By Brad Greer

After a two year hiatus, the North Delta softball team is set to make a return trip to the Academy AA State tournament tomorrow at Liberty Park in Flowood.

The Green Wave advanced to the eight-team tournament field with a third-place finish in the North AA tournament last week at Carroll Academy.

North Delta will take on South runner-up Oak Forest, La. at 9 a.m  in the opening round. A victory would advance the Green Wave to the winners bracket game at 2:15 against the Leake/Columbia winner while a loss would pit the Wave against the loser of those same two teams.

“We are very excited about playing in the State tournament. These young ladies have worked hard for nearly three months to get where they are at now and we could not be more proud of them,“ said second-year head coach Damon Plummer.

While North Delta (17-11) does not have an impressive record like some of the teams in the field do, Plummer says playing a tough non-district schedule has helped his squad prepare for the post-season.

“I am not like a lot of coaches. I do not want to win every game. I don’t mind losing a game or two if that is what it takes to make us a better team in the long run. We have played Bayou, Magnolia Heights and MRA this season and beaten two of them along the way so facing those type of programs helps us,” said Plummer.

Freshmen Anna Lloyd leads the North Delta offense with a .500 batting average and a .600 slugging percentage. Three other Green Wave hitters batted over .400 during the regular season.

Senior catcher Laci DuBravec is second on the team with a .482 average to go along with a team-high 16 RBI’s. Shortstop Bradi Beard is hitting at a .471 clip with 14 RBI’s and two home runs.

Sophomores Hastings Neal (.436) and Julianna Morrow (.395) round out the offensive leaders for the Green Wave.

Peyton Rico has been the workhorse in the pitching circle for North Delta most of the season. The sophomore pitched all three games of the North AA tournament while winning two of three.

Seventh-grader Sarah Johnson could also see some time in the circle during the state tournament if the need arises.

“Sarah has mostly thrown junior varsity games for us this season but at times has thrown has hard or harder than Peyton has. She can help us there if it comes down to it,” said Plummer.

The North Delta- Oak Forest game can be heard live via internet at www.ofajacketssports.com.