Northeast softball to have area camps, intrasquad scrimmages

Northeast Mississippi Community College’s softball squad is taking the show on the road to conclude its fall practice schedule for the second consecutive year.

The Tigers will visit towns inside their traditional five-county district over a three-day period to host a full evening of activities that includes a one-hour camp and intrasquad games.

“We want to show our love for softball and allow Christ to shine through this experience,” said Northeast head coach Jody Long. “As always there are amazing things going on within our program and I’m excited to go out into our communities.”

The Tigers begin their tour around the area at East Union High School on Monday, October 19. Northeast travels to Belmont High School one day later and completes its journey on Wednesday, October 21 at Biggersville High School.

The clinics sponsored by the Tigers are free and begin around 5 p.m. at each location. Players of all ages and from any local team are invited to attend these instructional sessions.

Girls that are present will learn about the fundamentals of the sport in order to develop proper habits. Long and his staff also try to teach the mental aspect of the game through the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership and citizenship.

Each person is expected to bring their own gear, which includes but is not limited to cleats, a hat or visor, batting gloves, a bat and a glove. Softballs will be provided by Northeast at each facility.

The Tigers then takes the diamond at 6:15 p.m. for its annual Black and Gold scrimmages. The roster is split in half and Northeast competes in a best-of-five series that signals the end of the autumn practice period that is allowed by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

Fans are invited onto the field postgame to further interact with the Tigers. Northeast’s student-athletes and coaches will take time for autographs, questions and pictures before returning to the Booneville campus.

The Tigers have become one of the most prosperous programs in the entire country. Northeast has qualified for the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) State Playoffs in 13 of the 14 years since transitioning to fastpitch competition in 2001.

Work inside the classroom is important to the Tigers as well. Northeast was recently recognized as an All-Academic Team by both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the NJCAA.

For more information about the Black and Gold series, contact Long at 662-720-7305 or by email at jwlong@nemcc.edu or assistant coach Jaisa Emerson at 662-720-7218 or by email at jfemerson@nemcc.edu.