By Brad Greer

The Mississippi  Eclipse 18U softball squad captured third place over the weekend in the second annual U.S. Fastpitch Association’s ‘June Jam’ held at Tiger Park on the campus of South Panola High School.

The Eclipse, coached by South Panola head coach Ashleigh Hicks, kicked off the double elimination tournament Sunday morning with a dramatic 3-2 win over the Mississippi Fury on Mandy Fuller’s game-winning two run double in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Eclipse then fell into the losers’ bracket after dropping a 4-0 verdict to the Decatur Warriors then were eliminated by the Fury 5-3 in the semi-finals. The Eclipse and Fury tangled three times during the tournament  with the Eclipse winning two of three meetings

Fuller registered a double and triple to lead the Eclipse at the plate in the victory of the Fury. Taylor Holland added a pair of singles and scored two runs. Lindsey Rowe and former South Panola standout Chelsea Allen both singled in the contest. Karli Conrad picked up the pitching victory in the circle for the Eclipse. Conrad, a Marion, Ark. HS product, registered a pair of pitching victories and recorded a save during the tournament.

 The Eclipse managed only one hit in the loss to the Warriors as Haylee Powers singled in the fourth inning. Lindsey Rowe stroked a RBI triple in the third inning that scored Laci Duplesis  in Sunday’s loss against the Fury. Libby Goranson and Holland added doubles while Duplesis and Katie Caldwell added singles.

The Eclipse opened up pool play Saturday afternoon with a 5-0 blanking of the Senatobia-based Tobie Warriors. Holland led the Eclipse at the plate with three RBI’s while Rowe, Allen and Goranson each provided singles. South Panola’s Merideth Roberson added a clutch two-run single in the fourth inning.

The Eclipse picked up their first win over the Fury with a 3-2 victory Saturday afternoon by plating all three runs in the bottom of the first inning as Rowe and Fuller singled while Powers crushed a run-producing double in the frame. Conrad gave up one earned run on four hits in four innings of work to pick up the pitching win. The Eclipse closed Saturday’s play with a 9-6 win over the Mississippi Rampage.

The Eclipse will be back in action this weekend in the Germantown. Invitational.