Round one of county softball rivalry goes to Bob Jones
Harvest- After a Thursday night rainout, one of the most anticipated games of the early softball season was played at Sparkman Field on Friday night. The game was billed as the first annual Sparkman softball breast cancer awareness game and both teams wore special pink jerseys.
With both teams ranked in the top ten in the state, Bob Jones got strong performances from two seniors to top Sparkman 2-0.
Sparkman is ranked second and Bob Jones is ranked sixth in class 6A but when these two rivals get together, bragging rights more so than records and rankings are what matters.
Bob Jones threw senior Abby Guest and Sparkman countered with junior Meg Willis. Both pitchers dominated in the early innings until the top of the fourth when Bob Jones’ Sydney Booker doubled down the right field line. Guest reached on a fielder’s choice setting the table for senior Allie Stocking who delivered a double past Sparkman shortstop Katie Brinkman scoring both Booker and Guest.
On the mound, Guest made the 2 runs hold up. She pitched a complete game 7 innings giving up only 2 hits with 6 strikeouts. More importantly she walked only 2 batters.
“My curveball wasn’t working too well but we worked around it. I’ve been throwing the fastball on the inside corner and that has helped me tremendously,” said Guest who credited new pitching coach Jaime Simons for helping her effectiveness.
Guest, who has signed to play softball at Austin Peay State University next year, had a hit in the top of the seventh inning.
Stocking, a senior centerfielder who has signed a scholarship with Shelton State, has had many big hits in her years with the Patriots but after the game she ranked her fourth inning double as one of her best.
“Yes that was one of the happiest moments of my life hitting that ball and making my teammates score and working hard for my team. This gives us all the confidence in the world to know that we can win state.”
Even though Bob Jones had only 3 hits it was all they needed with Guest on the mound.
“Abby is awesome, she works so hard for our team,” said Stocking. “She works so hard off the field on her pitching and it shows. We have a lot of seniors this year and all of us are leading the team together.”
Sydney Booker, a sophomore who is a returning starter at third base had another outstanding game at the plate and in the field. She threw out two batters to keep Sparkman off the board when the Senators loaded the bases in the fifth inning.
In an Area 15 win over Decatur on Tuesday night, Booker had 3 hits including a double. She is hitting over .400 for the season.
Sparkman coach Dale Palmer turned to relief pitcher Sam Mayhall to put down a Bob Jones rally in the top of the seventh and she retired the Patriots in order.
For the record Sparkman goes to 8-4 and Bob Jones is now 7-2.
Sparkman returns the visit to Bob Jones on April 23.
