Fast-pitch is on the rise

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
July 18, 2004
In the world of softball, there are three main camps those who play slow-pitch, those who play fast-pitch and those who play both.
Events like this weekend's ASA C Class fast-pitch state tournaments for ages 10-under, 12-under and 14-under at Northeast Park help the fast-pitch game grow in popularity.
Teams were entered from Hatley, Caledonia, Amory, Tupelo, Pontotoc, Nettleton, Union County, Smithville, Booneville and Guntown from north Mississippi.
Representing south Mississippi were teams from McComb, Orange Grove, Long Beach, d'Iberville, Biloxi, Richton and Harrison County.
Central Mississippi was represented by teams from Vicksburg, Northwest Rankin, Madison, Philadelphia and Clarkdale.
Clearly, the Gulf Coast and north Mississippi are making larger strides than east central Mississippi in the growth of fast-pitch in the youth divisions.
That's true for southwest Mississippi as well.
Keri Prestridge, who was a member of Parklane Academy's Class AAA state championship slow-pitch team, likes both brands of the game.
Fast-pitch is spreading like wildfire in north Mississippi.