Lady Hornets face formidable foe at state tournament

Holcomb's Lady Hornets softball team (25-4) will have its hands full Monday when the squad travels to Springfield to compete at the MSHSAA Class 1 State Tournament semifinal round against the Concordia High School Lady Orioles (28-2).

The Lady Hornets qualified by taking down the tough Advance with Bell City team 11-7 Wednesday, May 15, in the tournament's quarterfinal round.

Lady Oriole softball head coach Aimee Meyer, a 14-year veteran, Thursday said her team had “worked really hard” to qualify for the final four.

Holcomb High School Lady Hornet Ella Lemings at a regular season game against the South Pemiscot Lady Bulldogs. Photo by Steve Hankins, staff

“We put in the hours on the field,” Meyer said. “We plan to get a few more practices in before the game on Monday.”

The Lady Orioles are coming off a 25-game winning streak and edged past Northwest (Hughesville) High School's team in a 3-2 walk-off in nine innings to advance to the semifinal round.

Compared to Holcomb's wins, the Concordia team looks very strong. The Lady Hornets this season put together two admirable runs, winning 11 in-a-row early on and 10 in-a-row later. Holcomb enters the semifinals posting three decisive wins against Gideon (8-7) 16-2, squeaked past South Pem (13-16) 10-9 and finally an impressive win against an experienced Advance with Bell City team (20-3) 11-7, since May 4.

Holcomb's Maleigh Lemings crosses home plate at a regular season match against the South Pemiscot Lady Bulldogs. Photo by Steve Hankins

“We've been talking about just staying in the game,” Meyer noted. “We're preparing for who we're going to see, really.

“We don't know a whole lot about the Holcomb team,” Meyer continued. “So, we're reaching out to other coaches for their thoughts and we're gathering information.”

Meyer said her team's strengths are many. From depth, the team graduates just two seniors, to pitching arms, the Lady Orioles bullpen features two hurlers with a mountain of pitches at their disposal, those advantages are clear and on point.

Holcomb Lady Hornet's Jules Gurley connects at a regular season game against the South Pemiscot Lady Bulldogs. Photo by Steve Hankins

“We have great pitching,” Meyer said. “Olivia Hemme and Kiya Inman both are fierce in the circle.”

Hemme, a junior hurler, controls three different pitches while her senior counterpart Inman, has “four or five” from which to choose at any given time, the coach noted.

Hemme went the distance at Wednesday's quarterfinal and pitched nine innings, allowed two runs on three hits, committed two errors, walked one and struck out 12 during her tenure in the circle.

Holcomb Lady Hornet Kaetlyn Danley at the plate at a regular season game against the South Pemiscot Lady Bulldogs. Photo by Steve Hankins

Offensively, Hemme went two-for-three, scored one run and walked once.

Inman took a back seat pitching during that contest, was zero-for-four at the dish and struck out twice.

And, all that was okay with Meyer.

Lady Hornet Ave Gurley in the box at a regular season game.Photo buy Steve Hankins

“I don't know if I would make any changes,” Meyer said. “This is one of the best teams we've fielded during my career as coach.

“I don't think we're quite as strong as we were last year,” she added. “But we're coming off a really good, winning battle against Northwest. We're ready for Monday.”