Newton County softball coach Justin Chaney said before the season started that he hoped the new softball would level the playing field for his team against Neshoba Central.
It didn’t help the Lady Cougars enough as Neshoba Central took four out of five games from the Lady Cougars this year, including two in the Class II North State championship series last week. Neshoba took game 1 of the series 13-8 before County win game 2 10-6. Neshoba bounced back and took game 3 of the series 15-7 to advance to the championship series.
Newton County finished the season with a 31-4 record with all four losses coming to Neshoba Central.
Neshoba Central 13, County 8
Neshoba used an eight-run third inning and pulled away late to take a five-run win over the Lady Cougars in the opening game of the series on Wednesday.
County led 3-1 after the first before Neshoba exploded for eight in the third. County answered with five in the fifth to cut Neshoba’s lead to 9-8. But Neshoba added two in the bottom of the fourth and single runs in the fifth and sixth for the final margin.
Neshoba outhit Newton County 16-8 in the contest. Lizzy Hollingsworth was 3-for-4 with a double, grand slam and four RBIs. Katelyn Gipson had a home run, three walks and two RBIs. Casey Dube was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Jada McDougle walked twice and scored twice.
Natalie Lampton pitched six innings and gave up 16 hits and eight walks in the loss.
County 10, Neshoba Central 6
The Lady Cougars used a pair of four-run innings to beat the Lady Rockets for the first time this season and the first time in seven years.
County scored four in the first and two in the second to lead 6-0. Neshoba answered with four in the third but County posted four themselves to lead 10-4. Neshoba added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings for the final margin.
County had 12 hits in the contest, led by Lanie Phillips who was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Jada McDougle was 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored. Lizzy Hollingsworth was 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Casey Dube was also 2-for-3. Maeli Ben doubled and drove in two runs.
Natalie Lampton pitched seven innings and scattered 12 hits.
Neshoba Central 15, County 7
The Lady Rockets jumped out to an 8-1 lead and pulled away late to take the series.
Neshoba scored three in the first and five in the second to lead 8-1. County added three in the fifth and sixth innings to cut the lead to 9-7 but Neshoba added six insurance runs in the sixth to take the win.
Neshoba outhit County 13-8 in the contest as Jada McDougle was 2-for-2 with a home run, two walks and three runs scored. Lizzy Hollingsworth and Haley McDowell were each 2-for-4 while Katelyn Gipson walked four times and Lorren Ivey had two RBIs.
Natalie Lampton pitched all seven.
