Stike Out Cancer Fastpitch Games

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Kelsay Hancock was the starting pitcher for the South Panola Jr. Varsity game against Grenada. The Panolian photo by Myra Bean

Lady Tigers win first of SOC games

By Angie Ledbetter

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

  It was a game that meant more than winning for the players, coaches and fans on Friday night when several hundred fans turned out to witness a special event as the Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Chargers 7-2.

The Lady Tigers and the Lady Chargers from Grenada played the 2nd Annual Strike Out Cancer fast pitch game to raise money for the America Cancer Society. It was a game played in honor of those who were battling cancer, for those who had won their battle and also played in memory of those who had lost their battle with the disease.

“This game is something that we always look forward to,” said Lady Tiger head coach Ashleigh Hicks. “Last year was the first time we did it and the girls enjoyed wearing the pink shirts and socks. We enjoy having the big crowd here and doing something for the community.”

Hicks added they also enjoy winning the game.

“Grenada is always a big rival and that is one of my good friends that coaches the team and I can’t let her beat me,” Hicks said.

The Lady Chargers started the game scoring two runs in the top of the first inning.

The Lady Tigers rallied in the bottom of the third getting two hits and scoring four runs.

Center fielder Jennifer Newcomb started the rally with a single followed by right fielder Haley Walton with a single. Next at the plate was short stop Hillari Plummer who singled. Newcomb was out going to third.

While second baseman Chelsea Allen was at bat, Walton stole third. Allen singled driving Walton home. Pitcher Stormy Robison singled to load the bases. First baseman Meri Morgan Fortune hit a three-run RBI (runs batted in) double pushing Plummer, Allen and Robison across the plate. The Lady Tigers led 4-2 and in the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Tigers scored two runs on Allen’s two-run RBI triple scoring Walton and Plummer, both of whom singled to get on base.

The Lady Tigers had 11 hits.

Robison started on the mound and pitched 3.1 innings. She was replaced in the fourth by Kenzi Reed when left fielder Amanda Ivy went out with a shoulder injury. Reed had seven strike outs and got the win. The Lady Chargers got four hits, two runs and one strike out.

“I’m going to blame the slow start we had with too much time off and with seven of us having the flu. Both of those were a factor. We had a few more days off than I would’ve liked but we had no choice. Even today we had some still not well. Kelsay (Hancock) was very weak back behind the plate.”

The Jr. Varsity team fell to Grenada 4-2. Kelsay Hancock was the starting pitcher. She was relieved by Diamond Browning.

The Lady Tigers will have a full slate this week on the road with games being played every day except Wednesday. Games the next two weeks will be played on the road.

On Monday, they played Brandon at Grenada in a rescheduled game from the Grenada tournament. The junior varsity team played Grenada yesterday. The scores were not available at press time.

Today the Lady Tigers will travel to Columbus for the first district game starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, the Lady Tigers travel to Southaven for non-district action beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Friday, South Panola will play at Starkville in a district road contest with games at 5 p.m.

The varsity and junior varsity will play Desoto Central Saturday starting at 11 a.m. with the varsity game first.