Clarkdale eyes Bogue Chitto for South State
By By Jeff Byrd/sports editor
April 26, 2003
Defending 1A-2A Fast-pitch champion Clarkdale will be at home today for the beginning of the South State Championship series with Bogue Chitto.
The winner of the best of three series advances to the State Championship series next week at the V.A. Fields in Jackson against the winner of the Eupora-Mooreville series. Game one is set for 2 p.m. with a second game following immediately after. A third game, if necessary, would be played Monday at Bogue Chitto.
Clarkdale is 19-7 on the year and is a perfect 4-0 in the playoffs. All four of its wins have come by run-rule including last weekend's demolition of Our Lady Academy of Bay St. Louis 17-0 and 11-0.
Bogue Chitto is 19-2 on the season and has advanced to the South State round after beating Enterprise and St. Aloysius in the playoffs..
That's because the Lady Bulldogs are the defending state champions and have played a challenging regular season schedule which included the likes of defending 5A champion Harrison Central and defending 3A champion Newton County along with the current top-ranked team in the state in Southaven.
Bogue Chitto is led by freshman pitcher Maleah Brown.
Offensively, Bogue Chitto is led by shortstop Jessica Melton and catcher Lanie Moak. Both players are hitting over .400. Right fielder Kia Porter is batting .382.
Clarkdale is led by senior third baseman JorD'an Orr. Orr hit two home runs in the first game against OLA and then had a double and three runs scored in game two down in Bay St. Louis.
Emily Howard went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs in the game two romp over OLA. Her hits included a three-run homer.
Other top bats include shortstop Megan Potate, Sabrina Woodall, Brandi Wright and Lindsey Dawkins.
Howard is the primary Lady Bulldog pitcher and owns a 16-4 on the season. Her only losses this season were to Harrison Central (twice), Newton County and Union.
She allowed just one hit and struck out eight in the game two win at OLA last Saturday.
