With the spring sports season for Mississippi high schools in limbo, many coaches are playing the “what if” game. That includes French Camp Academy softball coach Todd Chesser.
“I know all the coaches are saying 'this was our year.' We were weathering the storm this year. Literally, we were weathering the storm from rain outs and all that. Our girls were on the cusp of figuring it all out. They were right there of putting it all together to be big in our region.”
The Mississippi High School Activities Association is still hoping to salvage the spring sorts season. But with every passing day the outlook looks bleaker as the number of coronavirus cases in Mississippi balloons. In one week, from Sunday, Mar. 22 to Sunday the 29th, the number of confirmed cases rose 266 percent, from 207 to 758, including five in Choctaw County and nine in Attala County.
Prior to the hiatus, the Lady Panthers were 1-3, with a 16-1 victory over Louisville and losses to Ethel, Eupora and Kosciusko. But Chesser said the record does not reflect how well his team has played.
Just before Spring Break, French Camp was defeated by Eupora 3-2 and Kosciusko, a 4A power, 9-0. “We had good pitching behind Aubrey (Burrell) and Brianna (Grice) and some excellent fielding. Getting our bats going is the key, but I think that was coming.”
All the rain in February put the team behind in hitting, Chesser said.
He said the one word to describe the team is “determined…They’re just a group of fighters.”
Burrell and Grice have both pitched well Chesser said. “Brianna had one bad outing (against Sebastopol), but she bounced back and pitched a heck of a game against Eupora.”
Offensively, the Lady Panthers have been led by Marley Sims, who is batting .500. Burrell is at .400 and Cassie Taylor sports a .364 average.
Sims has played a key role as the leadoff batter. Against Louisville she reached base all three times with a double and two walks, scoring two runs and plating one.
Sims is a junior playing at French Camp for the first time after transferring from West Harrison.
Taylor, a sophomore, has emerged this season. “Everything started coming together for her at the plate,’ Chesser said. “She didn’t really surprise me because I knew she had it in her.”
Although only a sophomore, Abby Leathers is a veteran, having played for the Lady Panthers since she was a seventh grader. “She is not only dynamic at the plate, she is also one of our big sparks in the infield,” Chesser said. Leathers mans the hot corner.
If the season is resumed, French Camp will compete in Region 5-1A with Ethel, Nanih Waiya, Noxapater and West Lowndes. Ethel is the defending champion and reached the South State final a year ago before losing a three-game series to 1A champion Vardaman.
“I don’t want to be boastful or prideful, but I think it’s between us and Ethel,” Chesser said.
