Lady Bullpups Keep On Winning

by Clint Cox

The Marianna Middle School Lady Bullpups softball squad just keeps on racking up the wins. In action on Tuesday both squads picked up wins over the visiting Chipley Lady Tigers. Team One downed Chipley by a score of 6-4. They fell behind early on but rallied to tie the game at 3-3 in the third inning. By the fourth inning they had taken a 4-3 and then went on to make it 6-4 in the fifth and final inning. Mallory Dean was the winning pitcher while Mia Boykin and Hayden Searcy each picked up two hits. Team One is now 10-0 on the season and has allowed just 8 runs all season. Team Two also recorded a win, improving to 9-1 with a 10-9 win. They scored a run in the bottom of the last inning to pull out the thrilling win over the Chipley squad.

Both squads are coached by Rochelle Summerwell, Sammy Basford and Scott Wiggins. They will close out the 2008 season with road games against Port St. Joe on April 8th and Cottondale on April 9th.

Photo Caption: Lady Bullpups Team One. Front Row (L – R) Alli-Ann Bigale, Reagan Oliver and Connor Ward. Middle Row Whitney Lipford, Mallory Dean and Courtney Massengill. Back Row Coach Sammy Basford, Mia Boykin, Hayden Searcy, Linsey Basford and Coach Scott Wiggins. Not pictured are Ali Bailey, Jennifer Hewett and Nikki Basford and Coach Rochelle Summerwell. Photo by Clint Cox

Photo Caption: Lady Bullpups Team Two. Front Row (L-R) Madison Gullett, Lindsey Toole, Reagan Oliver, Breanna Willis and Faith Moore. Back Row Coach Sammy Basford, Rochelle Summerwell, Tamara Pope, Kristi Folds, Caitlyn Carpenter, Jaree Flowers and Coach Scott Wiggins. Photo by Clint Cox

Hewett Headed For Chipola

by Clint Cox

Photo Caption: Michelle Hewett, seated, is all smiles after signing a letter of intent to continue her education and play softball at Chipola College. Looking on are the Lady Indians Head Coach Belinda Hendrix, Alice Hewett, Tim Hewett and Jerry Dean. Photo by Clint Cox

With a large crowd of family, friends and fellow students looking on, Michelle Hewett signed on the dotted line last Thursday to attend Chipola College on a softball scholarship. The signing was held at Marianna High School where Hewett has been a three sport athlete for the Lady Bulldogs. After having played volleyball, soccer and softball at Marianna Hewett will narrow her focus on books and softball at Chipola. "It took me a long time to decide but I’m glad and excited to be able to continue my education and softball at Chipola," the Bulldog Senior said after the signing. Chipola Lady Indian Softball Coach Belinda Hendrix was likewise pleased. "We are very excited to have Michelle join our program at Chipola. We’d like her to help us defend our National Championship and I hope we can continue to sign local players for our program," Hendrix told the crowd that gathered for the signing.

That crowd included Hewett’s family as well. She is the daughter of Tim and Alice Hewett, both of whom were proud to see a sport she has put so much into to help her earn a college scholarship. "We’re real pleased with her being able to go to Chipola and play softball. She’s been playing softball since she was old enough to pick one up so we are really excited for her," said her dad Tim. Michelle is the grand daughter of the late Roger and Juanita Hewett and the late Elwood and Willie Smith.

Lady Indians Off to 4-0 Conference Start

by Clint Cox

Photo Caption: Chasity Covington #32 strokes a hit in action earlier this season for Chipola. Covington’s game winning grand slam against Pensacola propelled the Lady Indians to their fourth straight conference victory. Photo by Clint Cox

The Lady Pirates of Pensacola sailed into town last Thursday and when they left the Chipola Lady Indians were 4-0 in conference play. After opening the season with a double header win against North Florida, the Lady Indians swept Pensacola with some well time hitting from their offense. In game one Carolyn Moore was the hero as she went 2-2 with 4 RBI and a home run. Her 2 RBI double in the third inning broke a tie game and then her two run homer in the fourth sealed a 7-2 win. The Lady Indians pounded out 10 hits against Pensacola. Brooke Muth was the winning pitcher as she went the distance and struck out nine Lady Pirates.

In game two Pensacola took an early lead and led 3-1 before the Lady Indians score a run in the fifth inning and another in the sixth inning to tie the game. The run in the sixth came on a solo home run from Alyssa Shirey. In the bottom of the seventh, with the game still tied, Chipola managed to load the bases. That is when Covington took one deep over the centerfield wall for a walk off grand slam.

Chipola’s overall record improved to 28-6. They were scheduled to host Tallahassee on Wednesday. Results of those games were not available at press time. The Lady Indians will be on the road Saturday at Okaloosa Walton College and then host Gulf Coast next Wednesday.

Indians Baseball Team roars past OWC

The Chipola Indians baseball team is starting to get hot in conference play. After starting the conference season 2-2, the Indians won five straight to improve their conference record to 7-2.

Chipola swept Okaloosa Walton College on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The Indians won on Tuesday by 11-5 and Wednesday by 13-2.

The defending National Champions are currently ranked #4 in Florida and #10 in the nation.

You can print a copy of this year's Indians Baseball schedule by clicking here.

Chipola Finishes Seventh in National Tourney

The Chipola Indians finished seventh in the NJCAA Men's National Basketball Tournament after a convincing win 84-66 win over Paris Junior College in the consolation bracket finals of the tournament on March 22nd.

Mario Little led Chipola with 21 points. Vernon Teel scored 18. Gary Flowers added 14.

The Indians were the odds-on favorite to win their first ever national championship this year, but suffered a 90-84 upset to Seward County Community College from Liberal, Kansas in overtime in the first round of the tournament.

