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AMORY – With rain forcing cancellation of Tuesday’s final round of the MACJC State Golf Championship, the Lions of East Mississippi Community College posted their second straight state runner-up finish on the links. Monday’s 310 team score at River Birch Golf Club tied EMCC with Northwest Mississippi Community College for second place, 13 strokes behind three-time state champion Mississippi Gulf Coast CC.
EMCC’s tie for state runner-up golf honors comes on the heels of last year’s school-best, second-place finish claimed by head coach Dale Peay’s 2011 Lions at Deerfield Country Club in Canton.
Monday in Amory, all five Lion golfers finished among the top 30 individuals. Leading the way were EMCC sophomores Weston Wallace and Tyler Slocum, who tied with three other golfers for seventh place with 3-over-par 75s. Freshman Miles Respess tied for 14th place with a 78, while sophomore Andrew Spiers and freshman Nick Davis rounded out East Mississippi’s scorecard in a five-way tie for 26th place with 82s.
Finishing out the top five on the team leader board at this week’s state tournament were Copiah-Lincoln CC, which finished one stroke behind EMCC and Northwest at 311, and host Itawamba CC at 313.
Mississippi Gulf Coast freshman Brad Thornton earned individual medalist honors with his 2-under-par 70 to finish two shots better than Chad Cupples of Northwest Mississippi CC. There was a three-way tie for third place (73) between MGCCC’s Jack Sargent, Branning Dykes of Jones County and Copiah-Lincoln’s Alex Clark.
With their state runner-up finish, the EMCC Lions will make their third NJCAA Region 23 Golf Championship appearance in the past four years this coming Sunday and Monday (April 22-23) at Big Oaks Golf Course in Saltillo. The two-day event will also feature four-time defending region champion Mississippi Gulf Coast along with Northwest Mississippi, Copiah-Lincoln and region host Northeast Mississippi.
Individually, EMCC’s Wallace earned MACJC All-State honors for the second year in a row by finishing sixth among the state’s junior college golfers with a 75.55 composite stroke average through this week’s state tournament. A year ago as a freshman, the former Northwest Rankin High School product claimed the prestigious Hubert Tucker Award for having the MACJC’s best scoring average during the 2011 spring season.
This year’s MACJC All-State First Team was comprised of the MGCCC foursome of Thornton, Jared Smith, Jack Sargent and 2012 Hubert Tucker Award recipient Marcus Fox, along with Northwest Mississippi’s Cameron Thomas. Wallace was joined on the five-man MACJC All-State Second Team by Northwest’s Cupples and the Co-Lin trio of Clark, Hunter Hood and Keaton Stamps.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 April 2012 )
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MARTIN, Tenn. – Continuing their successful spring season, the East Mississippi Community College men’s rodeo team posted a second straight third-place team finish this past weekend at the 44th Annual Spring College Rodeo hosted by the University of Tennessee at Martin at the Ned Ray McWherter Agricultural Complex and N.W. (Doc) Robinson Arena.
Along with the Lions’ third-place team showing, EMCC freshman cowgirl Kellie Hailey claimed all-around individual honors to lead the Lady Lions to a fourth-place team finish. The former Central Academy product accounted for all of EMCC’s 215 team points on the women’s side with a second-place effort in the goat tying event and a fifth-place finish in the barrel racing competition. In the men’s competition, the Lions scored most of their 270 team points in the calf roping event. Freshman cowboy Martin Walker, of Belzoni, earned 150 points for his first-place finish in the event, which included a time of 8.2 seconds in the short-go round. Fellow EMCC freshmen Scooter Scarbrough and Marshall Harrison, both from Florence, also placed in calf roping. Freshman Ethan Bobo, of Carthage, was responsible for EMCC’s other 70 points with a fifth-place showing in steer wrestling. The top two men’s teams in the Ozark Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association maintained their respective spots atop the regional standings with Missouri Valley College edging host UT Martin by 15 points, 795-780. With their third-place finish at UT Martin, the EMCC Lions now trail Southern Arkansas University by just five points (2195-2190) for third place in the current Ozark Region men’s team overall standings. EMCC opened the spring slate with a runner-up team finish at the Cossatot Community College rodeo in Texarkana, Ark. UTM and MVC switched places in the women’s competition as host UT Martin out-scored Missouri Valley, 495-325, to take the team title and gain ground on front-running Southern Arkansas among the regional team standings. For the season, EMCC’s Hailey takes over the No. 1 spot in the women’s all-around category for the Ozark Region with 778.33 cumulative points. For the Lions, Scarbrough and Bobo presently stand fourth regionally in the calf roping and steer wrestling events, respectively, with composite point totals of 375 and 350. The ninth stop on the NIRA’s Ozark Region 2011-12 rodeo slate is set for this week (April 19-21) in Senatobia. The Landers-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Ranger Rodeo will begin Thursday evening at the Northwest Mississippi Community College Multipurpose Arena. The main event, presented by America’s Best Value Inn and Delta Power Sports, will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night during the three-day event. |
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.jpg "Image") EMCC softball standout Stormy Lewis, joined by her parents, Curtis and Cristal Lewis, and EMCC softball coaches Kate Neely and Casey Finch, has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Delta State University.
