MCC Athletes nominated for NJCAA Academic All American

The Meridian Community College Athletic Department has nominated eleven student-athletes to the National Junior College Athletic Association for consideration on the 2007-08 Academic All-American Team.

From baseball, Jason Coats and Ian Sharp; form golf Joshua Ivy and Bryant Self; from women’s soccer, Jasmine Harris and Molly Moon; from softball, Whitney Drachenberg and Gabrielle Morgan; and from men’s tennis, Blake Sherman and Nick Zabrobiac,

Academic All-Americans must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.60 or better on a 4.0 scale for 45 semester hours or 60 quarter hours. Distinguished Academic All-Americans must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.80 or better on a 4.0 scale for 45 semester hours or 60 quarter hours.

Coats, Drachenberg, Morgan, Self, Sherman, and Zabrodiac were nominated for Distinguished Academic All-American status; while Harris, ivy, Moon, Newman, and Sharp were nominated for Academic All-American.

The list of NJCAA Academic All-Americans will be released to each college with certificates for the award winners. The Academic All-Americans are also listed in the JUCO Review, the official publication of the NJCAA.

This academic year marks the third consecutive year that MCC has had four or more of its athletes named Academic All American. In the past three seasons, MCC has had 20 athletes make the academic list.


Distinguished Academic All-American
Jason Coats– Baseball
Whitney Drachenberg– Softball
Gabrielle Morgan– Softball
Bryant Self – Golf
Blake Sherman– Men’s Tennis
Juan Zabrodiac– Men’s Tennis

Academic All-American
Jasmine Harris– Women’s Soccer
Joshua Ivy– Golf
Molly Moon – Women’s Soccer and Tennis
Justin Newman– Men’s Tennis
Ian Sharp– Baseball

MCC golfers wrap up national championship in Phoenix

(Phoenix, AZ) – Meridian Community College sophomore golfers, Jarrod Lemaster and Bryant Self, battled everything that the Arizona desert climate could muster in one week at the NJCAA Division II men’s golf national golf championship in Phoenix, AZ.

The week began with round one on Tuesday at the 7,015, par 72, Palm Valley Golf Club with temperatures reaching a record high of 110 degrees in the desert terrain.

Lemaster, a native of Scottsboro, AL, posted an even-par 72 despite the heat. Self, a native of Tupelo, struggled to an opening round 79.

Wednesday brought a different challenge in gusting winds and high temperatures, although not record highs. The tournament field, boasting over 127 junior college golfers from around the nation, shot an average score of 81 in the 40 mph winds. Lemaster struggled to an 83 while Self battled the winds with a one-stroke improvement from round one with a 78.

Thursday brought another challenge from Mother Nature, a lighting storm and brief rain halted play for nearly one hour in the middle of the round. Self who was 1-over par at the time of the delay was affected by the stoppage of play and faltered down the stretch to post an 80. Lemaster shot a 77 on the third day.

Final round Friday brought unseen temperatures for the Phoenix area in quite sometime for the month of May. A morning low in the upper 40’s greeted golfers that started around 7 a.m. Temperatures eventually warmed up to the 60’s, about half the temperature of Tuesday’s record high. Self posted a final round of 73 and Lemaster a 75 to close out their MCC careers.

Lemaster finished t-47 and Self t-57.

“I was very proud of Bryant and Jarrod,” said MCC golf coach Sean Covich.

“That final day Byrant missed at least 6 birdie putts and he could’ve easily shot in the 60’s, but he made a 10 foot par putt on his final hole and that always makes you feel good as you end a round and career.”

“Jarrod started hot with an even-par on day one but the wind ended up getting him throughout the week, but he’s moving on to a four-year university in Kentucky to further his college playing days.”

Tyler (TX) Junior College won the team national championship by three shots over Darton (GA) College. Mesa (AZ) Community College finished third.

Tyler sophomore, Marc Rice, won the individual title with rounds of 70-73-72-74 (+1).

No. 2 Bengals oust Eagles at Region 23 tourney

By Brandon Walker
assistant sports editor

One day after rebounding from a five-run deficit to capture an unforgettable 14-inning classic over Itawamba, the Meridian Community College Eagles ran out of magic Sunday afternoon.

On the final day of the Region 23 Tournament in Poplarville, the Eagles failed to protect an early 8-0 lead, yielding 20 hits and committing six errors in a 19-11 loss to LSU-Eunice.

With the loss, the Eagles were eliminated from the tournament and watched their season end two games short of the NJCAA Division II World Series.