The Indians rebounded to prove why they were the top ranked team in the nation for much of the year, scoring a 76-75 win over Shelton State on Thursday, and a big 72-53 win over Itawamba on Friday.

Chipola's Mario Little was named to the All-Tournament Team. The future Kansas Jayhawk scored a total of 64 points during the five day tourney.

The Indians also set a school record for most wins in a season, finishing with a 35-2 mark.

Coach Greg Heiar has led the Indians to three state titles and three national tournament appearances in four seasons as head coach and is 130-13 overall.

Chipola has 11 state titles, more than any other Florida community college. The Indians have advanced to the national tournament 11 times, finishing as high as second in 1974 and 2007.

Chipola Advances in Consolation Bracket

The Chipola College Indians defeated Itawamba Community College by a score of 72-53 Friday afternoon to continue their march through the consolation bracket of the NJCAA National Men's Basketball Tournament.

They will play again on Saturday at 12 noon vs. Paris Junior College.

Chipola dominated the game throughout, pulling out to a 38-17 lead by half-time. Mario Edwards was the top scorer for the Indians, with 17 points. Mario Little also hit double figures with 13.

Chipola wins in Kansas

The Chipola College Indains got back to their winning ways Thursday in the consolation bracket of the NJCAA National Men's Basketball Tournament.

The Indians defeated Shelton State Community College 76-75 to advance to the next round of the consolation side of the tournament. Chipola had gone into the tournament with high hopes of claiming a national championship, but the #2 ranked Indians saw that dream end in an opening round overtime loss to Seward County Community College.

Chipola will play again on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Graceville Wins Tiger Match

By Clint Cox

The Graceville Tigers pulled out a 4-2 win over the Malone Tigers last Friday night in district action in Malone. Graceville had taken an early lead on a couple of throwing errors by Malone and led 2-0 going into the sixth inning. The Malone cats rallied to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. They did so on a two RBI double from Blake Henson. In the top of the seventh inning Graceville’s Chase Ivey lead off with a single and then later scored on a fielder’s choice. Stephen Burdeshaw then scored on a throwing error by Malone to lead to the 4-2 victory for Graceville. Josh Taylor got the start for Graceville but he was relieved by Burdeshaw, who picked up the win. Graceville improved to 6-5 overall but more importantly 3-0 in district play.

Bulldogs Win 8th Straight Game

By Clint Cox

Photo Caption:
The Bulldogs Troy Clemmons kicks high on the mound in action earlier this season for Marianna. Clemmons got the start against Chipley and had two hits to help the Bulldog get a district win. Photo by Clint Cox

The Marianna Bulldogs picked up a big district win on Tuesday night with a 7-6 come from behind win over their arch rival the Chipley Tigers. The win was the Bulldogs 8th straight win and improved their record to 10-2 on the season. The Bulldogs were coming off a 2-0 win over Bainbridge last Thursday in which Kyle Edwards got the win on the mound. Jeremy Barber came in to relieve Edwards and picked up a save.

Troy Clemmons got the start on the mound against Chipley and the Bulldogs started well. They plated a run in the second inning when Clemmons led off with a single. Rhyne Elliott came in to run for Clemmons and Jon Sims followed with a bunt to reach first base safely. A sacrifice bunt by Lance Bailey moved the runners up and Dustin Miller’s RBI single scored Elliott to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Marianna added to that lead in the fourth inning when Clemmons again led off the inning with a single and again was replaced on the bases by Elliott. Two batters later Bailey’s sacrifice fly brought Elliott home to make it a 2-0 Bulldog lead.

Chipley rallied though and plated two runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Marianna trailed 6-3 going into their final at bat but drew a leadoff walk for Miller. After a Bulldog strikeout for the first out Brandon Gardner reached base on a fielder’s choice but Miller was forced out at second. With two outs the Bulldogs hopes appeared slim. But they got a head first slide from Adam Bigale to beat out an infield ground ball and have runners at first and second. Chipley then walked the next three batters to load the bases and score Gardner and Kyle Edwards (who replaced Bigale on the bases). Now down 6-5, a ground ball to third base by Bailey looked to be a routine final out. But the Tigers third baseman’s throw to first was in the dirt and got away from their first baseman. That allowed Laramie Dryden and Clemmons to score and culminate a come from behind rally for the district win.

Indians Drop Opening Game in Kansas

By Clint Cox

The #2 ranked Chipola Indians basketball squad saw their hopes for a National Championship squashed in the opening round with an 89-84 overtime loss to Seward County. With the loss Chipola fell into the consolation bracket and are scheduled to take on Shelton State at noon on Thursday. Chipola held a 10 point lead twice in the game but could not hold off the Saints.

Seward County took an early lead but Chipola rallied to take the lead. By half time the Indians held a 37-33 lead. The second half was a struggle though for the Indians as the lead went back and forth the entire half. With seven minutes to play the score was tied at 57-57. Four minutes later the game was still tied at 58-58. Seward County took a brief 62-61 lead with just over two minutes to play and then led 68-65 with less than a minute remaining. With 18 seconds left the Saints held a three point lead but Clevin Hannah’s 3 point shot with seconds to play tied the game at 71-71 and forced an overtime.

In overtime the Indians quickly hit the first bucket but from that point it was all Seward County. The Saints reeled off 8 unanswered points to take an 81-73 lead with two minutes to play. Chipola kept battling but could never get any closer than the final score of 89-84.

The Saints were paced by Reggie Chamberlin as he pumped in 30 points, including going 17-18 from the free throw line. In all the Saints scorched the free throw line by hitting 40-49 free throws. Chipola countered by going 14-23 from the charity stripe. The Indians were led by Vernon Teel with 16 points, Hannah with 15, Mario Little with 13, Casey Mitchell with 12 and Mario Edwards with 10.