FULTON, Miss. - The Northeast Mississippi Community College softball program is headed to the home field of its archrival as postseason play in the Magnolia State gets underway.
The Tigers will battle Jones College in the opening round of the 2021 Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) Tournament at noon on Wednesday, May 5 at the Itawamba Community College Softball Complex.
Every Northeast playoff contest will air live on the Black Channel of NEMCCTV. Tune in beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch for the pregame show by visiting www.nemcctv.com or the "Northeast Mississippi Community College" app on Amazon and Roku television devices.
The Northeast Broadcasting Network also includes radio affiliate WOWL Fun 91. An audio simulcast featuring Jody Presley and Carter Smith, the Voices of the Tigers, can be heard on frequencies 91.9 FM from Burnsville, 92.9 FM from Florence, Ala., and 102.3 FM from Killen, Ala.
This is the 18th playoff appearance for the Tigers in 20 complete seasons since transitioning from slow-pitch competition in 2001. Northeast has been ranked as highly as No. 16 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll this year.
Northeast and the Bobcats are paired with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Northwest Mississippi Community College on the upper side of the bracket. The winners of these two first round games square off at 5 p.m. while the losers meet in an elimination matchup at noon on Thursday, May 6.
Teams on the bottom side of the MACCC Tournament bracket include Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Hinds Community College, Pearl River Community College and host Itawamba.
The Tigers and Jones split their regular season doubleheader on March 13 in Ellisville. Northeast won the opener by an 8-1 margin on the strength of home runs by Smithville's Taylor King and Briley Pitt before falling in the nightcap after the Bobcats plated four runs in their final at bat.
Northeast has faced the Bobcats just once all-time in Fulton. The Tigers could not hold on to a four run advantage in the 2012 state championship game as Jones escaped with a 6-5 decision.
"Our kids have been resilient all year and done the things we've asked them to," said Northeast head coach Jody Long. "They've just really worked hard for us to get to this point. We look forward to having an opportunity to play in this tournament.
"I've been in this league a long time and there was more parity than ever before. You have to grow up fast in probably what is the toughest conference in the country and I think our kids responded well. They found a way to get things done at the right times."
Pitt paces the Tigers offensively. The Trinity, Ala., native has team bests of a .468 batting average, .500 on-base percentage, .786 slugging percentage, 59 total hits, 41 runs scored and 14 doubles.
Four Northeast standouts have connected for five or more home runs, including Caroline Clark with a team leading seven dingers. The Tuscumbia, Ala., product had a three homer performance in a win over East Mississippi Community College on March 16.
Clark also tops the Tigers (23-17) with 36 RBIs while Charly Clanton of New Hope High School follows her with 34 RBIs. Cassidy Duskin has successfully stolen 16 consecutive bases this season.
Duskin guides Northeast in the circle as well. The Sparkman (Ala.) High School graduate has 16 complete games in as many starts with 71 strikeouts compared to only 30 walks and a 2.89 earned run average (ERA).