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Tapley,Allen dominate mound year round |
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Thursday, 22 October 2009 |
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By Kenneth Mister
Daily Times Leader Oak Hill fast-pitch softball player Mamie Allen throws a pitch during a 2009 game.
By Kenneth Mister
Daily Times Leader
West Point and other Clay County schools have been known to produce some of the most talented football players in the state. Former area athletes Tom Goode, Orlando Bobo and Jesse Anderson have all experienced extensive careers in the NFL.
What has been overlooked, however, is the fact that Clay County currently possesses two of the most dominant fast-pitch softball players in the state. Hebron pitcher Chloe Tapley and Oak Hill pitcher Mamie Allen have accomplished as freshmen what others players may never attain in an entire high school career.
During the 2009 season, Tapley struck out 196 batters, accumulated five no-hitters and four one-hit games. At the plate, she batted .477 (.509 in the regular season) and scored 22 runs.
Tapley's dominance on the mound and at the plate is a joy to watch, Tapley's father and Hebron softball coach Cass Tapley said.
"The fact that you always have a steady pitcher is great," he said. "I really have to stand back at times and remember she is still just a kid and try not put put too much pressure on her. To ask a child that has just passed her 14th birthday to give you 10 to 15 strikeouts in a seven inning game is asking a lot. I am really spoiled since I don't know what it is like to try and win a game without having a good pitcher."
And having a good pitcher such as Tapley was a key element to the Lady Eagles 2009 resurgence. After struggling through the first eight games of the season, the Lady Eagles finished 11-1 and went undefeated in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, Class A, District 3 tournament.
Hebron's improvement was something Tapley and her teammates worked on constantly, coach Tapley said.
"Our season's turn around this year wasn't something that just happened," he said. "Our hitters worked hard and came around but what no one saw was Chloe working to get her pitching straightened out."
Tapley's hard-nosed work ethic was displayed when she met up with her pitching coach, coach Tapley said.
"The first day with him she actually pitched until she threw up from the heat," he said. "And this is from a girl that pitched and played all through June and July in the heat. As always, the extra effort paid off. From that point, she was 10-1 in the regular season including five no-hitters and 103 strikeouts in 50 innings."
While Tapley helped bring about a drastic change at Hebron, the same can can be said for Mamie Allen at Oak Hill. During her three-year tenure, Allen has struck out 350 batters (130 in 2009) and helped the Lady Raiders advance to the North State Tournament in 2009. She went 9-8 as starting pitcher - seven of those losses were by only one run. As a freshman, Allen has transitioned into a team leader, Oak Hill softball coach Marion Bratton said.
"She's a competitor," he said. "I know when you put Mamie on the mound you have a chance to win. She has kept us in every ball game when she was at the plate."
Oak Hill, who has only two seniors, looked to Allen for for guidance, Bratton said.
"She has taken that (leadership) role," he said. "When she pitches, everyone relaxes and they know they have a chance. (Her teammates) understand that if they come to play they will win with Mamie on the mound."
Oak Hill fell twice to Indianola Academy in the North State Tournament. The Lady Raiders, however, did get revenge by defeating Carroll Academy - the team that put them out of the district tournament. Allen struck out a total of 27 batters in the tournament before falling to Indianola 3-2.
Allen's talents have not gone unnoticed. Allen has caught the attention of college coaches, Bratton said.
"I already have coaches looking at her," he said. "I've tried to keep her away from all of it because I don't want too much pressure on her."
Allen's mother Kim Allen said she remembers when it all began.
"I never dreamed she would pitch as good as she has," Allen said. "I remember the first time she said she wanted to pitch. I thought it wouldn't last long but it has. She has come a long way."
Allen, who has been pitching since she was nine, began her softball career in 2002 when she played for the Dancing Feet Academy Dolls. Allen has played in tournaments throughout Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Kansas.
During Allen's summer league experiences, she joined forces with Tapley. Over the past three summers, Allen and Tapley have won three state championships and a World Series. They have also won multiple United States Fast-Pitch Association and Amateur Softball Association championships.
Coach Tapley said he remembers how the idea of Tapley and Allen joining teams came about.
"The idea of of Mamie joining our (summer league) team came from Chloe," he said. We needed a couple players and Chloe continuously pushed for me to call Mamie and the rest is history. I always try to let them both pitch in the early pool games then rotate games in tournament play. We have actually gone through competitive tournaments allowing 4-5 hits for the entire tournament."
Allen and Tapley have a combined 832 strikeouts over the past three years. The idea of Allen and Tapley joining the same high school team would be a dream come true, Bratton said.
"It would be an honor," he said. "Both of them can hit and play other positions. When you have a couple of good pitchers, you can go a long way."
Coach Tapley agrees that a Tapley and Allen high school union would create enormous problems for opponents.
"They would be a tournament nightmare for either A or AA teams for the next three years. We have to remember these kids are dominating at times already and they are still babies. I know Mamie has been on the North 3-A All-Tournament team and Chloe was on the 2008 District 3-A MVP. Now if we could just get coach Bratton to send her down the road to us."
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 22 October 2009 )
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Win,win,win,see you in Jackson Ms, for the playoff. - Rev Nudennie Moore
GO BIG GREENWAVES! LETS BRING HOME THE CHAMPIONSHIP. - Anthony Tallie
I wish u guys the best season - Joshua Lee Go green waves and win, win, and win. - Rev Joe Smith GOOD LUCK WEST POINT SWIM TEAM!!! I hope yall have a great
season this year! Even though I'm not there, I'm cheering ya'll on up here! - Brandon Berry Go Green Wave! Keep up the good work. - Robin Birmingham C/O '96
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