MERIDIAN —
Enterprise gained more than a second straight Class 2A South State championship when it swept East Webster on Tuesday. The Bulldogs also gathered confidence as they advanced without Hayleigh Harper, their star and lone senior.
With Harper, who made a morning trip to the emergency room Tuesday, expected back in the lineup today when the Bulldogs face Hamilton for the Class 2A state championship at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland, Enterprise believes it can secure its second consecutive crown.
“Winning the other night without Hayleigh, that just pumped them up,” Enterprise coach Davey Dewitt said. “They realized that even without her, they can play with anybody. They're excited. They know it's right there within their reach. I don't think we're overconfident, they're just excited.
“I was talking the other day with Trae Embry, Neshoba's coach, the schedules we play they prepare you for games at this time of the year. We could make a schedule that guaranteed us 20-25 wins a year, but that's not helping these girls get ready to play. But when you play the Neshoba Centrals, and Newton Countys and West Lauderdales and Quitmans, that gets you ready for right now.”
If the Bulldogs, who are 19-11, do bring home their second slow-pitch state championship, it will be against a familiar foe. In 2009, Enterprise headed to the state title series 30-1 and ranked No. 1 in the state before getting hammered in two straight games as Hamilton won its second crown.
“We were the only team in the state to win 30 games that year and they beat us in two,” said Dewitt, who was an assistant with the Bulldogs at the time. “So you never know.”
And while Enterprise would like to exorcise those demons when it begins play at 11 a.m. today in Game 1 with Game 2 set for 2 p.m. with a third game, if necessary, to follow later in the day, the Bulldogs are also comfortable that their experience has them prepared. In addition to winning the slow-pitch title last year against Hatley, Enterprise also won fast-pitch state titles in 2010 and 2011. Big games are nothing new.
“That was big going over last year and winning that won,” Dewitt added. “Those previous two times, on paper we were supposed to win. But you don't win it on paper and we went over there and got it handed to us. But last year, we went over there and were ready to play.”
Sports
Enterprise eyes second straight state crown
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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