DAILy LEADER / MARTY ALBRIGHT / Layton Sills of West Lincoln (left photo); Christian Black of Bogue Chitto (center) and Ali Gartman of Loyd Star (right) will put their softball talents to the test as they represent Lincoln County in the 14th Annual MAC All-Star girls’ fastpitch softball All-Star games. The games will be played Saturday at Community Bank Park on the Jones Junior College campus.

Softball fans from Lincoln County have a chance to watch three local rising seniors: Layton Sills of West Lincoln, Christian Black of Bogue Chitto and Ali Gartman of Loyd Star, as they suit up in their school colors once again. This time, it’s for the 14th Annual MAC All-Star girls’ fastpitch softball games. The games will be played Saturday at Community Bank Park on the Jones Junior College campus located at 900 South Court St. in Ellisville.

Tickets for the games are $5 per person for general admission seating.

Class 1A/2A/3A and Class 4A/5A/6A will play two games on the evening. Game One for Class 1A/2A/3A will start at 10 a.m. Immediately following the first series, Class 4A/5A/6A will begin.

After the conclusion of the second Game One game, approximately 1 p.m., there will be a full squad introductions of all fastpitch All-Star players for all classes.

After the ceremony, Game Two will resume. Class 1A/2A/3A is set to begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by Game Two of Class 4A/5A/6A.

The Class 1A/2A/3A North squad will be coached by Steven Helms of Winona and his assistant coach Percy Legg. The South 1A/2A/3A team will be guided by Christopher Welch of Puckett and his assistant coach Corinne Mann.

The North Class 4A/5A/6A team will be led by head coach Lee Buse of Saltillo with his assistant Chris Summers. The South 4A/5A/6A team will be coached by Ryan Hodges of Gulfport along with his assistant coach Glenn White.

In the 2014 Class 1A/2A/3A game, the North swept the South 2-1 and 6-2 to tie the overall series record at 3-3-3. In the Class 4A/5A/6A game, the South defeated the North 7-5 in 8 innings in Game One while the North won Game Two by a 10-8 score. With the split, the Class 4A/5A/6A series is also tied at 3-3-3.

Representing Lincoln County in the South for Class 1A/2A/3A:

Layton Sills, West Lincoln, batted .333 in her junior year for the Lady Bears with 18 RBIs, four doubles and four triples.

On defense, Sills posted a .944 fielding percentage as the Lady Bears’ shortstop.

West Lincoln coach Andrew Redd said, “It is a honor to have Layton Sills chosen to represent West Lincoln in the All-Star game. She has been a dedicated player and works hard at being successful.”

Christian Black,  Bogue Chitto, provides the Lady Cats with a strong pitching arm and great junior leadership on the field. On the mound, she posted a 7-5 record with an 1.97 ERA. Black led the team in strikeouts with 89 and walked only 31 batters in 64 innings pitched. Defensively, she had an .977 fielding percentage .

At the plate, Black had a .397 batting average on the season with 20 RBIs, six doubles and one home run.

“Christian has been a very productive player throughout her career,” said Bogue Chitto coach Scott Leggett. “She has done a fantastic job on the mound and hitting at the plate. We are extremely proud that she will be representing Bogue Chitto in the all-star game.”

Ali Gartman,  Loyd Star, provides power at the plate and finesse on defense at first base for the Lady Hornets.

Offensively, She batted .424 on the season with 10 doubles, one triple, eight homeruns and had 30 RBIs.

Defensively, Gartman led the Lady Hornets with a .975 fielding percentage.

Loyd Star coach Jan Delaughter was proud of Gartman’s accomplishments. “Ali is a talented player with a powerful bat. She has one of the best defensive gloves as a first basemen that I have coached. She is very coachable and is a joy to coach.”

NORTH 1A/2A/3A FAST PITCH TEAM

NO. -NAME -SCHOOL -COACH

4 MOLLIE SIMPSON -RIVERSIDE -BRAD ANDREWS

5 HEATHER BERRY -SOUTH PONTOTOC -ADAM PATTERSON

9 MADISON CARNES -NORTH PONTOTOC -CeCee AUSTIN

13 WHITNEE SHAW -WINONA -STEVEN HELMS

15 KAYLA MOORE -WHEELER -ANDY RICHEY

15 MARY ASHTON THORNBURG -WINONA -STEVEN HELMS

17 MADISON FLEMINGS -EAST WEBSTER -LEE BERRYHILL

18 CHLOE EUBANK -BOONEVILLE -JESSICA TAYLOR

20 BRITTANY ADAMS -NETTLETON -DANA RHEA

21 KELSEY MINGA -MOOREVILLE -PERRY WILBURN

21 BAILIE SPRINGFIELD -EAST WEBSTER -LEE BERRYHILL

24 MORGAN BARRETT -SMITHVILLE -JEREMY DUKE

HEAD COACH: STEVEN HELMS, WINONA

ASSISTANT COACH: PERCY LEGG, WINONA

SOUTH 1A/2A/3A FAST PITCH TEAM

NO.-NAME-SCHOOL-COACH

1        KINLEY WESTERFIELD-PUCKETT-CHRIS WELCH

5        EMILY VOWELL-TAYLORSVILLE-NICK HILLMAN

6      CHRISTIAN BLACK-BOGUE CHITTO-SCOTT LEGGETT

6        PRECIOUS SANDERS-PHILADELPHIA-AUSTIN McNAIR

7        KEELY AINSWORTH -PUCKETT -CHRIS WELCH

7       KENYATTA MOORE -PHILADELPHIA -AUSTIN McNAIR

8      EMMA RAE CASTANEDO -ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC -THOMAS CASTANEDO

10   LAYTON SILLS -WEST LINCOLN -ANDREW REDD

10     ELIZABETH ZORICH -ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC -THOMAS CASTANEDO

12      MACKENZIE JOHNSON -NANIH WAIYA -RON SWART

14      KATELYN BAKER -SEMINARY -JONATHAN ROBERTSON

25    ALI GARTMAN -LOYD STAR -JAN DELAUGHTER

HEAD COACH: CHRISTOPHER WELCH, PUCKETT

ASSISTANT COACH: CORINNE MANN, PUCKETT