SCOOBA — Kate Neely and the East Mississippi Community softball team are ready for a clean slate.
The EMCC coach and the Lions will get just that Thursday when they will take on fifth-ranked Jones Junior College (36-7, 22-2 MACJC South Division) at 2 p.m. in the opening round of the MACJC state tournament. The eight-team, single-elimination tournament will run through Friday at Itawamba C.C. in Fulton.
“This is the best team I have had since I have been here,” Neely said, “so that is why it is so frustrating we have struggled a little bit. However, I feel good going into the state tournament. We have played well the last couple of weeks and are playing our best softball right now.”
EMCC (18-23, 12-12 MACJC North Division) closed the regular season by winning seven of their final eight division games. Each win proved critical as EMCC secured the fourth and final spot in the North Division. Neely has guided the program to the state tournament in each of her four seasons as coach.
“It has really been a lot of different things for this team,” Neely said. “There have been a lot of games where we had more hits than the other opponent, but we didn’t have the timely hits. When we hang a pitch, it gets hit the other way. … It comes down to the little things that you work on every day in practice. Things have been so sporadic. We move a player down the lineup to get their confidence back, then they start hitting the ball. Then someone else struggles. It would be different if you had one area to address. We worked a little harder in practice and paid a little more attention to detail late in the season and it paid off.”
By virtue of winning the North Division and South Division, respectively, ICC and Jones are guaranteed spots in the six-team Region XXIII tournament next week in Jackson. The top three finishers in the state tournament will join LSU-Eunice in the tournament field.
“It’s a new opportunity, and we are excited about that because I know we have the talent level to be able to compete,” Neely said. “Junior college softball in the state is played at such a high level. I think this year is the most parity we have ever had. Usually, there is a gap and real separation between the No. 1 seed and the No. 4 seed in each division. I don’t feel that is the case this year.
“For several years, the South has been the stronger of the two divisions. But from talking to some of the South Division coaches this season, they feel the power may have shifted some. I think it will make for a great tournament, with each team having a realistic chance to contend.”
Other North Division participants include No. 2 seed Northwest Mississippi C.C. and No. 3 seed Northeast Mississippi C.C. Other South Division participants include No. 2 Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C., No. 3 East Central C.C., and No. 4 Pearl River C.C.
“We defeated Itawamba last year to win the North Division title, then this year they swept us twice,” Neely said. “However, we took games against Northeast and Northwest. The same holds true in the South Division, where the lower seeds won their fair number of games against the higher teams.”
Quitman native Stormy Lewis, a sophomore who plays catcher and third base, leads EMCC. A Delta State University signee, Lewis is hitting .444 with a team-best four home runs and 26 RBIs.
Former Southeast Lauderdale High School standout Paige Sheppard has anchored the middle infield at shortstop. A sophomore, Sheppard is the only EMCC player to start every game at the same position. Sheppard is hitting .260 with 34 hits, a team-best 14 doubles, and 25 RBIs.
Freshman Haley Tutor is hitting .288 in 32 games. The former New Hope High School standout, who plays in the outfield, has 15 RBIs, has scored 17 runs, and has 23 hits.
“We have different people at different positions,” Neely said. “We have not had a set lineup for weeks because we are trying to find what works. We go off one week’s performance and try to put together the best possible lineup for the next week. I think we can go two-deep at every position. That has allowed us some versatility. We have done a lot of live hitting this season. That is a better preparation for the real game.”
In the circle, former Kemper Academy standout Shelby Sheppard leads the team with a 2.23 ERA. The freshman right-hander has appeared in 22 games and has thrown 77 innings. Freshman Misty Richard, of West Lauderdale High, and freshman Stevie Wilson, of Bessemer Academy (Ala.), also have thrown 75 or more innings.
While the Lions weren’t able to defend their North Division title, Neely feels the team has grown closer and is ready to reach its peak.
“We spend a lot of time focusing things other than softball,” Neely said. “We try to teach life lessons. It is all about how you grow and mature. You are going to have your mind as long as the Good Lord lets you. Sometimes, it is about more than softball. This team has learned if you put aside your selfishness and work together as a team, you can do some great things on and off the field.
“It’s a hard-working group, both academically and on the field. They do the right things,” Neely said. “As they have matured, the season has gotten better. Hopefully, there will be lots of softball left to be played.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.