named co-champions

By Angie Ledbetter

It was a close race for the 6A-region 2 district championship between the South Panola Lady Tigers and the Hernando Lady Tigers up to the very last game Monday. 

South Panola played at Grenada for the Strike Out Cancer Game and won 8-1 while Hernando beat Tupelo 12-1 the same night giving both teams a 5-1 district record. 

With a lot of confusion of who won the district on Wednesday, it was finally decided by the Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) that both teams would be named co-champions but Hernando would enter the playoffs in the No. 1 spot and South Panola No. 2. Hernando scored 43 runs and allowed 15 in district action while South Panola scored 34 and allowed 10 runs. 

That decision put South Panola traveling to Greenville last night to take on the Greenville Lady Trojans for a double header. If a third game has to be played it will be played at South Panola today. If South Panola wins they will host Desoto Central  Monday.

SP vs. Grenada

Nicole Fullilove pitched the complete game for the win, striking out 11 Grenada batters. Fullilove was named Clarion-Ledger Statewide High School Athlete of the week on Tuesday. She finished the regular season 18-5 with 229 strikeouts in 134 1⁄2 innings.

The Lady Tigers got things rolling in the bottom of the second. Hannah Moore drew a walk and pinch runner Amber Helmes entered the game for Moore. 

While Haley Reid was at bat Helmes stole second. Reid singled reaching first on an error and Helmes made her way to third. 

A sacrifice bunt by Morgan Parker sent Reid to second and with two outs, Makenzie Crutcher’s single to left drove home Helmes and Reid. 

In top of the fifth the Lady Tigers took a 3-0 lead. With two outs, Chloe Morgan singled to the  shortstop and stole second. Mallory Myers singled and got to second on an error droving Morgan home. 

Myers stole third while Fullilove was at bat but while attempting to steal home when Fullilove drew a walk, she was put out. 

Grenada scored its only run in bottom of the frame when left fielder Macey McDaniel singled and stole second and third. 

Second baseman Haley Armstrong reached first on an error and McDaniel came home. 

Bats got hot for the Lady Tigers in top of the last inning when they scored five runs off three hits. Alli Cummins, Chloe Morgan, Myers, Helmes and Reid all scored. Cummins, Chloe Morgan and Myers each had base hits. Moore reached first on an error. Reid singled and Parker reached base on an error. Moore got an RBI while Reid and Parker got two each.

South Panola ended the game with nine hits, five RBIs, five left on base, one error and two walks. Grenada had four hits, left four on base, had four errors and no walks.

“The entire season was to get big,” Lady Tiger coach Ashleigh Hicks said. “A lot of people had us marked out because we had no seniors and were so young. I think these kids have shown with their hard work and dedication they got big.”

At the end of the regular season, Chloe Morgan leads the batters with a .342 average with 24 runs, 27 hits, four RBIs, three doubles, four triples on 84 plate appearances. She also has 13 stolen bases.

Myers was the second leading batter with a .292 average, followed by Haley Reid with a .283 average.

Myers had 14 runs, 19 hits, 12 RBIs, two doubles and one triple on 80 plate appearances. Reid had 16 runs, 17 hits, eight RBIs, four doubles and one triple on 78 plate appearances.