Perfection may be unattainable, but you may have a tough time convincing the McComb Lady Tigers.
Heading into their first-round series in the Class 5A state fastpitch playoffs, the Lady Tigers’ pitching, hitting and defense are all peaking at the right time.
The Lady Tigers (18-6-2) travel to Stone County on Friday at 7 p.m. for the first game of the three-game set. They return home Saturday at 5 p.m. to host the Lady Tomcats in Game 2 and a deciding third game, if necessary.
“We feel great about the way we’re playing,” McComb head coach Cody Hall said. “We’re playing great defense, we’re hitting the ball and our pitchers are throwing the ball well.”
In fact, the Lady Tigers have committed just three errors on defense over their past three games.
On offense, McComb has gotten consistent production throughout the lineup. Leadoff hitter Annie Artigues enters the series hitting .474 for the year with an on-base percentage of .518. She has stolen 23 bases and scored 33 runs.
Third-spot hitter Danielle Farnum leads the team with just two home runs this season, but hits at a .362 clip and leads the team with 25 runs batted in.
Even the lower half of the batting order has done its share of damage on opposing pitching. Breean Talbert commonly hits in the sixth hole, but has a .325 batting average with 21 RBIs, second on the team. Catcher Kaylin Coney owns a .360 hitting average.
“Those four have been the key,” Hall said. “Up and down the lineup we’ve scored runs all year. But those top hitters have done well in key situations with runners on base.”
Hall said the Lady Tigers will need to continue their aggressive hitting this weekend against Stone County (13-9) right-handed pitcher Heather Beesley.
“Pitching is definitely their strength,” Hall said. “They pitch and play good defense. They don’t score a whole lot of runs. But with their pitching and defense, they don’t need to score a lot of runs.
“Our key is to get to their pitcher,” Hall added. “Make it to where she has to make the adjustment. We’ve got to jump on her and force her to make the adjustment.”
As consistent as they’ve been at the plate all season, it’s almost a certainty the Lady Tigers will continue to hit this weekend. The only apparent uncertainty for McComb is who will start on the mound.
With an 11-3 record, Kamry Creel has been the Lady Tigers’ pitching ace this season. Her likeliness as the starter Friday night drastically increases with the fact that Megan Coney has been pitching the past three to four weeks with a pulled quadricep muscle.
Still, Hall would not commit to either of his pitchers for Friday’s game.
“Our pitcher has yet to be determined,” he said. “Kamry’s had an outstanding year at keeping hitters off balance. Her changeup has become her go-to pitch.
“Megan’s been pitching hurt the past three or four weeks,” Hall added, “but she’s coming around and getting back to full strength.”
Hall said he would make a final decision on Thursday as to who would start Friday’s game.
The two teams had just two common opponents this past season. While both squads were beaten By Poplarville in one-run games, McComb was beaten by Harrison Central 5-2. Stone County was a 14-4 winner over Harrison Central early in the season. Hall said early-season games don’t matter.
“We’ve taken it one game at a time all season,” he said. “That’s one thing I’ve pushed all year. Every game is decided on the field.”
