MADISON — Jaime Melton saw what she wanted Saturday — just not enough.
But the Columbus High School slow-pitch softball coach considers what her team did this season the start of more good things to come.
Timaria Hudgins, Whitney Kyles, and Shanique Ousley had home runs, but Madison Central swept Columbus 12-3 and 22-15 in their Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A North State playoff series.
The losses ended the season for Columbus, which was the runner-up to Grenada in its district.
“We had to adjust to a field with a 300-foot fence and a grass infield,” Melton said. “They were real nervous. I told them we had to calm down and get past the jitters. We were leading 3-0 (in the first game) before (Madison Central) started to hit the ball two.
“In the second game, we regrouped and I told them they had to find a way to give 250 percent they didn’t give in the first game. They fought and that game gave 250 percent.”
Hudgins had two hits in the first game, while Kyles had three and two RBIs. Porchia Brooks added two singles and Ne Ne Bardley had a single.
In game two, Kyles had a home run, a single, and two RBIs, Ousley had a home run and three RBIs, and Hudgins had a home run and two RBIs. Jasmine Butler had a home run, two singles and an RBI, Kimmy Moody had two singles, and Kierra Erby had a single and an RBI.
Kadaryl Ledbetter had an RBI, Brooks had two singles, Bardley had two singles, and Shanqula Fulton had a single and an RBI.
Melton praised the team for accomplishing so much this season, including a win against New Hope and a sweep Tupelo and South Panola.
She said she would take a week to get back to her full-time job as a hairdresser and to regroup. She said she would take that time to consider the possibility of returning to Columbus to be the school’s fast-pitch softball coach.
“I am going to pray about it,” Melton said. “Do I want to coach the girls? Yes. It is a possibility it will happen. I will take some time off and I will be letting (Columbus High School Athletic Director Rusty Greene) know in a couple of days.”
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