LSU-Eunice, ranked No. 2 in the latest NJCA Division II poll, moved on to Sunday night’s Region 23 championship game against tournament host Pearl River.

In a game that was wild from the outset, MCC starting shortstop Jarrod Parks and head coach Chris Rose were ejected in the top of the first inning after Parks was called out on strikes.

Minus their shortstop and head coach, the Eagles seemed undeterred early on, erupting for eight runs in the top of the fourth to take a commanding 8-0 lead.

In the inning, MCC managed 10 hits and sent 14 batters to the plate. Scott Mosely and Wesley Thigpen both singled to open the inning and Josh DeMoney reached on an error to load the bases with no outs.

Tyler McMullen and Drew Snider delivered back-to-back RBI singles and Shannon Steed drove home a run with a grounder to give MCC a 3-0 cushion. After Tyler Koelling made that lead 4-0 with a single, former West Lauderdale standout Tyler Vick doubled off the wall in center to score two more. The two-run double came on Vick’s second at-bat after returning from a broken wrist.

Thigpen added an RBI grounder and DeMoney doubled home a run to round out the scoring for MCC.

Trailing 8-0, LSU-Eunice wasted little time in striking back, finally getting to MCC starter Jordan Falkner for five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Bengal catcher Nate Peterson had the big blow of the inning, a three-run home run off of Falkner.

The Bengals tied the score in the fifth with a three-run outburst off of MCC reliever Jason Coats, with first baseman Kellen Bozeman delivering a two-run blast.

Thigpen added another RBI single in the sixth to give MCC a 9-8 lead before LSU-Eunice took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. Facing Eagles’ reliever Ian Sharp, the Bengals took their first lead on an RBI double by Tyler Slocum. Chase Blanchard and Peterson each added RBI singles for the Bengals.

MCC struck for two more in the top of the seventh but another five-run burst by the Bengals ended the game in the bottom of the seventh as an error by Vick allowed LSU-Eunice to take a 19-11 lead, which triggered the eight-run rule.

On the day, MCC’s offense managed 16 hits on LSUE pitching with DeMoney, Mosely and Thigpen all collecting three hits.

MCC golfers prepare for Phoenix, Eagles move to DI next season

Meridian Community College sophomore golfers, Jarrod Lemaster and Bryant Self, will represent the Eagles at the NJCAA Division II men’s golf national championship, with competition beginning Tuesday on Palm Valley Golf Course in Phoenix, AZ. The 72-hole tournament gets underway Tuesday morning with tee times starting at 6:30 a.m. MST. The tournament, held May20-23, will conclude with 18 holes on Friday.

Scoring from the national tournament will be available at www.golfstat.com as well at the official athletics web site of host institution Phoenix College at www.phoenixcollege.edu/athletics.

The competitors will play 18 holes each day starting at 6 a.m. After 72 holes of play, the top three teams and top 18 individuals will receive awards from the NJCAA.

Earlier this month, Lemaster became the 18th MCC golfer since the mid-1990’s to sign with a four year university when he inked with the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsville, KY.

His career low score of 69 (-3) was shot in round two of the national championship his freshman season as he posted the third best scoring average on the team, which was the lowest for a MCC freshman.

He won a medalist title in just his fourth college tournament (Belhaven ’06), he has played in 22 career tournaments for MCC, posted four career rounds of Even-par or better, was named to seven career All Tournament teams, will play in the NJCAA national championship twice, and was named MCC’s Most Outstanding Player two times.

Self also has a career low round of 69 (-3), which was shot in the Andrew (GA) College Invitational (2006). He has played in record setting 26 tournaments for MCC during his career and was given the CB Hales Academic Achievement Award for two straight seasons.

He has been named to six All Tournament teams and posted five rounds of Even-par or lower during his MCC career.

“These young men were the first two players that I ever signed as the head coach at Meridian,” said MCC golf coach Sean Covich,

“I’m disappointed that the entire team isn’t making the trip, but at the same time- it’s special to have these two golfers with me as they complete their journey for MCC.”

Designed by renowned golf course architect Arthur Hills, Palm Valley Golf Club is one of the most popular championship Phoenix Arizona golf courses. The championship course plays to 7,015 yards long at a par 72.

MCC, as a team, wrapped up its spring season April 29 at the MACJC State/NJCAA Region 23 Golf Championships in Forest, MS on the par-71Forest Country Club. The Eagles finished the tournament in second place after firing a 294 in the final round, giving them a runner-up finish and the programs eight consecutive top-two State/Regional finish.

