Austin McNair era of EMCC softball begins Saturday at TigerFest Tournament in Booneville

SCOOBA – The Austin McNair era of East Mississippi Community College softball begins Saturday at the Northeast Mississippi-hosted TigerFest Tournament being held at the Booneville West Side City Park.

Set to open the new season by playing three games on the second day of the two-day tournament, the EMCC Lady Lions are slated to meet Shawnee Community College (Ill.) at 11 a.m. Saturday followed by contests against East Central College (Mo.) at 3 p.m. and Frontier CC (Ill.) at 5 p.m.

McNair will be making his collegiate coaching debut this weekend after spending the previous seven years coaching in the Mississippi high school ranks at Pontotoc and Philadelphia.  He is assisted by Nettleton native Kimmy Nicholson, who was a softball standout at Itawamba Community College and Blue Mountain College.

East Mississippi returns only four players who saw game action for the Lady Lions during last year's 17-26 season.  Infielder Kelsey English (Birmingham, Ala.) batted .253 a season ago as a 43-game starter for EMCC.  Megan Cummins (Germantown HS) hit .250 with 27 starting assignments as a freshman outfielder.  Fellow returnees Avery Bouchillon (Ethel) and Kiara Conner (Columbus) figure to see additional playing time as sophomores after getting limited game action in 2018.

Sophomore transfer infielder Blake Bond (Winona) is set to make her EMCC spring debut after batting .306 (15-of-49) a year ago for Hinds Community College.  Returning pitcher Hadlee Lewis (Newnan, Ga.) is hopeful to see some action in the circle for the Lady Lions after sitting out last season due to injury.     

EMCC's 16-member softball roster consists of 10 additional players who will be looking to make their respective collegiate spring debuts this weekend.  Along with former Union High School teammates Mackenzie Dolan and Lilly Burton, the Lady Lions also welcome aboard newcomers Britney Bonney (Madison Central HS), Kerrington Bradford (New Hope HS), Riley Huckaby (Caledonia), Candace Jefferson (Choctaw Central HS), Kathryn Reeves (Morton), Jabryia Rosebud (Shannon HS), Hope Thames (Nanih Waiya), and Madelyn Wilkes (Noxapater).

Following Saturday's season-opening softball action in Booneville, the 2019 EMCC Lady Lions are scheduled to continue tournament competition next weekend (Feb. 22-23) by participating in the Meridian Community College-hosted Rush Invitational at the Northeast Park softball complex.  On Friday evening, East Mississippi is slated to take on Southeastern Illinois College and Bossier Parish Community College (La.) at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.  The Lady Lions will return to Meridian the following day to meet Alabama-based Bishop State and Bevill State at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.