JACKSON —
Wanting to find something positive to tell his players Saturday as he handed out runners-up medals, Enterprise coach Davey Dewitt didn't have to look hard.
While the defending state champion Bulldogs were swept 13-7 and 9-5 by Hamilton in the MHSAA Class 2A slow-pitch softball state championship series at Freedom Ridge Park, there are still positives for Enterprise to take heading into next season. Mainly, outside star third baseman Hayleigh Harper, these same Bulldogs will be back to try and take another shot at a state championship.
“We've got everybody coming back besides her and I'm really excited,” Dewitt said. “I'm really excited about our future and where we're going.”
The one loss will be big, though. Harper anchored the Enterprise lineup from the No. 3 spot and again led the Bulldogs in the championship series against the Lions. She had three hits total on the day, including two hits in the opening game while also drawing a bases-loaded walk. In the sixth inning of Game 1 with Enterprise trailing 9-5, Harper unloaded with a two-run home run that easily cleared the 250-foot fence in center. Her sixth-inning single in Game 2 also drove in a run. Two of her three outs were long fly balls that backed Hamilton hitters up to the fence.
However, the Bulldogs gained experience this year playing without Harper as she missed the start of the season with an ankle injury. Then, they swept East Webster in the South State championship series with an all-underclassmen lineup as Harper was only available to pinch hit following a morning trip to the emergency room. That win should also provide some confidence for Enterprise.
“As a group, we've had a lot of stuff happen to us this year,” Dewitt said. “We've overcome a lot and we've had a lot of adversity and battled through it. We started the year without her and the other night we played without her, and won without her.
“But she plays a big part in our lineup and in this game, in our game.”
Without Harper, the Bulldogs will look to lean on rising seniors Harley Smith, Blakely Riley and Emmalee Roberts. Smith, who has pitched for the Bulldogs throughout her career including trips to the state championship series in 2009, 2011 and this year and one state crown. She also had four hits in the title series, driving in two runs with a first-inning double in Game 1. Riley had two hits and scored four runs in the series, and also had a huge hit to finish off the sweep of East Webster for South State. Roberts had two hits and an RBI against Hamilton as well.
From there, Enterprise gets even younger with rising juniors Brittany Hagwood, Lauren Smith, Katie Jo Riley, Kaleigh Russell, Jess Turner and Krissy Monsour all returning in the lineup as well. Jordan Goodman, a rising sophomore, also got a hit against Hamilton in two at-bats, and classmate Delaney Davidson filled in ably for Harper at third base in the South State series. Then there is rising freshman Ashleigh McGowin, who provided a big bat in key moments. The slugger hit a pinch-hit home run against Taylorsville in the second round and then had four hits and a walk in five plate appearances against East Webster before going 0-for-2 on Saturday.
“I don't want to be overconfident but we do have a good shot at getting back here,” Dewitt added. “The experience you get, even for the young girls just sitting there in the dugout, just the experience coming over here and that big-game experience, not a lot of people get that and it's a huge payoff.”
Sports
Bulldogs have plenty to look forward to
- Sports
-
-
Roy shows big-league talent in win
Every youth leaguer dreams of being a Major League Baseball player. In Tuesday's Cardinals-Mets game, 8-year-old Trace Roy swung the bat and flashed some leather that looked like a glimpse into the future.
-
Cougars fall in Game 1
A sixth inning rally by Lewisburg handed the Newton County Cougars their first lost of the postseason, 2-0, in Game 1 of the Class 4A baseball championship at Trustmark Park.
-
Bulldogs win again, beat S. Carolina in SEC Tournament
Demarcus Henderson and Wes Rea both had RBI singles in the ninth inning to lift Mississippi State to a 5-3 win over South Carolina Wednesday night in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
The Bulldogs (42-16) loaded the bases with one out before Henderson and Rea drove in runs on consecutive at-bats for the second time in the game.
Mississippi State had beaten Missouri 2-1 in 17 innings Tuesday night, matching the longest game in SEC tournament history.
Reliever Myles Gentry (4-0) limited the Gamecocks (39-17) to a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth.
Gentry pitched 5-2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out eight.
Rea was 3 for 4 while Henderson drove in three runs.
Mississippi State led 3-0 before South Carolina tied it up in the fourth.
Max Schrock drew a bases loaded walk and Brison Celek followed with a two-run single. -
Hogs top Ole Miss in SEC Tournament
For the second time this season the Rebels played an extra-inning affair with the Razorbacks, but with a different outcome as No. 21 Ole Miss (37-21) fell to No. 15 Arkansas (36-19) 2-1 in 10 innings on Wednesday.
-
Fundamentals leading Newton County to Jackson
In 2006, Newton County baseball won the 3A state title. Since then, they've moved up a class but haven't had much luck – until now.
-
Roy takes over as football head coach at Clarkdale
After nine years serving as an assistant on the Clarkdale football coaching staff, Wes Roy proudly considers himself a Bulldog. The coach has not only grown to love the team and its players, but also the Clarkdale community itself.
-
Bennett stays on as softball coach at Clarkdale
In one season as the interim coach for the Clarkdale softball team, Britt Bennett has gone through what most coaches go through in a career. Over the past year, Clarkdale has dealt with the death of two students, a coaching scandal and the departure of two star players.
-
Titles nothing new for Newton County
Newton County captured its seventh fast-pitch state championship, outscoring defending champion Houston 26-3 in two games. The Cougars took home the title despite not having a single senior on their roster –– still, few were surprised.
-
Embry completes 5A title sweep
In his first year coaching the Neshoba Central softball team, Trae Embry won two state titles but wouldn't take all the credit.
-
Morgan takes runner-up at Nationals
Meridian Community College golfer, TJ Morgan, from Bruce, MS, tied for the
individual medalist at the NJCAA D1 National Championship held in Lubbock, TX, but lost on the first hole of a playoff. TJ shot 7 under for the tournament with a 76 on the first day followed by 68, 67 and a last round 70. Aksel Olsen from Wallace State Community College won the playoff. TJ was named First Team All-American for his high finish. - More Sports Headlines
-
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