This year’s national championship trip will be MCC’s final one at the Division II level. Next season, the MCC golf team will compete at the NJCAA Division I level for the first time in school history.

“We’re so excited about the move,” said Covich.

“We’ll be the only Juco program in the state’s of Louisiana and Mississippi that is Division I, but there is some stiff competition right next door with Central Alabama, Faulkner State and Wallace-Hanceville. We look forward to paying in bigger and better competition on championship golf courses.”

MCC will officially open up their Division I era when they host the MCC Fall Invitational at Briarwood Country Club in Meridian on September 8-9 this upcoming fall season.

Keenan - Covich wedding announcement

Mr. and Mrs. John Keenan of Rose Hill announce the engagement of their daughter, Kate Adria to Mr. Sean Alexander Covich, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Covich, III of Meridian.

The wedding will be held Saturday, June 14, 2008, at 6 p.m. at the Chapel of Memories on the campus of Mississippi State University.

Miss Keenan is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Puckett of Scott County and the late Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Keenan of Rose Hill.

The bride-elect received her master’s degree in telecommunication and film from the University of Alabama and her bachelor’s degree in communication from Mississippi State University. She is a 2001 graduate of Heidelberg Academy. She is employed by East Central Community College as a speech instructor.

Mr. Covich is the grandson of Mrs. Mary Fay and the late Mr. Alfred Fay of Columbia, and Mrs. Shannon Covich and the late Mr. Jerry M Covich, II of Biloxi.

The bridegroom-elect received his master’s degree in sports administration and his bachelor’s in sports communication from Mississippi State University. He is a 1998 graduate of Lamar School. He is employed by Meridian Community College as the head golf coach and sports information director.

A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony at the Leo Seal M-Club building on the MSU campus.

MCC vs. Gulf Coast; postponed

(POPLARVILLE) - Meridian Community College's baseball game against Mississippi Gulf Coast was halted in the seventh in due to lightning.

MCC and Gulf Coast were playing in the first round of the 2008 NJCAA Region 23 baseball tournament at Pearl River Community College.

Meridian, with starter Jason Judge on the mound, was leading 4-2 in the seventh inning.

Officials had stated that the ballgame would resume at 10 a.m. Thursday morning at PRCC, but due to heavy rains, that starting time has been pushed back until 5 p.m. Thursday. Officials are hoping be able to conclude the MCC/MGCCC ballgame and the Pearl River vs. NE Mississippi ballgame tonight and then resume the tournament just one day back of original plans. Excluding any other delays, the championship game should now be played on Sunday.

WMER 1390 AM will broadcast all the MCC ballgames from the regional tournament.

Winner of Region 23 goes to the NJCAA DII World Series in Millington, TN.

Eagle Summer Baseball Camp

The Meridian Community College baseball team will host the 2008 Eagle Summer Baseball Camp at Scaggs Field on June 9-13.

The camp will be held for youngsters (ages 5-14) on June 9-13 at MCC from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for $180.00 per camper (pre-registered) or $200.00 per camper (walk-up, day of camp).

The staff for the camp will include MCC players and coaches, and campers will have the opportunity to learn from the 2008 Mississippi Junior College Baseball Coach of the Year, Chris Rose. The camp is a great opportunity to have fun, learn the game of baseball and receive individual instruction and development.

Campers will receive a written evaluation of stance, stride, approach, contact, follow through of their swing; individual instruction from MCC coaches and players; throw for a radar gun; t-shirt; lunch; prizes; insurance; and slide day.

For more information, please contact MCC assistant baseball coach, Chris Rayborn at (601) 484-8680 or 1-800-MCC-THE-1.

MCC golfer, Jarrod Lemaster, inks with Kentucky university

Meridian Community College golfer, Jarrod Lemaster, became the 18th Eagle linkster to sign with a four-year university on Friday afternoon.

The current MCC sophomore inked with the University of the Cumberlans in Williamsburg, KY headed by golf coach Chris Kraftrick, a member of the PGA of America.

During his sophomore season, Lemaster was named First Team All Region by the NJCAA, named First Team All State by the MACJC and named to four All Tournament Teams.

He was named MCC’s Most Outstanding Sophomore and led the Eagles to a MACJC State/NJCAA Region 23 Runner-up finish.

At the Regionals he qualified for the NJCAA National Championship Tournament in Phoenix, AZ as an individual after posting rounds of 73-72.

He posted the fourth best scoring average on the team, which was the lowest for a MCC sophomore.

