Lady Marshals win Region One championship

MCHS captures
first ever region
title

By Rick Burres
Tribune-Courier Sports Reporter
Rburres@tribunecourier.com

The Lady Marshals won the 1st Region Softball Championship Saturday when they defeated regional powerhouse Heath 2-1 in the championship game.

Marshall County began its fast pitch softball program in 1995 and had never won a regional championship.

MCHS head softball coach Jennifer Burnham, and assistant coach Patricia Greer, took over coaching duties four years ago and began the march to the region title.

“I think (assistant) coach (Trish) Greer and I coming in knew what we wanted to accomplish starting fresh four years ago,” Burnham said.

“This was always a goal for us. The kids put in all the hard work and really bought into our program, and four years later here we are.”

The Marshals opend tournament play by trouncing Reidland 9-2 on Wednesday night and then went on to defeat Ballard Memorial 4-1 early Saturday afternoon.

MCHS got a two hour break and the clash of the softball titans began at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Junior Jessie Phelps, who pitched all but one inning in the first game of the day, was called on again in the fifth inning of the nail-biter against Heath to keep the Pirates from putting any more points on the big board.

Burnham said she knew Phelps would come through.

“Jessie is tough mentally and I knew she would come through for us,” Burnham said.

“I could tell she was tired, we have been out here all day, but she knows how to get the job done no matter how she feels. She’s a real trooper.”