Successful Season for the Southern Hurricanes
By Daniel Townsend
The coaches & parents of the Southern Hurricanes 12U fastpitch softball team, from the Hattiesburg area, are proud of their girls. The Hurricanes have come a long way since beginning. Back in April 2005, co-head coaches Ray Lewis & Bob Dykes put the team together consisting of girls from the Hattiesburg area. They are assisted by Eric Peters & Paul Powell.
With their own web site since January of 2007, featuring photos and facts about the team, the girls have a lot to be proud of. These girls have a history together, with seven of the 12 members having been with the Hurricanes since the beginning. This is the Hurricanes’ first year as a 12U team, so the players have had to adjust to a 12-inch ball, instead of 11-inch ball, and a 40 ft distance between the pitcher’s mound and home plate, instead of 35 feet.
The Hurricanes sport a 44 – 11 – 2 record this season in their tournament games. They recently won the USFA MS State Championship in Vicksburg, MS and the ASA Class “A” State Championship in Ridgeland, MS. In all of their other tournaments this year, the Hurricanes have finished 3rd place with 11 to 19 teams participating. Lewis attributes the Hurricanes’ success to “sound fundamentals in every aspect of the game. I guess that’s why we are where we are.” The Hurricanes’ biggest strength, Lewis said, is how they play as a team. “Lots of the girls work hard on their own and with their dads,” he said. “Gotta give those dads a lot of credit.”
Lewis, who conducts the team’s administrative duties, also calls pitches, works with the fielding defense and is the 3rd base coach. Dykes, who built an indoor facility for the team to conduct off-season workouts, conducts all of the hitting instruction, assists with fielding and throwing fundamentals, and makes all of the pitching changes during games. "We're different, but Bob and I compliment each other very well," Lewis said.
The coaches’ team goal for this season was to win a state championship. They succeeded in consecutive weeks. Lewis stated “We really came together as a team. That made a huge difference in us winning those championships. Bob & I could not be more proud of the girls.” The Hurricanes will be participating in the USFA Southern Nationals July 30 – Aug 3 in Gulfport, MS. More information about the Hurricanes can be found at http://www.eteamz.com/southernhurricanes/.
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Highlights of Southern Hurricanes’ History:
- 2005—won the Mississippi ASA South State, ASA State, and NSA State Championships.
- 2005—placed Runner-Up in the USSSA World Series
- 2006—won the USFA MS State Championship and placed Runner Up in the MS ASA Class "A" State Championship and the USFA Gulf Coast State Championship
- 2007—Finished 1st Place in 7 straight tournaments, including the Birmingham Vipers & Germantown Invitational tournaments.
- 2007—Won the USFA Gulf Coast State Championship
- 2007—went to the USFA "B" World Series and tied for 5th place
- 2007—went to the ASA 10U "A" National Championship and tied for 17th place.
- 2008—USFA Mississippi State Champions
- 2008—ASA Class “A” State Champions
2008 Southern Hurricanes Roster
- Alexis “Boo” Peters—2nd base and outfield
- Brittney “Fence Post” McCray—1st and 2nd base
- Callen “Bubbles” Gibson—Outfield and 3rd base
- Constance “Ice Q” Quinn—shortstop
- Erica “Ricky-Girl” Lewis—pitcher and 1st base
- Kaleigh “K.P.” Powell—3rd base, 2nd base, & catcher
- Kalyn “Turbo” Watts—centerfield
- Lauren “Bug” Welch—pitcher, outfielder
- Rachel “Bull” Davis—2nd base and pitcher
- Reagan “Raginski” Dykes—catcher, middle infield
- Savannah “Vannah” Lyon--outfield
- Taylor “Tater-Bug” Chandler—outfield
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