During his freshman season he was named First Team All Region by the NJCAA, named Second Team All State by the MACJC, named to three All Tournament Teams, and won the medalist title at the 2006 Belhaven College invitational.

That season he also posted three tournament rounds of Even-par or lower, was named MCC’s Most Outstanding Freshman, and led the Eagles to the MACJC State Championship, the NJCAA Region 23 Championship and a third place finish in the National Championship.

His career low round of 69 was shot in round two of the national championship his freshman season as he posted the third best scoring average on the team, which was the lowest for a MCC freshman

During his MCC career he was the only player in the past two seasons to be named to the First Team All State (by the MACJC State Association) and First Team All Region (NJCAA Region 23).

He won a medalist title in just his fourth college tournament (Belhaven ’06), he played in 22 career tournaments for MCC, posted four career rounds of Even-par or better, was named to seven career All Tournament teams, played in the NJCAA national championship twice, and was named MCC’s Most Outstanding Player twice.

“Jarrod is about as competitive as they come,” said MCC golf Coach Sean Covich.

“He plays with a lot of pride and I think that allows him to get beyond the mechanics and technicalities of the swing and just play golf. He really has made his mark on one of the most tradition-rich Juco golf programs in the region so that says enough about his talent right there. I’m glad to see Jarrod continue his career under coach Chris Kraftick at the University of the Cumberlands, that program is getting a down to earth young man that loves the game of golf.”

Lemaster’s final tournament action for MCC will come at the NJCAA National Championship in Phoenix, AZ on May 20-23 at Palm Valley Country Club. Lemaster and teammate, Bryant Self, will represent MCC in the national tournament.

Former NE Lauderdale star comes home to Meridian CC

MERIDIAN --- Meridian Community College men’s basketball coach George Brooks has signed former Northeast Lauderdale High School star Tommy Tillman to a national letter of intent for 2008-09.

Tillman, originally from Toomsuba, will transfer from Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, AL where he played last season.

Tillman, a 5 ft 9 in guard, averaged 18.5 points per game for NE Lauderdale his senior season. He also averaged 7.5 assist and 4 steals per game.

“We are excited to bring Tommy back home,” said MCC coach George Brooks.
“He should make an impact for us with his shooting ability and his strong work ethic.”

MCC finished the 2008 season with a winning record, a runner-up finish in the MACJC South Division and appearances in both the State and Region tournaments.

MCC's LeMerle inks with Univeristy of Tennesse-Martin

MARTIN, Tenn. --- University of Tennessee-Martin tennis coach Dennis Taylor has signed two-time National Junior College Athletic Association finalist Alycia LeMerle to a national letter of intent.

LeMerle, originally from Melbourne, Australia, will transfer to UT Martin for the fall 2008 semester from Meridian (Miss.) Community College. She recently played in the NJCAA ITA Southeast championship where she advanced to the semifinals in both singles and doubles.

She is currently ranked No. 22 in the nation in singles and No. 19 in the nation in doubles.

"Alycia has a lot of junior college experience and she has played at the national level," Taylor said. "She is exactly what I was looking for."

Taylor said his goal was to find someone who could come in and immediately handle the pressure of playing at the Division I level. "I think with all of her national experience, Alycia will be able to make an immediate contribution to our team."

As a freshman, LeMerle advanced to the finals in both singles and doubles of the Mississippi Junior College Athletic Association state championship and the NJCAA Region XXIII tournament.

She has a career record of 31-7 in singles and 30-7 in doubles for Meridian.

LeMerle plans to major in sports medicine.

MCC's Strickland signs with TCU

Meridian (MS) Community College basketball sophomore, Nadosha Strickland has decided to officially continue her career at Texas Christian University.

Strickland, a former Bay Springs (MS) High School standout, led MCC in virtually every offensive category during her two seasons with the Lady Eagles. She averaged over 22 points per game her final season in leading the Lady Eagles a South Division championship and the MACJC State Tournament finals. She scored 1,246 points in her career at Meridian and leaves as the leading scorer in school history.

Strickland was named the team’s MVP after shooting 51% mark from 3-point range and also shot 74% from the free-throw line.

She was named the MVP of the 2008 MACJC All Star Game as a member of the South Team. She scored 17 points in helping lead the South All-Stars to an 82-70 win over the North squad.

In 2008, the Lady Eagles claimed a 20-plus win season en route to a MACJC State Championship game appearance. MCC claimed the MACJC State runners-up and a birth in the NJCAA Region 23 tournament.

