By Angie Ledbetter

The South Panola Lady Tiger’s fastpitch team started preseason in the Lake Cormorant Classic Saturday.

A new rule this year was that the pitchers could only throw two innings per game in the classic. Nicole Fullilove started both games the first two innings and Caroline Dickins came in for the last two innings.

In the first game they took on St. Benedict Lady Eagles of Cordova losing 1-0.

The Eagles scored the only run in the top of the first off a walk.

They had one hit, one error and left four on base.

The Lady Tigers had one hit each by Amanda Ivy, Meri Morgan Fortune and Marla Rudd. They left two on base and had no errors.

Head South Panola Coach Ashleigh Hicks said the team had some first game jitters.

“Defensively we were great and I think our pitchers did good for their first game as well. It was only three and a half innings. Ours dropped dead when we had people on base when the time stopped. I think if we had played seven innings it would’ve been a different ending.

With one out Fortune was up to bat with one ball and Ivy was on second.”

The Lady Tigers took on the Horn Lake Lady Eagles in the second game winning 4-1.

Scoring runs were Christa Brown, Ivy, Lauren Calvert and Fullilove.

“We went up on Horn Lake 4-0 and were able to sub a lot of players in offensively and defensively. In the last inning they squeezed one run against us but we did a lot of right things in that game.”

“All and all I think we had a great day. Defensively you couldn’t have asked for a better day but offensively we’re going to work some more.”

On Monday the Lady Tigers played a scrimmage with the Red team taking on the Blue team. Winning the battle was the Red Team 6-5.

Scoring two runs each for the Red Team was Chresha Brown and Ivy.

Adding one was Rudd and Fortune. For the Blue Team, scoring one run each were Dickins, Lauren Calvert, Crystal Contreras, Christa Brown and Morgan Aldison.

“We took the junior varsity and varsity teams and put them on teams as evenly as I could. It ended up being a pretty close game at the end.”

“I wanted them to get some live at bat and situations because that’s the best way for them to learn.”

The Lady Tigers will open their regular season at home on Saturday when they host Hernando. The junior varsity play at 12 and varsity at 1.

“Every year the first game comes so fast to me. I think as a team we’ve covered everything we could possibly in practice and our leaders are ready. I guess Saturday will tell.”