Lady Warriors will be young this season

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Feb. 11, 2004
DECATUR No experience necessary' might be the motto of the 2004 East Central Community College women's softball team.
Of the 17 players on this year's roster, only one Krissi Harris started last spring.
The Lady Warriors are slated to open their season on Feb. 19 in a doubleheader at Jones. The home opener is set for March 1 when Southwest Mississippi comes to town for a pair of games.
Other sophomores are first baseman Summer Richie and third baseman Samantha Partridge. Richie has been bothered by a knee injury, Hill said.
The rest of the team is made up of freshmen, although five were members of Newton County High School's Class 3A state championship team of 2003. Former Lady Cougars on the ECCC roster are right fielder Obreisha Davis, center fielder Shelly Ferguson, pitcher/outfielder Lauren Barrett, shortstop Kristin Chaney and second baseman Suzanne Chaney.
Other freshmen include pitcher/outfielder Lisa Wolf, catcher/third baseman Jhaun Sparnecht, catcher/first baseman Alana Moore, outfielder Crystal White, outfielder/first baseman Lindsey Bostick, third baseman/first baseman Kotreece Bender, pitcher/shortstop/outfielder Marley Smith, catcher/shortstop Kristi Willis, and first baseman Mandy Eakes.
Barrett and Smith are the probable starters on the mound.
Bender and Kristin Chaney won't join the squad until the basketball season is over. The basketball team is a virtual lock for the Region 23 Tournament, March 1-4.
Hill is another rookie to the game as his only fast-pitch coaching experience came in the brief fall season. He has coached baseball at the high school level, going 193-98 at Philadelphia High School.
Since many of the more successful high school fast-pitch coaches in the area previously coached baseball, that could mean a relatively painless learning period.
Adapting to junior-college level pitching will be a key to this year's success.