As a freshman, she averaged 20.9 points per game, with 10.2 rebounds per game. That season (2006-07) she led the Lady Eagles on a miracle run in the NJCAA Region 23 tournament, coming in that year as the last seed, the Lady Eagle used 81 points in three games from Strickland to make an appearance in the Region title game.

TCU is a member of the NCAA Division 1 and Mountain West Conference.

Laurel standout inks with MCC Tennis

(MERIDIAN) - Meridian Community College tennis head coach Wanda McPhail signed another player to her men's squad on Thursday, May 8.

Jeremy Purdum of Laurel, MS inked with the MCC men’s tennis team.

Purdum comes to MCC by way of Laurel High School, where he was a member of the varsity tennis team. He won the individual District Tennis Championship for Boys Doubles and Mixed Doubles six times (2002-2007). He was a three time Individual 4A State Tennis Runner-Up (2004, 2005 and 2007) and a two time LHS Most Valuable Player of the varsity tennis team (2006, 2007). In 2003 he was named to the Mississippi All State Tennis Team. In 2006, he won a 4A State Championship for LHS in Mixed Doubles.

Purdum also played varsity soccer for LHS, being named a two-time ALL District player and Most Valuable Offensive player for the soccer team.

He is also a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society and the Key Club.

Jeremy is the son of Randy and Lisa Purdum of Laurel.

MCC Lady Eagles tennis claim top 10 finish at nationals

The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles tennis team capped off their 2008 season with a national top ten finish.

Head coach Wanda McPhail led her tennis team to Tucson, AZ for the NJCAA Women’s Tennis National Championship played at the Randolph Tennis Center on May 4-8. The Lady Eagles finished the event with 27.5 points, good enough for a tenth place finish.

Meridian, the MACJC State/Region 23 champions, posted the programs best national finish since going Division I.

35 teams from 14 different states competed in the national championship with Hillsborough Community College out of Tampa, FL winning the title. HCC ended the tournament with 45 points. Tyler Junior College out of Texas claimed runner-up with 44 points, while Lee College of Baytown, TX rounded out the top-three with 43 points.

Individually MCC’s Alycia Le Merle lost her first round singles match to Hillsborough’s Nachelle Proctor, the no. 5 seed. Le Merle won two rounds in the consolation singles before having to withdraw due to illness.

In no. 2 singles, MCC’s Kelly Sterling won her first round match over Eastern Arizona but lost her next match to Tyler’s Priscilla Villemond 6-1, 6-3. Villemond won the national championship at the two flight.

In no. 3 singles, MCC’s Ashton Hartle, the no. 6 seed, won a first round match over Johnson County’s Marie Celleti 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. In the round of 16, Hartley defeated Glendale’s Shawn Jensen 6-0, 6-1. In the quarterfinals, Hartley lost to Tyler’s Ashley Longoria 6-1, 6-2.

In no. 4 singles, MCC’s Katye Shoptaugh won her first match by defeating Elgin’s Victoria Nee 6-1, 6-2. She lost to ABAC’s Chade Scott 6-1, 6-3.

In no. 5 singles, Kayla Daughtrey won her first round match against Central Florida’s Jessica Gamgelhoff”s 6-3, 6-0 and then lost to Collin County’s Gena Sollis 6-3, 6-2. Solis won the individual national championship at no. 5.

In no. 6 singles, Jodi Webb lost her first round match to NCTC’s Danielle Cochran 6-1, 6-2. She went into the consolation bracket where after winning three matches, she lost to Seward’s Alica Larson 9-7.

In doubles play the no. 2 team of Shoptaugh and Sterling picked up three points by defeating Eastern Arizona’s Maylen and Skinner 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. They were defeated in the next round by the no. 3 seeded team of Longoria and Weir from Tyler 6-2, 6-1.

The no. three double’s team from MCC Moon and Webb defeated Morraine Valley’s Modrigal and Body 7-6, 6-3. They won the next round by defeating Jones County of MS 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 before falling to Tyler CC 6-0, 6-1.

The no. 1 doubles team of Alycia Le Merle and Ashton Hartley, who were seeded 9th, lost a first round doubles match to Seminole CC out of Oklahoma, but in what was perhaps the most exciting match in the consolation draw, they defeated Hillsborough’s team 9-7 and then won a match against Eastern Arizona 9-7 to win the draw.

