Courtesy of Sand Mountain Reporter
Sardis High dominated the Class 4A, Area 12 softball tournament, outscoring their opponents 37-5 to finish 3-0 and win the championship.
The Lady Lions defeated Hokes Bluff, 20-2, in the title game.
Both Sardis and Hokes Bluff qualified for the North Central Regional this weekend in Tuscaloosa. The Lady Lions open the tournament against J.B. Pennington, while the Lady Eagles begin with a game with Oneonta. It will be Sardis’ fifth straight regional appearance.
“The girls have been playing better over the last few weeks and have shown signs all year long really of what they are capable of when they just play the game and play it the right way,” said SHS head coach Richey Lee. “They came into the tournament with a lot of confidence and focus and played extremely well. We were able to execute in every phase of the game, especially defensively. Offensively, we were able to put a lot of timely hits together to drive in runners in scoring position, and we just executed our bunts better.”
Sardis (17-16) opened the tournament on Apr. 27 with an 8-2 victory over Cherokee County 8-2.
Bailey White paced the Lady Lion offense by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Lauryn Noojin tossed a complete game three-hitter to earn the win.
In the semifinals on Apr. 28, Noojin earned a 9-1 win over Hokes Bluff with six hits in seven innings.
At the plate, White went 2-for-4 with a run scored; Devin Holsonback went 2-for-4 with two RBI; Carly Gardner went 2-for-4 with two runs scored; Mackenzie Sarratt had a double, one RBI and two runs; Madelyn Gazaway had a hit, two RBI and two runs scored; and Hannah Hallmark had a double and two RBI.
The Lady Lions collected 20 hits in the four-inning championship game later that day against the Lady Eagles.
In three innings, Noojin gave up five hits and struck out four. She also contributed at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Gazaway went 4-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored; Sarratt went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored; Ola Zielinska went 3-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and three runs scored; White went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored; and Holsonback went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI; and Carly Sarratt had three runs scored.
“ I’m very proud of the girls’ accomplishment and proud to be their coach,” said Lee. “Now we just need to get back to work at practice and continue to get better for the regionals.”