Bob Jones softball team clinches Area 15 with win over Austin
Madison- For the second year in a row, the Bob Jones softball team has won class 6A, Area 15 and the right to host the area tournament. The double elimination tournament will be May 3-4 at Bob Jones softball field. The winner of the tournament will advance to the North Regional Tournament at Huntsville Sportsplex the next weekend.
Bob Jones is now 5-0 in Area 15 play after a 3-0 win over Austin on Wednesday night in a makeup game from a Tuesday night rainout. Overall, the Lady Patriots are 35-11 and still ranked third in the latest ASWA poll.
The Lady Patriots have been busy the last two weekends as they hosted a tournament and travelled to Fayetteville, Tennessee for another tournament. They played six games on Saturday at each tournament.
“Our girls are tired so the rainout actually helped us get a days rest before the area game tonight,” said head coach Kent Chambers. “The schedule is set up so we have some off days coming up.”
The team will be off each Saturday until the playoffs start. They have road trips to Hazel Green for a non-area game and to Florence to wrap up area play next Tuesday.
Abby Guest had one of her most dominating games of the season against Austin as she pitched a seven-inning one hitter. She allowed an infield single in the third inning and struck out 8.
Alyssa Worden continued her hot hitting as she had 2 hits, 2 RBI’s, and a run scored. Brianna Sullivan started the game with a single and came around to score. Sydney Booker had a double and scored a run to round out Bob Jones scoring.
“It’s a process and goal one was to win the area to host the area tournament,” Chambers said. “So we’ve reached our first goal.”
The good news for Chambers was that shortstop Brianna Sullivan was back in the lineup after missing some games with a minor injury. Sullivan, a senior, has scheduled a scholarship signing ceremony at the school next Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Two key players missed the Austin game. Pitcher Annabelle Smith and outfielder Amy Carden still have some nagging injuries but should be back soon according to Chambers.
Allie Stocking is the team leader in batting average and in RBI’s. Stocking is batting around .450. The team has hit only six home runs this season. Rebekah Duvall had a home run in a game last week.
“We don’t play for the home runs,” Chambers said. “We play to hit the ball hard on line drives.”
Briana Sullivan’s signing next week will be the fourth player to sign a softball scholarship to play in college. Sullivan reportedly will sign with UA Huntsville.
UAH currently has no softball players from Bob Jones but does have 3 players who prepped at Sparkman High School.
UAH came up just one game short of winning a national championship in the NCAA Division II Softball National Championship Tournament in 2011.