“I choose Delta State because the coaches were consistent; they stayed with me and talked with me every week,” Lewis said. “I also really like the campus, so it wasn’t a hard choice. It is like a dream come true. Since I was a little girl, I wanted to play (softball) at a university. It seemed like the day would never come, but it finally has.”
Lewis, a former softball standout for head coach Kacie Roberson at Quitman High School, Lewis presently tops EMCC in hitting with a .427 batting average and leads head coach Kate Neely’s Lady Lions with four home runs and a .481 on-base percentage on the year. The catcher/third baseman also ranks among the team leaders with 19 runs batted in, 13 runs scored and six doubles.
“It’s a blessing to see the girls move onto the next level,” EMCC’s Neely noted. “Delta State was pretty persistent with her. They cared more about her than just softball, and I think that’s what stood out for Stormy. I think she’s a perfect fit at Delta State. We look forward to following her softball career over the next two years.”
Having played softball and soccer at Quitman in addition to serving as the school’s Panther mascot, Lewis originally signed with Jones County Junior College after high school graduation before beginning her collegiate career at Meridian Community College a season ago. This is her only season competing as an EMCC Lady Lion after transferring from MCC.
The daughter of Curtis and Cristal Lewis of Quitman, Lewis plans to major in history/political science at Delta State University with future plans to teach and coach softball. The youngest of three children, Lewis has a sister, Tabitha, and a brother, Curtis.
“Stormy is a player that we have been keeping a close eye on during her time at EMCC,” added Delta State head softball coach Casey Charles, a 2001 DSU graduate. “She is not only a quality young adult but a quality student-athlete. I feel confident that her athleticism and knowledge of the game will allow her the chance to immediately impact our program. We are very excited to welcome her to DSU and are looking forward to next year.”
The EMCC Lady Lions, reigning MACJC North Division softball champions, are 15-22 overall and 9-11 in division play on the season. Bidding for a fourth consecutive appearance in the MACJC State Softball Tournament, EMCC will conclude regular-season play this coming week with home dates against Coahoma (Tuesday), fifth-ranked Jones County (Wednesday) and Northwest Mississippi (Friday).
The Lady Statesmen of Delta State University are currently 18-25 overall on the year and 5-13 in the Gulf South Conference.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 13 April 2012 )
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SENATOBIA – With three home runs in game one and a three-run seventh inning in the nightcap, the visiting Lions of East Mississippi Community College swept Northwest Mississippi Community College, 8-5 and 3-2, in a pair of comeback division baseball wins late Wednesday afternoon at Ranger Field.
In the opener, EMCC evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the third on a leadoff home run by Columbus’ Josh Tentoni – his second of the year – off Northwest starting pitcher Colt Burns. After the Rangers went back ahead 2-1 with a solo tally in the bottom of the third, EMCC freshman outfielder Jason Yarbor, of Meridian High School, blasted his first collegiate home run to left field in the fourth. The two-out, two-run shot put the visitors back on top 3-2.
Allowing just three hits through the first four innings, EMCC starting pitcher Smokey Ethridge was reached for two runs on three hits in the fifth inning to give the Rangers a temporary 4-3 advantage. In the top of the sixth, Burns seemed to tire and walked the bases loaded. With Burns staying on the mound with two outs, Tentoni singled up the middle for a pair of runs to reclaim the lead, 5-4, for the visitors. Fellow Columbus High School alum Leroy Wilson then followed with a three-run blast to left-center field – his team-leading fifth homer of the year – to increase the lead to 8-4.
