PHILADELPHIA —
Following a first-round bye, Neshoba Central softball showed once again why it is one of the best teams in the state, as the Rockets swept Saltillo 20-2, 16-1 to advance to the Class 5A North State championship.
Mesha Jimmie led the way for the Rockets going 5-6 on the day with a triple, a double and six RBIs at the plate, while also flustering Tiger batters and picking up both wins in the circle as well.
“Mesha (Jimmie) brings it every night,” Neshoba head coach Trae Embry said. “She had a hard time early on, but once she figured out everything, she did great.”
While pitching is often overlooked in slow-pitch, Jimmie offers a deadly weapon for the Rockets, as her pitches appear to break towards the batter at home plate. While Jimmie said she doesn't know how her pitches provide movement, Embry said it has kept batters off-balanced all season.
“I don't know how she does it,” Embry said. “She throws it different every pitch. No pitch is the same. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but it is definitely working for us.”
The Rockets pounded Saltillo early and often, burying the Tigers early in both games. Every Neshoba Central player had at least two hits on the day as the Rockets appeared unstoppable at the plate. Hailey Lunderman and Katlyn Duke both had home runs for the Rockets on the day, as Neshoba Central outscored Saltillo 36-3 in the series.
“We hit the ball really well,” Embry said. “We were just being consistent, when we are consistently hitting the ball well, good things happen.”
In Game 2, Saltillo tried to give the Rockets a different look in the field, as the Tigers shifted their infield back in hopes to cut down the amount of space in the outfield. However, even with the adjustments, nothing could stop Neshoba Central on Saturday.
“We faced an odd defense in Game 2,” Embry said. “Actually Tuesday and Wednesday we practiced against that. Their coach told me after the first game, they had nothing to lose.”
With the series victory, the Rockets advance to the North State xhampionship against rival New Hope on Tuesday. Embry said his team is confident, and hopes his bats can stay hot next Tuesday and bring back a North State xhampionship to Neshoba Central.
“We are confident,” Embry said. “We know we have a big task at hand. We are going to play it by ear and just go from there.”
Sports
Rockets soar past Tigers to advance to North State
- Sports
-
-
(PHOTOS) Newton County Class 4A State Championship
Slideshow from games one and two of the MHSAA Class 4A State Championship.
-
Not done yet
After being shutout less than 24 hours earlier, the Newton County Cougars used a 10-inning affair to force a Game 3 in the Class 4A championship series, topping Lewisburg, 2-1, in Game 2 at Trustmark Park.
-
Hollins focused on Spurs, not his contract
Lionel Hollins has been more successful than any Grizzlies coach and will be a free agent after June 30.
He has the Grizzlies in the Western Conference finals for the first time and has won more games with this team than any other coach. -
Slive focused on future after big changes
Mike Slive sprawls in a comfy arm chair, propping his feet on a coffee table between one massive tome on Winston Churchill and an even thicker "Encyclopedia of Southern Culture."
He's relaxed and feeling awfully good about the state of the Southeastern Conference.
It's a rare moment of calm for the SEC's cerebral commissioner, but he can afford it since his "A pile" of things to do has gotten considerably slimmer over the past two years. -
’Bama bounces Ole Miss from SEC Tourney
For the second day in a row, the Rebels went into extra-innings but were unable to emerge with the victory as No. 21 Ole Miss (37-22) fell to Alabama (34-25) 7-5 in 10 innings at the SEC Tournament on Thursday.
With the loss, the Rebels were eliminated from the SEC Tournament and will now await NCAA Tournament selection announcements at 11 a.m. on Monday. The selection of the NCAA Tournament field will be televised by ESPNU.
Tanner Bailey (4-2) suffered the loss for the Rebels, allowing two runs on one hit with two walks in 2.1 innings of work. -
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.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
