Sports

Lee County softball looking for history

• Lee County softball opens the state tournament today in Hampton, looking to reach the Elite 8 for the first time.

Paul Dehner Jr.

HAMPTON — Four years in a row, Lee County has captured the Region 1-AAAA title. Two years in a row it has advanced within one game of a coveted Elite Eight tournament berth in Columbus. One win would have marked the first such advancement in the six-year history of Lady Trojans fast-pitch.

After disappointing losses cut each season short, coach Lynn Avery’s program is still waiting.

Today in Hampton, however, the wait ends.

That’s when No. 1 seeded Lee County earns another shot at qualifying for the Elite Eight, riding a perfect 9-0 record in region when it begins the Class AAAA South sectional tournament at against Wayne County.

“I think we have a lot more youth going,” said Avery of her team that boasts seven sophomores and three freshmen. “Sometimes, (teams) can get complacent, but I think this group is hungry. They want to prove to everyone, because not everyone thought they would do what they’ve done. I feel like they want it.”

In order to get it, however, they will have to survive a torturous two-day, double-elimination tournament.

Sixteen teams will enter as games begin at 4 p.m. and only four will qualify for the Elite Eight, set for Oct. 25-27 in Columbus. It can be as easy as advancing through the winners bracket by winning two games today, then another on Saturday to reach the top position and advance.

However, an early loss would send the Lady Trojans to the loser’s bracket and needing to win as many as four games Saturday in order to make it.

Though, Lee County (17-10) can draw confidence from an undefeated region season, the games will be much more difficult than those endured during the perfect stretch.

“Of course, we are happy we went undefeated in region, but our region doesn’t represent the level of competition we are going to be seeing in the tournament at all,” senior Sam Posey said. “We all know what we are in for.”

If they win the first game against Region 3-AAAA No. 4 seed Wayne County, Lee County will play at 8 p.m against the winner of McIntosh-Dutchtown. A loss in the opener would be a brutal setback, forcing Lee to sift through four games Saturday and qualify through the loser’s bracket.

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