“The girls performed extremely well at the tournament,” said Coach McPhail. “I don’t think we could have picked up over another point at any spot. Le Merle”s withdrawal from the no. one singles consolation cost us a point, but if she had played that match, she may have had to default the doubles due to a stomach virus that affected many of the teams. Tyler’s no. three doubles had to be taken to the hospital due to dehydration from the virus.”


2008 NJCAA Women's Tennis National Championship
Division I Team Standings - Day 5 (May 8th, 2008)
1. Hillsborough Community College (Tampa, FL) - 45 NATIONAL CHAMPION
2. Tyler Junior College (Tyler, TX) - 44
3. Lee College (Baytown, TX) - 43
4. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Tifton, GA) - 42
5. Collin County Community College (Plano, TX) - 39.5
6. North Central Texas College (Gainesville, TX) - 38
7. Laredo Community College (Laredo, TX) - 37
8. Florida Community College (Jacksonville, FL) - 31
9. Barton County Community College (Great Bend, KS) - 29
10. Meridian Community College (Meridian, MS) - 27.5
11. Seminole State College Oklahoma (Seminole, OK) - 27
12. Kalamazoo Valley Community College (Kalamazoo Valley, MI) - 26
13. Central Florida Community College (Ocala, FL) - 23
14. Eastern Arizona College (Thatcher, AZ) - 21.5
14. Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, KS) - 21.5
16. Seward County Community College (Liberal, KS) - 18
17. Grand Rapids Community College (Grand Rapids, MI) - 17.5
18. Glendale Community College (Glendale, AZ) - 17
19. Temple College (Temple, TX) - 15.5
20. Cowley County Community College (Arkansas City, KS) - 14
20. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Gulfport, MS) - 14
22. Central Alabama Community College (Alexander City, AL) - 13
23. Jones County Junior College (Ellisville, MS) - 12
23. University of Arkansas – FS (Fort Smith, AR) - 12
23. Muskegon Community College (Muskegon, MI) - 12
26. Snead State Community College (Boaz, AL) - 11
27. Scottsdale Community College (Scottsdale, AZ) - 10.5
28. Broward Community College (Davie, FL) - 9
28. Hagerstown Community College (Hagerstown, MD) - 9
30. Waubonsee Community College (Sugar Grove, IL) - 6
31. Cecil Community College (North East, MD) - 5
32. Pima Community College (Tucson, AZ) - 4
33. Moraine Valley Community College (Palos Hills, IL) - 3.5
34. Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey, IL) - 3
35. Elgin Community College (Elgin, IL) - 0
35. Sauk Valley Community College (Dixon, IL) - 0

Three local MCC softball players named All State

The Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges has announced that three Meridian Community College Lady Eagle softball players have been named to the Central Division All State team.

Whitney Drachenberg and Gabrielle Morgan, both sophomores for MCC, were named to the First Team All State while Lady Eagle freshman, Shanese Hunter was named to the Second Team All State.

Drachenberg, a graduate from Clarkdale, batted .279 with 36 hits, 20 RBI and one home run. As a defensive player, she started every game at catcher all season long for the Lady Eagles.

Morgan, a graduate from Quitman high School, batted .237 with 33 hits, 18 RBI and one home run. As the No. 1 pitcher in the line-up, Morgan won six of MCC’s eight conference games on the mound.

Hunter, a graduate from Philadelphia High School, batted .321 with 43 hits, 29 RBI and 6 home runs. The freshman played infield and pitcher.

Former MCC pitcher shuts down Yankees

Former Meridian Community College pitcher, Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians, threw seven sharp innings to beat the New York Yankees and their pitcher, Chien-Ming Wang, in a matchup of unbeaten starters. Lee became the first Indians pitcher to win his first six starts since Greg Swindell in 1988 and lowered his MLB-best ERA to 0.81.

Lee, who played for MCC in 1998-99, threw seven innings giving up just five hits, with seven strikeouts, and no earned runs in Yankees Stadium.

Lee is now unbeaten on the season with a 6-0 record in six starts. With now over 40 innings pitched, Lee has walked only two batters all season.

After his career was over with at MCC, Lee played SEC baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Lee was inducted into the MACJC Sports Hall of Fame, along with fellow MCC-ers Lou Hart and Ronald Murray last year.


