Published: May 15, 2008 07:30 pm            

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DECATUR — Newton County’s formula for success on the softball diamond is something a chef could relate to.

Everybody contributes a little something and the end result is like a tasty stew that everyone can enjoy.

The Lady Cougars closed out the Class 3A fastpitch state championship series with a 7-1 win over Nettleton on May 6 at Decatur. Newton County won Game 1 9-3 at Nettleton.

Newton County improved to 24-8, while Nettleton finished 22-4.

“It’s truly a total team accomplishment,” Newton County coach Justin Chaney said. “We didn’t have just one girl carry us. I’m pleased with them.

“This is what high school softball is all about. You win on your home field and look at all the crowd support you’ve got. The community got behind us.

“And Nettleton did a good job. They fought and fought.

“We got some two-out hits and executed in the small-ball game. That’s what broke the game open.”

Junior pitcher Kasie Buckley threw a five-hitter to get the win. She struck out six and walked two in improving to 21-4 this year and 48-10 over the last three seasons.

“Early on, she missed some spots and left the ball over the middle, but she has that killer mentality and once we got the lead, she went to work,” Chaney said. “The girls know that every game she goes in that circle, she’s going to give them a chance to win. It’s a pleasure to coach a young lady like that.

“And we made a lot of plays in the field. Even when they tied the game, we didn’t panic.”

The Lady Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Summer Alexander led off with a double and went to third on a bunt single by Emily Davis.

Nettleton pitcher Michele Hester looked like she might escape the jam as she struck out Buckley and catcher Heather Noe gunned down Davis trying to steal second on the play.

However, Hester lost control of the ball in her windup to Brittney Cochran and Alexander raced home with the game’s first run.

The Lady Tigers drew even in the top of the second and threatened to do more damage. MaKenzie Hawkins led off with a triple to right field and Nettleton barely missed another three-bagger when Haydden Payne’s shot over the first base bag was ruled foul.

Hawkins scored on a wild pitch and Jamie McCormick tried to keep the rally going with a double to center field. Buckley retired Holly Schlicht on a comebacker to get out of the inning with a 1-1 tie.

Newton County took control with three runs in the top of the third. Samantha Cooley led off with a triple to right-center and scored on a double to left-center by Lacey Gilmore. Alexander followed with an RBI-single to right-center and then came home on a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt by Davis.

Nettleton got two of its first three batters aboard in the top of the fifth, but Buckley retired pinch hitter Jessi Patterson and Katie Leach on strikeouts to preserve the 4-1 lead.

Buckley retired the side in order in the sixth with senior second baseman Chelsea Pugh getting the first two outs.

The Lady Cougars upped their lead to 7-1 with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Cochran drew a leadoff walk and Nikki Cumberland was safe when Nettleton couldn’t make a play on her bunt. The two then executed a double steal with Cochran scoring for a 5-1 lead.

Catherine Brand added to Nettleton’s problems when her smash off Hester’s right foot scored Cumberland and left Hester unable to continue pitching.

Cooley greeted the Nettleton reliever with a double to extend the lead to 7-1.

Kimmy Nicholson beat out an infield hit in the top of the seventh, but Buckley retired the next three batters — the final coming on a fly ball to Paige Jones in right field — as the Lady Cougars celebrated back-to-back state championships in fastpitch.

The Lady Cougars also can claim slowpitch and fastpitch state titles in the same school year, a fete matched by only two other schools (New Albany and Eupora). Newton County has now done it twice.

“There’s not many schools that have done that and that’s pretty remarkable,” said Chaney, who credited assistant coach Dustin McGee for a good share of the team’s success.

“Coach McGee does a good job with our softball program. He has a good rapport with the girls. I thought we got better as the year went on with our hitting and he’s responsible for that. He also does our scout sheets and all the dirty work most people don’t know about.”

Alexander and Cooley both had two of Newton County’s seven hits. Alexander had a single and a double, while Cooley had a double and a triple.

Gilmore also had a double, while Brand and Davis both had a single.

Hester took the loss to fall to 17-3 with two losses coming to Newton County.

The Lady Tigers had five hits with Hawkins getting a triple, McCormick a double, and Nicholson, Leach, and Haley Parker a single each.

        

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