By Angie Ledbetter

The South Panola Lady Tigers recorded six hits against Newton County in route to a 3-1 win Friday afternoon.

Unfortunately, that was the only win the Lady Tigers recorded in the always tough Clarkdale Tournament, near Meridian.

The Lady Tigers played four games in three days. The other three games were against teams ranked in the top 10 of the Clarion-Ledger fastpitch softball poll.

“Our inexperience showed this weekend also,” said Lady Tiger head coach Ashleigh Hicks. “I really think we beat ourselves. Our nerves beat us because they were scared before they ever got started playing. When the rankings came out, I think that is when the inexperienced kicked in. I tried not to talk or press about their rankings or who they were. We faced these kids in the summer and played them well.

“We had been using the excuse of being young but I told them after the tournament that we weren’t using that again,” Hicks continued. “I told them that they may be young experience wise but they know how to play ball. I really think the mental part was one big key to losing the games.”

Against Newton County, senior Kenzi Reed led at the plate going 2-for-3 with two doubles and a walk. She scored two runs.

Also hitting for the Lady Tigers were Meredith Roberson, 2-for-3, one RBI (run batted in); Haley Walton, 1-for-2; and Stormy Robison, 1-for-3.

Robison got the win, pitching six innings, allowing five hits and one run. Reed relieved her in the sixth inning and got the save. She struck out two.

The Lady Tigers started the tournament against the No. 2 team in the state, Northwest Rankin, and fell 5-0 on Friday afternoon. Reed took the loss on the mound, striking out three. She allowed seven hits and five runs.

On Saturday, the Lady Tigers had an early wake up call facing No. 7 East Central and fell 5-1. To finish the tournament, the Lady Tigers were shutout 6-0 by No. 3 Poplarville.

Reed took the loss against East Central, striking out five, allowing four hits and walking two.

Robison took the loss against Poplarville.

“We didn’t hit as well either but we faced some of the best pitchers in the state this weekend,” Hicks said. “East Central and Poplarville have great pitchers. They were both in the state championship last year and I would think they will be back this year against each other. I knew the pitcher from East Central from last year and she is a senior this year. I’d put both those teams above Northwest Rankin.”

Hicks said she is not making excuses and that the Lady Tigers could have played better ball.

“We didn’t play the game that we had been playing all year long and I think we could’ve given all those teams better looks,” she said. “The week and half that we had off I know affected us also. We had three games that were rained out before we even went on spring break and that hurt us. We needed to play those three games with Southaven, Desoto Central and Starkville but didn’t get to. You can practice all you want but the game is what you need.”

Hicks said the district season will really heat up after spring break, and hopes the team learned that one or two people cannot carry a team.

“It is going to take all of us,” she said. “If nothing else, I think it put us all on the same page as far as we have to play as a team. It’s going to take everyone of us to do our part whether it’s offensively or defensively. I feel our defense went down because they weren’t hitting. It works together and you can’t let one affect the other.“

The Lady Tigers started this week facing last year district champion Tupelo yesterday.

“I think after the weekend that we saw, we should be more prepared for this week,” Hicks said. “We saw top notch teams that we played   against and that is what we go for is to play those type teams. We had a good practice on Sunday and tried to fix the things that we did wrong. Hopefully, we will be ready mentally for this week.”

Today, the Lady Tigers travel to Senatobia for a non-district game. Friday, they will host another district game with Starkville. Games are 5 p.m. with the Jr. Varsity, followed by the varsity at 6 p.m.