DECATUR — The Newton County High School slow-pitch softball team garnered some early momentum at the start of the season with a 14-0 win against Quitman High School Saturday afternoon at the Newton County Classic.

    After defeating Union High School, 6-3, in a morning matchup, the Lady Cougars’ bats exploded for 14 runs in just three innings of play. Starting pitcher Meagen Higginbotham and the Newton County defense, meanwhile, kept Quitman scoreless to give Higginbotham the win. The game was called after the third inning due to the hour time limit.

    “We didn’t hit the ball very well earlier this morning, and I was really proud of the way we hit the ball (in the second game),” Chaney said. “To come out and get two nice wins, that’s very encouraging. I tell them it’s just a daily grind, and you have to get better from game to game. Overall, I was pleased. We have a lot to work on, but we have a process to go through, and I was pleased with the effort.”

    Quitman coach Michael Banes said even though it was a blowout loss, there were a few things his girls could take away from the game to help them down the road.

    “Every little thing matters,” Banes said. “We only get one swing once we’re in the box, and I think we need to understand that a little bit better. We can’t take a bad swing and get away with it against a good team. We have to go up there ready, knowing what our job is and execute better.”

    After taking a 5-0 lead in the first inning, Newton County extended the lead to 10-0 off RBI doubles by Ashton Lampton and Darby Bishop and RBI singles by Latisea Davis and Higginbotham. Davis also came home on a fielder’s choice.

    In the bottom of the third, a hit by Bishop scored two runs, and Higginbotham drove her in with a single. Kailyn Davis also scored on a fielder’s choice.

    Quitman starter Morgan Rowell took the loss. She was also the team’s only multiple hitter, finishing the game with two hits.

    For Newton County, Lampton was 2-for-3 with a double, and Bishop finished 3-for-3 with three doubles. Shea Alexander and Higginbotham both went 3-for-3, and Davis was 2-for-3.

CLARKDALE     6

SOUTH PONTOTOC     5

    A two-run fifth inning and was the difference as Clarkdale High School staved off a bottom-of-the-fifth rally to beat South Pontotoc High School Saturday afternoon in the Newton County Classic.

    Tied 4-4 in the top of the fifth, Clarkdale scored two runs when MaKayla Roberts came home on a single by Aubrey Hart, and Alex Riser later scored on a fielder’s choice, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the frame. South Pontotoc added a run, but Clarkdale was able to get three outs before South Pontotoc had a chance to tie the score. The game was called after that due to the hour time limit.

    After falling to Philadelphia High School, 11-1, earlier Saturday morning in the classic, Clarkdale head coach Britt Bennett said he was happy to see some improved play by his girls in the second game.

    “We played a lot better defense,” Bennett said. “We put a few hits together, and they gave us some opportunities and let us extend innings by not making some plays on defense, and that’s what slow-pitch is all about, minimizing the damage.”

    Down 2-0 in the top of the third, Aubree McWilliams and Maggie Meadows were able to score on a fielding error to tie the game. When South Pontotoc again took the lead 4-2 after three innings, Clarkdale tied it again when Meredith Hunt scored on a single by Alexis Hart, and Aubrey Hart scored on a fielder’s choice.

    Hunt, McWilliams, Riser, Kayla Reed, and Aubrey Hart all went 2-for-3. Anna Guin was the winning pitcher.

    Clarkdale will host Newton County Tuesday night.