Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
Sparked by Sydney Simpson’s complete-game two-hitter, Etowah defeated Ashville, 11-1, in the Class 4A, Area 10 Tournament championship game in girls softball on May 6 in Attalla.
In seven innings, Simpson (pictured above) struck out 17 batters. The Lady Bulldogs’ lone run came in the sixth inning after Etowah had a 5-1 lead. The Lady Blue Devils totaled 17 hits and plated six runs in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Simpson helped her cause with two hits and two RBI. Hally Bennet finished with three hits and three RBI, while Abbi Martin contributed a pair of hits and Kalena Beshears drove in two runs.
Both teams advanced to the Class 4A East Region Tournament this Friday (May 14) in Montgomery. Etowah opens with Good Hope, while Ashville faces Curry. Both games are scheduled for 10:45 a.m.
Sardis won the Class 5A, Area 13 Tournament at Douglas on May 6.
The Lady Lions will play in the East Region Tournament this week in Montgomery. Sardis opens the double-elimination tournament this Wednesday (May 12) against Moody at 12 p.m.
The Lady Lions defeated Boaz, 11-3, in the opening game of the area tournament on May 3, followed by a 7-1 semifinal win over Douglas. Sardis then posted a 12-0 shutout over Douglas in the championship game.
Against Boaz for the Lady Lions, Adelyn Ellis had four hits and two RBI, Kytha Edwards had three hits and Jayda Lacks had two RBI. Winning pitcher Kayden Tarvin struck out three in seven innings.
In the semifinals against Douglas, Jaylyn Minshew had three hits, while Ellis had two. Lacks had two RBI, while Ellis and Val Owens each had one. Winning pitcher Maddie Harris had five strikeouts in seven innings.
Against Douglas in the championship game, Harlee Vincent had two hits and six RBI, Lily Towns had two hits and Owens had two RBI. Tarvin earned the win in the pitching circle, striking out six in three innings.
Southside battled back in the playback bracket to finish second in the Class 6A, Area 13 Tournament in Springville.
The Lady Panthers earned a berth in the Class 6A East Region Tournament this week in Montgomery. Southside opens the double-elimination tournament this Wednesday (May 12) against Mortimer Jordan at 10 a.m.
Seed last in the four-team area tournament, the Lady Panthers opened with a 9-3 loss to Springville, then rebounded with an 8-3 win over Pell City. Southside then defeated Oxford, 17-14, to earn a spot in the championship game, where the Lady Panthers fell to Springville, 14-4.
Against Springville in the opener, Ava Ramsey had a hit and two RBI, while Sydney Yancey had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Against Pell City, Macey Herren went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored; Yancey went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored; Carley Lankford went 2-for-4 with two runs scored; Bailey Houston had a hit and three RBI; and Maddie Griffith had a hit, an RBI and a run scored. In seven innings, winning pitcher Anna Hoper scattered eight hits, three earned runs while striking out seven. She did not walk a batter.
Against Oxford, Herren had a home run, four RBI and two runs scored; Houston went 3-for-4 with two RBI; Yancey went 1-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored; Ramsey went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored; Lynnsey Hunt went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored; Griffith went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored; Lankford had a hit, an RBI and three runs scored; and Karlee Thompson went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Against Springville in the championship, Kynsey Marble went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while Jovi Marble went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Glencoe finished runner-up in the Class 3A, Area 12 Tournament at Collinsville.
The Lady Yellow Jackets will compete in the East Region Tournament this week in Montgomery. Glencoe opens the double-elimination tournament this Friday (May 14) against Pleasant Valley at 9 a.m.
Glencoe opened the area tournament with a 17-14 win over Collinsville, the lost to Geraldine, 15-0. The Lady Jackets then posted a 16-9 victory over Collinsville in the playback bracket before falling to Geraldine, 12-2, in the championship game.
In the first game for Glencoe against Collinsville, Hailey Hanners hit three home runs, drove in eight runs and scored three runs. Casey Willett went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI; Kayla Traylor with 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBI and five runs scored; Abi Bunt went 2-for-2 with a home run, an RBI and five runs scored; Aubrey Maxwell went 2-for-3 with an RBI; Summer Crump went 2-for-3; and Kaylee Higdon and Jaxson Sizemore each had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
In the playback victory over Collinsville, Higdon had four hits and three RBI, Crump had five RBI, Bunt had three hits and Willett had three RBI.