By Chris McCarthy/Editor
The Etowah High softball team went 1-2 at the Class 5A North Regional in Huntsville.
After opening with a 5-3 victory over Randolph on May 8, No. 5 Etowah fell to the playback bracket with a 2-0 loss to Lawrence County. The Lady Blue Devils then ended their season on May 9 with a 5-1 loss to Ardmore.
“Our expectations coming in were a little higher,” said EHS head coach Stephen Coggins. “There’s a few teams that are down there in Montgomery that we’re definitely better than. I felt that we didn’t play the way we were capable. I felt that we had better talent than some of the other teams (at the regional), but in softball, if you don’t bring your ‘A’ game every game you can get beat by anybody, and that’s what happened.”
Madison Grant pitched all three games for Etowah, logging 20 innings. Against Randolph, she struck out eight while allowing three hits, one earned run and two walks. Against Lawrence County, she gave up three hits, two earned runs and five walks while fanning eight. Against Ardmore, she scattered six hits four earned runs and one walk with two strikeouts.
“Madison didn’t pitch too well in the game we won but she pitched really well in both of the games we lost, so that how it goes sometimes,” said Coggins.
At the plate for the Lady Blue Devils, Nicki Rodgers had four hits and two runs; Grant had three hits, and RBI and a run; Jessica Smith had three hits and a run; Amber Jones had a hit, two RBI and a run; Aimee Fancher had two hits and a run scored; Alyssa Howard and Madison Bishop each had two hits; Emma Jones had a hit and two RBI; and Brooke Perry had a hit.
“I do have a good group of girls, and still to this day I’d put them up against anybody,” said Coggins. “Several of them will play in college this year and several of them will after next year, so it’s going to keep going. I’ve got a good group of girls, a good group of coaches and a good group of parents, and that’s a good combination.”