MERIDIAN —
Southeast Lauderdale High School has been here before. Only two wins and a bus ride to Jackson separate the Tigers from a slow-pitch state championship.
Just last season, Southeast advanced to the state final only to come away empty-handed with a loss to Nettleton. Today, the Tigers (23-8) return to Jackson and are hungry to avenge last year's runner-up performance with a win against South Pontotoc in the state championship. Game 1 of the best-of-3 series is at 12:30 p.m. at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland with Game 2 at 3:30 p.m.
“We didn't really know what to anticipate last year,” Southeast head coach Mack Fanning said. “None of these girls had ever been on that stage in this time of the season. We feel like we can load the bus and make that trip now.”
The Tigers are led by senior shortstop Denisha Knight, who bats leadoff for Southeast and has provided a spark to the Southeast lineup all season.
“She pretty much lets her bat talk for herself,” Fanning said of Knight. “She makes her plays in the field. She is not one of those that tells you what she is going to do, she show you instead.”
Lately, it isn't just Knight who has preformed at a high level for Southeast. During Tuesday's sweep over Choctaw Central, the Tigers received production from everywhere in the lineup.
“With this team, we have several girls who are capable of being in the No. 1 spot,” Fanning said. “We have girls down in the seven eight and nine spots that pull their share of the load also.”
In the circle for Southeast is Taylor Powell, who has come into her own for the Tigers this season. Powell was dialed during Tuesday's series against Choctaw, as she didn't allow a walk in either game, while picking up both wins for the Tigers.
“I thing this year has been very good for Taylor Powell,” Fanning said. “She has been affective in nine out of 10 games. She has done her job on the mound this season.”
Fanning said he hopes to treat today's game just like any other and not over think it. Except at the end of this one, he hopes to bring back a championship to Southeast.
“We approach these games the same way we do a regular season game,” Fanning said. “It's still the same game. The game is simple, it's the folks who play it that make it difficult.”
Sports
Tigers hope to finish in Jackson this time
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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