Lee locks up perfect 6-0 record
Lefty has worked 28 consecutive innings without issuing a walk
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- If Cliff Lee keeps this up, his start on Wednesday night won't be his last at historic Yankee Stadium.
After all, the vaunted ballpark will be hosting this summer's All-Star Game.
Lee, looking more and more like an All-Star starter in the making, went head to head with fellow undefeated hurler Chien-Ming Wang on Wednesday and dominated again. Lee's seven shutout innings were instrumental in the Indians grabbing a 3-0 victory and further proof that his early-season roll might not be a streak so much as a sign of things to come.
"I don't want to get caught up in it," Lee said. "I can't pat myself on the back. I've got to focus on my next start."
That being said, Lee (6-0, 0.81 ERA) has plenty of reason to applaud his own efforts.
Lee is six starts into the season, and it's hard to find a flaw. He has worked 44 1/3 innings, given up just four earned runs on 25 hits, walked just two batters and struck out 39.
Even Bob Gibson's famed 1968 season, in which the Cardinals' right-hander set the record for the lowest ERA in the live-ball era (1.12) and won the National League MVP award, didn't start this good. Through six starts in '68, Gibson was 3-1 with a 1.31 ERA, eight earned runs allowed on 35 hits, 12 walks and 36 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched.
"I don't think you ever expect somebody at this level to do what [Lee] is doing," manager Eric Wedge said. "He's proven he's capable of this. It's not just one or two starts."
This start was viewed as an intriguing test for Lee. His first five outings came against the not-so-imposing lineups offered up by the A's, Twins, Royals and Mariners. So a matchup with the Bronx Bombers was Lee's litmus.
Furthermore, he had a date with Wang, who came in at 5-0, which made for an intriguing storyline.
Not that Lee cared much.
"It really doesn't matter who the opposing pitcher is," he said. "I just want to put up zeros, get as deep in the game as I can and give my team a chance to win."
From the outset, he looked poised to do just that.
First off, he had some early backing from his offense, beginning with Victor Martinez's sacrifice fly in the first. In the fourth, Casey Blake ripped a ground-ball single through the right side to score Jhonny Peralta from second and make it 2-0. It became a three-run lead in the fifth, when David Dellucci knocked in a run with a line-drive single up the middle.
With a lead in hand, Lee won this game the way he's won all his starts this season. He had precise command of his fastball, stayed ahead in the count and kept the Yanks off the bases.
"He was throwing strikes, and we couldn't be too patient with him, because he wasn't walking anybody," said Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who went 0-for-3 off Lee. "He wasn't trying to fool us. He came after us. Probably the biggest thing for him is his control."
That's obvious in the fact that Lee has now worked 28 consecutive innings and faced 101 consecutive batters without issuing a walk.
But though control has been a mechanical strong suit for Lee, Wedge has been equally impressed with the left-hander's mental approach.
"Sometimes you've got to gather yourself and take a second to slow things down," Wedge said. "I think he's done a fantastic job of that this year. It's part of him maturing as a Major League pitcher."
Lee had to show that maturity in the fifth, when he gave up consecutive singles to Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano with one out. He took a deep breath and quickly recovered, striking out Morgan Ensberg and getting Jose Molina to fly out to right.
"That was a big part of the game," Lee said. "One pitch there could tie the game. I really needed to bear down and execute efficiently."
He had to do that again in the sixth, when the Yanks had two runners in scoring position with two out and Hideki Matsui coming up. After peppering Matsui with fastballs to get the count to 1-2, Lee tossed a sweeping curveball that Matsui swung through for the final out.
"I had thrown him a couple of fastballs away," said Lee, who has yet to allow a run on the road this season. "He wasn't really getting around on it. [The curveball] is not a pitch you want to throw for a strike to hit. But if I keep it down, it's an effective pitch."
Effective pitches are Lee's specialty these days. And his dominant start is even more impressive when you consider the doldrums he found himself in last season, when he was demoted from the rotation in late July, spent a month in Triple-A Buffalo and wasn't even considered for the Tribe's postseason roster.
"Talk about toughness," Wedge said. "He's a guy who had to re-establish himself. He was dedicated to his work and his mind-set this offseason."
The 29-year-old Lee never doubted that he could return to big league prominence.
But these numbers? Not even he could conjure them up.
"If you would have showed me what my stats are right now [before the season began]," he said, "I probably would have had a hard time believing they'd come true. But when things are clicking for a pitcher, it's hard to hit."
And in the Majors right now, you'd be hard-pressed to find a hurler harder to hit than Clifton Phifer Lee.

MCC Eagles enter the Regional as No. 1 seed

After winning their third MACJC State Championship in four years, the Meridian Community College Eagles will enter the Region 23 baseball tournament as the Region’s No.1 seed.

