4/21/08

TIGERS CLAIM 7th DIVISION TITLE IN EIGHT YEARS

BOONEVILLE, Miss.--  Northeast Mississippi Community College's fastpitch softball program claimed its seventh MACJC (Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges) North Division title in the last eight years by winning two games versus division rival Itawamba CC on Saturday, April 19.

Northeast and ICC both came into Saturday's weekend contest at 12-2 in the league, and after splitting games one and two, the series went to a third-game tie-breaker to determine a division champ.

Jody Long's Northeast team (28-14, 14-3) took the tie-breaker by a score of 14-2, claiming NEMCC's seventh division crown in eight years while also wrapping up bids to the State and Region XXIII tournaments.

"It was a good day for Northeast softball," said Long. "We left a ton of runners stranded on base in game one. The next two games we simply got the hits to bring those runners in. I'm proud of the way this team faught to win game-two, and then the tie-breaker."

Northeast will play in round one of the MACJC State Tournament on Thursday, April 24 hosted by Hinds Community College through April 27. All games will be played at Clinton High School. Northeast will face the winner of the Hinds/Miss. Gulf Coast game at 7 p.m. on Thursday in round one of the tournament.

###