.jpg "Image") Luke Walker (left) went 4-for-4 at the plate and Corey Luke went the distance on the mound, as the Lions pulled out a 5-4 comeback victory in Saturday’s opening contest of a doubleheader split at home against non-divisional foe Jones County.
After cutting the deficit to 4-2 with a pair of runs in the sixth inning of the opening contest, the Lions continued their momentum in the final frame. Former West Lauderdale standout Luke Walker capped a 4-for-4 outing with a leadoff single and would later come around to score EMCC’s third run with a stolen base and subsequent wild pitch. Following a single by Northeast Lauderdale product Nathan Peden, Heidelberg’s Derek Beach knotted the score at 4-4 with an opposite-field single. David Williams and Billy Beard both reached safely on sacrifice bunt attempts that resulted in an infield error and fielder’s choice, respectively. With the bases loaded, Nettleton’s Cody Brownlee bounced into a double play that forced Beach at home. However, pinch hitter Addison Swink of Southeast Lauderdale came through in the clutch by scoring Williams on a game-winning, two-out single hit deep in the hole between short and third.
The visiting Bobcats struck first in the opener with three runs in the third inning, as Chris Lofton’s two-run triple down the left-field line was followed by Tyler Gardner’s sacrifice fly. JCJC plated a solo run the following frame after a slow start to the inning. After EMCC starter Corey Luke struck out the first two Bobcat batters, Dustin Gilmore singled up the middle. After stealing second and moving to third on a throwing error by Williams behind the plate, Gilmore scored on Zachary Robertson’s single to center.
A former standout at Philadelphia High School, Luke picked up the complete-game victory in the opener for the Lions, scattering seven hits over seven innings. After allowing runs in the third and fourth innings, he settled down to surrender only one hit – a leadoff double by Tyler McMullen in the sixth – over the final three innings.
Though managing only three hits in the nightcap, the Lions manufactured solo scores in four successive innings to take a 4-1 advantage into the final inning. With EMCC forced to use three different pitchers in relief of starter Drake Gregory, Jones County sent 11 batters to the plate in the seventh inning and pushed across six runs on five hits to take the nightcap by a 7-4 final tally.
Coach Tony Montgomery’s EMCC Lions, now 7-29 overall and 2-9 in North Division play, continue their current four-date home stand by playing host to divisional foe Northwest Mississippi Tuesday afternoon in a doubleheader slated for a 1 p.m. start on the Scooba campus.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 April 2009 )
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.jpg "Image") Sara Havard (left) supplied the game-winning, two-run single and Courtney Nunn picked up the complete-game victory in helping the Lady Lions to a come-from-behind 2-1 home win in Saturday’s opening game of a doubleheader split against Northwest Mississippi.
The visiting Lady Rangers reached EMCC starter Courtney Nunn for a run in the first, as Casi Brooks’ double drove home Angela Carden after she reached on a two-out walk.
Managing only singles by Brooke Lee and Josie Matthews – former West Lauderdale teammates – through the opening five innings, the Lady Lions rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Starkville’s Portia Randle and former East Webster product Summer Frost reached safely on a hit and walk, respectively, West Point’s Alex Shelton moved up both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Sara Havard, another former West Lauderdale product, followed with a two-out, two-run bloop single just past first base to give the Lady Lions a 2-1 lead.
A native of Jonesboro, La., Nunn finished off her complete-game victory by retiring Northwest in order in the seventh inning. For the contest, Nunn allowed five hits and four bases on balls, while striking out seven Lady Ranger batters.
In the nightcap, Northwest reached East Mississippi starter Teddie Eden for three first-inning runs on four hits and an EMCC error. The Lady Rangers added four more scores in the third to move ahead 7-0 before the Lady Lions managed a solo run in the fourth and two more tallies the following inning.
Frost went 3-for-4, including a double, with an RBI and a run scored in the second game, while former New Hope standout Linsey Upton added a pair of singles and scored a run. After her game-winner in the opener, Havard came back with a run-scoring single in the nightcap. Randle had an RBI triple and scored a run in the second contest.
Coach Kate Neely’s EMCC Lady Lions, now 13-17 overall and 6-4 in North Division action, are slated to play four consecutive doubleheaders away from home beginning with Tuesday’s twin bill at Northeast Mississippi.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 April 2009 )
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.jpg "Image") DeShuni Sanders from perennial softball powerhouse New Hope High School has become the sixth addition to head coach Kate Neely’s 2009 EMCC softball recruiting class.
A multi-time, all-district outfielder in both fastpitch and slowpitch for current New Hope coach Tabitha Beard and retired Lady Trojan mentor Cary Shepherd, Sanders has been affiliated with five state championship teams at New Hope and was a member of the 2005 Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) 18-Under National Championship team. The 5-foot-5 speedster has been competing for the Lady Trojans’ varsity softball program since the seventh grade.
Playing center field for New Hope, Sanders is currently hitting .298 for the 17-2 state tournament-bound Lady Trojans as the team’s leadoff batter. She has been chosen to compete in this year’s Mississippi Association of Coaches Fastpitch All-Star Game set for June 20 at Newton County High School in Decatur.
A year ago in repeating as an all-district fastpitch performer, she hit a team-best .369 with a .431 on-base percentage and .631 slugging percentage to help lead New Hope to a second straight fastpitch district championship. In addition, Sanders had eight extra-base hits along with 24 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases as a junior.
“DeShuni perfectly fits the mold of young ladies that we want in our softball program here at EMCC,” Neely noted. “In addition to being a tremendous outfielder with terrific speed and a high skill level, she proves herself in the classroom as well as in society.”