Ethridge, a West Lauderdale product, improved to a team-best 5-2 on the year by going five innings for the victory, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out six and not issuing a walk. Tyler Jones, from Victory Christian Academy, worked the final two innings for the Lions, giving up a run without a hit in the final frame.
Offensively for EMCC in game one, Tentoni, Yarbor and Zane Migues each collected two hits apiece to pace the Lions’ eight-hit team effort.
On the strength of an 11-strikeout pitching performance by Northwest’s Garrett Radicioni, the home-standing Rangers took a 2-0 lead into the last inning. In total command on the mound, Radicioni had only allowed a fourth-inning single by Yarbor heading into the seventh inning. Northwest’s two runs in the fifth were of the unearned variety off EMCC starter Blake Thomas, another West Lauderdale product.
In the top of the seventh, Yarbor led things off with a single up the middle for his second hit of the game and fourth of the afternoon. A subsequent single to right-center field by Brett Tortorich chased Radicioni from the hill. Tentoni greeted reliever Garrett Blaylock with a run-scoring single for his fourth RBI of the day. Wilson then tied the contest at 2-2 with a single through the left side for his fourth RBI of the twin-bill. Two batters later with Cody Reed now pitching for Northwest, EMCC sophomore Tyler Bonaventure picked an opportune time for his only hit of the day – a run-scoring single to center that plated Wilson with the decisive third run.
After Corbin Johnson closed out the fifth inning for EMCC’s Thomas, Lion sophomore right-hander Blake Roberts worked the final two innings to earn his first EMCC victory in five decisions. The former New Hope High School standout allowed just one hit and fanned a pair to close the door in game two and complete the Lions’ road sweep over the Rangers.
Pitching was indeed at a premium during the doubleheader, as both teams combined for just 25 hits in 14 total innings of baseball. EMCC out-hit Northwest both games, 8-6 in the opener and 6-5 in the nightcap.
Entering the day in second place behind front-running Itawamba, Northwest fell to 18-18 overall on the year and 9-5 in MACJC North Division play. Coach Chris Rose’s EMCC Lions, now 14-19 overall and 5-10 within the division, step out of division play one final time this regular season by traveling to Summit to take on Southwest Mississippi Community College in a 4 p.m. Saturday doubleheader.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 April 2012 )
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 EMCC sophomores D.J. Evans (left) and Colin Borchert have been named to this year’s NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball All-America Team for their season-long efforts during the Lions’ successful 2011-12 hoops campaign.
The top two vote-getters from the 10-player NJCAA All-Region 23 squad, Evans was named to the NJCAA’s All-America Second Team while Borchert grabbed NJCAA All-America Third Team honors. EMCC was the lone Division I men’s basketball program to feature two individuals chosen among the NJCAA’s top 30 players listed collectively on the first, second and third teams.
Together, Evans and Borchert helped lead head coach Mark White’s 15th-ranked EMCC Lions to a third straight appearance in the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship this past year after claiming the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament title and MACJC North Division regular-season crown for the third consecutive season.
Evans, a former Jackson All-Metro selection from Brandon High School, averaged a team-leading 15.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the 23-6 EMCC Lions this past season. The 5-foot-9 playmaker shot 41 percent overall from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 71 percent from the free-throw line this past year as a sophomore. As a 56-game starter during his two seasons in Scooba, Evans compiled per-game averages of 14.3 points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals during his two seasons as an EMCC Lion.
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Borchert made an immediate impact in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) after transferring from Yavapai College in Arizona. The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward averaged 15.3 points per game this past season along with leading the Lions in rebounding (7.7 rpg), blocked shots (41) and made 3-pointers (41). With seven double-doubles on the year, Borchert connected on 47 percent of his field-goal attempts, including 41-of-109 (38%) from beyond the three-point arc, and 74 percent from the charity stripe.
This season marks the third consecutive year that the East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball program has featured an NJCAA All-American under White’s guidance. A year ago, Deonte Alexander, now playing at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., was an honorable mention All-America selection. The season prior, Starkville’s CoCo Ware was named to the 2009-10 NJCAA All-America First Team prior to signing with Mississippi Valley State University.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 April 2012 )
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