct. 11, 1999, at Noxapater.
Despite losing first baseman Lauren White, outfielder Lindsay Walker, pitcher Madison Brantley and extra hitter Beth Crotwell to graduation, the Lady Jackets still return a veteran team. In fact, the six seniors are the most in Viverette's five seasons.
The six seniors are Tiffany Thomas, Amechia Hickmon, Morgan Breland, Morgan Milling, Loren Kennedy and Deann Cleveland.
Juniors who saw a lot of playing time last year are Chasity Yates and Brittany Germany.