A two-time all-state standout in slowpitch at New Hope, Sanders batted .550 this past fall with a .576 on-base percentage and .780 slugging percentage to help pace the Lady Trojans to their eighth state slowpitch championship in nine years and 11th state title since 1989.
Along with her numerous softball accomplishments, Sanders participated in the triple jump and high jump at New Hope in addition to being a participant on the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relay teams. She placed third in the triple jump at the 2008 MHSSA Class 4A state track and field meet and posted a third-place finish in the high jump at last year’s Region 2-4A meet. Sanders also competed in varsity basketball during her New Hope athletics career.
“After visiting the Scooba campus and meeting with the players and coaches, I believe EMCC is a perfect fit for me,” Sanders said. “I will also have the opportunity to reunite with my friend and teammate Linsey Upton.”
Sanders joins previously announced EMCC softball signees Mallory Pace of Northeast Lauderdale, Caledonia’s Justine Jenkins, Katie Newman of Oak Hill Academy, Courtney Castleberry of Clarkdale High School, and Celeste Fontenot of Brusly (La.) High School. She is the eldest of three daughters of Donnie and Renee’ Sanders of Columbus, who participated in collegiate track and field at Mississippi College and Jackson State University, respectively.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 April 2009 )
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.jpg "Image") EMCC head soccer coach Junior Noel (standing) welcomes recent additions (L-R) Taylor Chisolm, India Whittle and Eduardo Fumo to East Mississippi’s 2009 soccer recruiting class. Not pictured is recent EMCC women’s soccer signee Nichola Crenshaw.
Despite dividing his time between basketball and soccer during his prep career at Starkville High School, Fumo recorded a team-high 14 goals and added two assists in just eight games as a senior in being named to the 2009 Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal All-Area High School Soccer Team. Fumo helped lead head coach Brian Bennett’s Yellowjackets to state playoff appearances each of the past two seasons as a starting forward. The 6-foot-3 Fumo also started on the hardwood for head coach Greg Carter’s SHS basketball team, averaging around seven points and three rebounds per game as a senior. He was a two-time recipient of the team’s Academic Award.
Also from the Golden Triangle area, Chisolm was a four-year starter for Caledonia High School, where he teamed with fellow EMCC soccer signee Seth Wood and East Mississippi baseball signee Tyler Aldridge. Together, the future EMCC Lions helped pace head coach Morgan Mansfield’s Confederates to a school-best 14-5 record and runner-up finish at the Class 4A North State championship this past season. Individually, Chisolm set a single-season school standard with 28 goals, including a five-goal effort against New Albany, in addition to being credited with 14 assists on the year. He will cap his prep career by competing in the 2009 Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Soccer Game set for June 13 in Raymond.
As a junior, Chisolm was selected All-District 4-4A by the area coaches and was voted Team MVP and CHS’s Best Offensive Player after scoring 23 goals for the Confederates.
Fumo and Chisolm join previously announced EMCC men’s soccer signees Steven Geraci of DeSoto Central, Brandon’s Brian Meza, James Nichols of Northwest Rankin, Saltillo’s Josh Harden, Justin Knight of Quitman, Heidelberg Academy’s Corey Devun, and Seth Wood of Caledonia.
Crenshaw and Whittle are the first two women’s players to ink with East Mississippi Community College during the current signing period. Set to play midfield for the Lady Lions, Crenshaw was a key contributor on head coach Melissa Crouch’s Meridian team this past year. She tallied four goals as a striker to help lead the Lady Wildcats to a third-place district finish with a 10-7 record. Crenshaw also competed as a sprinter on MHS’s track and field team.
A key defensive player for head coach Nathan Sistrunk at Neshoba Central, Whittle also competes in softball for the Lady Rockets.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 April 2009 )
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.jpg "Image") Freshman right-hander Tyler Richardson dropped a hard-luck 1-0 no-hit decision to Mississippi Delta Thursday afternoon in a rain-shortened solo contest played on the Scooba campus.
As severe weather approached the Kemper County area, Delta right-hander Ted Washington and EMCC freshman hurler Tyler Richardson battled head-to-head in a quick-moving hitless contest that lasted 5 ½ innings before being called due to rain. Improving to 4-2 on the year after moving over from the Trojan basketball team, Washington baffled the Lion hitters primarily with his hard-breaking slider. The 6-foot-2 Hollandale native faced the minimum of EMCC batters through five innings, striking out seven and allowing just one walk. Lion clean-up hitter Derek Beach led off the fifth with a walk, but was thrown out attempting to steal second.
Allowing four bases on balls through the opening two innings, Richardson’s early wildness ended up being the difference in the no-hit contest. Delta’s Travis Chouccoli walked to open the second inning and advanced around to third on a wild pitch and ensuing ground out. After reaching first base by way of a two-out walk, Parker Livingston stole second and Chouccoli sped home to beat the throw from second base on the steal attempt. A product of West Lauderdale High School, Richardson, now 2-6 on the season, did settle down to record nine strikeouts in dropping the tough-luck decision.
Thursday’s scheduled doubleheader between the Lions and Trojans in Scooba was delayed one day because of transportation problems incurred by Mississippi Delta that prevented the team from traveling to EMCC on Wednesday.
Coach Tony Montgomery’s Lions, now 6-28 overall and 2-9 in North Division play, continue their current four-date home stand by playing host to Jones County in a non-divisional twin bill set to begin at 2 p.m. Saturday on the Scooba campus.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 02 April 2009 )
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