Pearl River will be the No. 2 seed, LSU-Eunice will be the No. 3 seed, Itawamba will be the No. 4 seed, Northeast Mississippi the No. 5 seed, and Mississippi Gulf Coast the No. 6 seed.

Pearl River, the South Division champions of the MACJC, will play host to this years Region 23 baseball championship on May 14-17 in Poplaville, MS.

On Wednesday at 1 p.m. the tournament will start off with game one featuring LSU Eunice vs Itawamba. Winner of the LSU-E/ICC game will face the winner of game two, MCC vs MS Gulf Coast. The Eagles and Bulldogs will play Wednesday at 4 p.m. in a rematch of game one in the MACJC State tournament. Gulf Coast won 10-0, which was MCC’s only loss in the State Tournament. In the nightcap on Wednesday, host-PRCC will entertain NE Mississippi at 7 p.m.

The championship game concluded on Saturday with the winner advancing to the Division II Juco World Series in Millington, TN.

MCC baseball wins MACJC State Championship

Friday and Saturday, Meridian Community College's Eagles used an offensive onslaught to move through the MACJC State Tournament in Fulton, combining for 28 runs and 11 home runs in a pair of wins over Hinds and Northeast to reach the tourney semifinals.

On Sunday, the Eagles switched gears, using a pair of dominant pitching performances to top Itawamba and Pearl River en route to capturing the school's third state championship in four years.

MCC opened the day with a 3-2 win over tournament host Itawamba in the semis before riding a complete game performance from starting pitcher Jason Judge to a 6-1 victory over Pearl River in the finals.

"Our pitching was tremendous all day," remarked MCC head coach Chris Rose.

With the two wins, MCC clinched the top seed in next week's Region 23 Tournament, which will be hosted by Pearl River.

In the opener Sunday, MCC starter Jordan Faulkner scattered seven hits and allowed just two runs in 8.1 innings of work to earn the win while Ian Sharp closed the door in the ninth for the save.

The Eagles, who scored 14 runs in each of the past two games, jumped on the board first against Itawamba, with Scott Mosely delivering a 2-run double in the top of the second to stake the Eagles to an early lead.

After Itawamba scored single runs in the third and the seventh to tie the score, the game remained deadlocked into the top of the ninth

In the ninth, Shannon Steed was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced on a single by Mosely. MCC's Brent Tanner then continued his torrid hitting, delivering an RBI single to plate the game-winning run.

Once in the tournament finals, MCC jumped on Pearl River early, scoring a pair of runs in both the first and second innings to take a 4-0 lead.

Tanner connected for his fourth home run of the weekend in the first to stake MCC to a 2-0 lead while Drew Snider and Steed each had an RBI single in the bottom of the second.

The early runs would be enough for Judge, who tossed a complete-game, 3-hitter while notching six strikeouts on the day.

MCC added two more runs in the seventh when Tanner doubled to drive in Mosely and Jarrod Parks.

MCC will now take part in next week's Region 23 tourney, which is slated to begin May 14 in Poplarville.

MCC baseball shutout in opening game

(FULTON) - Meridian Community College lost their opening round game in the MACJC State Baseball Tournament Thursday afternoon.

MCC lost to Mississippi Gulf Coast 10-0 in five innings.

Tyler McMullen got the start on the mound for the Eagles, while Tyler Koeling recorded MCC's only hits (2) of the game.

Meridian will now face Hinds in an elimination game Friday at 1 p.m. Winner of the MCC/Hinds game will move on to player the loser of Pearl River vs. Itawamba on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The State tournament is being hosted by Itawamba Community College in Fulton, MS.

MCC men’s tennis adds Pillow Academy standout

(GREENWOOD) - The Meridian Community College men’s tennis program announced the signing of senior Pillow Academy standout, Wade Henderson.

Henderson, a native of Greenwood, MS, posted a career record of 46-14 at PA, going 11-2 his senior season.

Playing No. 1 for PA, Henderson led his team to the MPSA North AAA Runner-Up in 20008. He was also named tem captain, Most Valuable player and Most Improved during his high school career.

During his time on the USTA Tournament circuit, Henderson complied a 44-43 record with three tournament championships. In the summer of 2007, he was ranked as high as No. 6 in the Mississippi USTA rankings. That same summer, he qualified for the Southern Sectional (Boys 18 singles) in Little Rock, AR.

Henderson has attended the Ole Miss Tennis camp, where he placed second in 2005, and the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy in Tampa, FL.

Henderson was also a member of the Pillow Academy boy’s soccer team.