Teams enjoy tourney

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
February 22, 2004
Northeast Lauderdale head fast-pitch softball coach Chris Harper couldn't have asked for much more in the Northeast Lauderdale Classic Saturday at Northeast Park.
Rain, which was predicted to hit late Friday or Saturday earlier in the week, never showed up, leaving the 18 teams to enjoy their season-opening action.
Harper hopes to make the season-opening classic in which each team plays two games an annual event.
The Lady Trojans routed Forest 22-0 in their first game, despite getting only seven hits. Three Forest pitchers combined to issue 15 walks. Shelley Odom had two singles for Northeast with Kara Hull adding a double. Jana Olczak (1-0) got the win with relief from Jennifer Bristow.
Northeast lost 5-1 to West Jones in its second game. The Lady Trojans had four hits a single apiece from Hull, Bristow, Amber Gray, and Savannah Hall.
Clarkdale, the 2003 Class 1A-2A state runner-up, had a 1-1 day as the Lady Bulldogs beat Quitman 13-2 in their first game and lost 6-5 to Pearl in their second contest.
Southeast Lauderdale turned in a 2-0 showing, knocking off Wayne County 8-1 and Columbus 7-1. In beating Wayne County, Lindsey Raines (1-0) tossed a one-hitter and struck out six. Lindsay Graham had a single and a triple for the Lady Tigers with Jessica Rose adding a pair of singles.
In beating Columbus, Raines (2-0) tossed a two-hitter. Southeast had only two hits as well, with Heather Harper and Abby Havard each getting a single. The Lady Tigers received 11 walks.
Defending Class 3A state champion Newton County went 1-1, losing 2-0 to Enterprise and beating Northeast Jones 9-1.
In the loss to Enterprise, Amanda Parker (1-0) tossed a one-hitter for the Lady Bulldogs. Heather Todd had a double, while Parker, Kaccy Jimmerson and Ashton Shirley each had a single. Newton County's only hit was a single by Lorna Blackburn.
In beating Northeast Jones, the Lady Cougars scored twice in the first inning and three times in both the second and third frames. Megan Munn had two singles and scored three runs for Newton County. Dominique Mapp had two singles and a triple to drive in three runs.
Enterprise finished 1-1, losing 6-1 to Northeast Jones in its second game. Brittany Speed had a leadoff triple to score Enterprise's only run.
Neshoba Central staged a thrilling comeback in Tommy Holland's first game as head coach to beat South Jones 8-7 in the Lady Rockets' first game after spotting the Lady Braves a 7-0 lead. South Jones was the Class 4A South State runner-up a year ago, losing to eventual state champion East Central.
The Lady Rockets lost a 4-1 decision to Madison Central and finished 1-1. Shortstop Rachel Iupe hit a pair of solo homers for the Lady Jaguars.
Wayne County went 0-2 as the Lady War Eagles also lost 6-3 to Columbus.
Quitman also went 0-2 as the Lady Panthers also dropped a 4-0 decision to Pearl.
In other games, New Hope nipped Brandon 5-4, West Jones ripped Forest 21-1, South Jones nipped Madison Central 4-3, and Brandon spanked Hattiesburg 10-4. New Hope closed out the day with a blowout of Hattiesburg.