Hey, Tom.

Whatever became of that All-Lincoln County fastpitch softballteam you were going to select?

Good question.

Hey, Tom.

Whatever became of that All-Lincoln County fastpitch softballteam you were going to select?

Good question.

Coaches from Brookhaven, Bogue Chitto and West Lincoln werehappy to furnish us with individual statistics for their respectiveteams. The only problem was that coaches from Loyd Star, Enterpriseand Brookhaven Academy didn’t have anyone compiling statistics forthe season.

Too bad.

There were enough players to fill an All-Lincoln County dreamteam but three local teams would have been omitted because no statswere available.

This fastpitch softball is an adventure in itself. The coachesare new to the sport. Like the players, they are learning thebasics game by game. At the small schools, coaches already arestretched and stressed to the limit. Suddenly, they have anothersport to coach.

Certainly, it is not fair to the players or the coaches whowould like to spend quality time with their families. You canespecially sympathize with coaches like Lori Brittof Loyd Star and Mickey Myers of Bogue Chitto. Looking backon the 2000-01 school year, they began coaching slowpitch preseasonpractice in early August. When October arrived, preseasonbasketball practice began in the heat of the softball season. WhenMarch arrived, fastpitch practice was supposed tobegin.

That’s a lot of coaching stress, no matter how muchmonetary supplement the coaches receive. Trying to coach threesports in back-to-back-to-back seasons is impossible, especially ifyou have a family.

Back to the dream team. Fastpitch is becoming a runawayfavorite of the future. There are college scholarships to be earnedand U.S. Olympic teams to fill with the best players available. Youcan’t help but wonder who the first woman from Mississippi will beto make the USA fastpitch team.

On the local scene, Brookhaven’s Lady Panthers madesteady improvement in fastpitch. Sophomore pitcher Mandy Vinson waschosen Most Valuable Player on the BHS squad after compiling an 8-5record.

There were several exceptional players on LisaCovington’s BHS team. Among them were junior secondbaseman Ginny Dunaway who batted .475 and wasnamed Most Valuable Defensive Player; freshman leftfielderChuvaqua Smith batted .429 and was named MostValuable Offensive Player. Freshman third baseman MeganBateman won the team’s Hustle Award and batted .419.Sophomore catcher Cortney Fielder batted .424 andsophomore first baseman Samantha Boutwell batted .351.Seventh grade rightfielder Ashley Sykes batted .333.

Judging from the age and batting averages of those players, theLady Panthers should be stronger next spring.

At Bogue Chitto, Coach Myers fielded a young team. Seventh gradepitcher Meleah Brown compiled a 3-1 record,including a no-hitter against West Lincoln and a 2-hitter versusNorth Pike.

Obviously, pitching and catching are the keys to fastpitchsuccess. Sophomore catcher Randi Moak batted .619for the Lady ‘Cats, collecting 20 RBIs and 3 homers. Sophomoreshortstop Jessica Melton batted .522, had 9 RBIs,2 homers and displayed brilliant defensive skills, earning theGolden Glove Award.

At West Lincoln, Anita Wilson coached the LadyBears to a successful first season. They were led by freshmanAlicia Kennedy who batted .619. Pitcher Dana King displayeda lot of potential on the mound.

Looking ahead to next spring. Jan Delaughterhas been named fastpitch coach at Loyd Star. If you remember,Delaughter coached the Lady Hornets to a Class 2A State BasketballTournament championship in 1991, beating Belmont 54-48 in thefinals.

Loyd Star is taking a giant step forward in this fastpitchdevelopment. The school will not field a slowpitch team this seasonand instead concentrate on the spring version.

Speaking of slowpitch, preseason practice officially begins July30, according to the Mississippi High School ActivitiesAssociation. Teams are allowed to play a MHSAA Fund Game Aug. 9.The regular season begins Aug. 13 and the season runs through thefirst of November if you happen to make the Final Four in the stateplayoffs.