At the plate or in the field, Juliana Wallace of Brookhaven andDana Coke of Loyd Star provided heroics for their respectiveslowpitch softball teams. The two seniors have been leaders on andoff the diamond for several years. Both plan to play collegesoftball, Wallace at Millsaps College and Coke at Copiah-LincolnCommunity College.

It’s only natural that they should share The DailyLeader’s Most Valuable Player honors on the 2000-2001All-Lincoln County Girls Slowpitch Softball Team. They grew uptogether as teammates on the same Brookhaven Recreation Departmentsquad.

Wallace, a 4.0 student in the classroom, is joined on the dreamteam by four Brookhaven teammates, catcher Chiquita Rancifer,infielder Kayla Allen, pitcher Lindsey Marble and extra hitterGinny Dunaway.

Coke is joined by two Loyd Star teammates, catcher Heather Brittand outfielder Rusti Jackson. Britt and Cokes are repeaters fromlast year’s team.

Representing Bogue Chitto on the dream team are pitcher SusanReeves, infielder Jessica Melton and utility player Randi Moak.Reeves is a repeater.

Representing Enterprise are outfielder Lacey Palomarez andpitcher Nikki Leggett. Palomarez made the team last year.

Brookhaven Academy is represented by catcher April Douchard andoutfielder Angie Davis who made last year’s team.

West Lincoln is represented by infielder JenniferRichardson.

Input for selection of the team was provided by staff writersand college and high school coaches.

Juliana Wallace batted .648 as a senior. Shehit 9 homers, 11 triples and six doubles for Coach Lisa Covington’sLady Panthers.

“Juliana has a real strong arm,” said Covington. “She alwayshustles and gives her best.”

Wallace maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. She was anAll-County selection in basketball.

Recognized for her versatility, Wallace played shortstop as ajunior and suffered a broken hand in the state playoffs. As asenior, she sustained a hyper-extended knee injury during theseason and Covington moved her to third base.

Wallace, an All-Lincoln County selection in basketball as a 5-10forward, said she has enjoyed her high school career and plans tostudy premed at Millsaps.

Asked about Coke’s softball talent, Wallace said, “Dana is veryaggressive. She plays to win and gives it her all.”

Dana Coke excelled in left-center field as a defender.At the plate, she batted .528, hitting 9 home runs, helping leadCoach Lori Britt’s Lady Hornets to the Division 6-2A title and aberth in the state playoffs. She also started at forward for thebasketball team.

“Dana is a very good player,” said Britt.

Coke, standing 5-foot-6, is expected to sign ascholarship to play fastpitch at Co-Lin. She has been a varsitystarter since the 8th grade. She has played three years of summerfastpitch with the White-Wilson Chrysler team.

“You shouldn’t be scared about getting dirty and divingfor the ball,” said Coke. “Fastpitch is more exciting thanslowpitch.”

An honor roll student, Coke maintained a 3.35 GPA. Sheplans to major in teaching and education.

Asked about Wallace’s softball skills, Coke said,Juliana is a power hitter. You better get out of the way when shehits the ball.”

Heather Britt, a senior catcher, batted .421 for theLady Hornets.

April Douchard, a sophomore catcher, led Coach NealKing’s Lady Cougars in batting with a team-best .800 mark. The LadyCougars won the District 4-AA title and reached the finals of theAA state tournament.

Chiquita Rancifer, a freshman catcher, batted .462 forthe BHS Lady Panthers.

Jennifer Richardson, a junior infielder at WestLincoln, batted .487 for the Lady Bears as Coach Andrew Redd’s team(15-13) finished second in the Division 7-1A race and advanced tothe state playoffs.

Kayla Allen, a senior, batted .404 for the LadyPanthers.

Jessica Melton, a sophomore, batted .525 for the BogueChitto Lady Bobcats who are coached by Mickey Myers.

Lacey Palomarez, a junior, led Lincoln County in homeruns with 15. She batted .500 for Coach Steve Sasser’s Lady YellowJackets (20-8) who won the Division 7-1A championship

Rusti Jackson, a senior, batted .468 for LoydStar.

Ginny Dunaway, a junior, batted .402 for Brookhaven andwas a leader on defense.

Randi Moak, a sophomore, batted .558 for Bogue Chitto’sfastpitch team and was the recipient of the teams’ Golden GloveAward.

Susan Reeves, a senior hurler, compiled a 16-9 record onthe mound.

Lindsey Marble, a senior pitcher, posted a 14-15 recordfor the Lady Panthers.

Nikki Leggett, a sophomore pitcher, compiled a 20-8record as the Lady Jackets won the division title.

HONORABLE MENTION WITH DISTINCTION

BOGUE CHITTO: Marquita Ratcliff, MeleahBrown.

BROOKHAVEN: Erin Lyons, Devine Porter, SamanthaBoutwell, Cortney Fielder.

BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY: Katie Newman, Amber Beeson, AllysonLofton, Lindsey Holmes.

ENTERPRISE: Stacey Sandifer, Nicole Floyd, AshleyPalomarez.

LOYD STAR: Jamie Thompson, Rebecca Smith, AshtonWilliams, Beth Smith, Nikki Hunsucker.

WEST LINCOLN: Hanna Roberts, Lauren Smith, ChastityAvants, Dana King, Holly Bass.