Bob Jones plays long ball in softball season home opener
Annabelle Smith stands in against Cullman
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- The Bob Jones softball team got their regular season underway at home Tuesday night with a back and forth game against Cullman. Cullman put up a five spot in the top of the seventh to take a 7-4 win.
Bob Jones trailed most of the game but rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Cheyenne Beacraft legged out a single and McKenna Ray belted a double to left. Mikayla Jones then had the big blow, a three run home run to put the Patriots up 3-2. Hits by Avie Gooch and Emily Duncan plated another run.
Annabelle Smith held Cullman to 2 runs in six innings but couldn’t hold the lead and a two base error by centerfielder Lamesha Russell allowed Cullman to score two runs. Alex Brown relieved but Cullman went on the take a 7-4 lead. Olivia Schwaiger made the runs hold up for Cullman as she pitched a complete game, striking out Gooch with the bases loaded to end the game.
Head Coach Kent Chambers is high on the young players that have moved up to the varsity including Jones who hit the three-run home run.
“She is a sophomore with a lot of potential,” Chambers said of Jones. “We have got a good group of young players to go with our seniors. Mikayla has been hitting the ball well at practice so we know she can hit. She turned on that inside pitch.”
Bob Jones has eight seniors.
Chambers is most concerned about consistency. The Patriots played three exhibition games last weekend and “had one bad inning in each game. And we are getting a lot of base runners on and not getting them in. We’ve got to hit with runners in scoring position,” Chambers said.
“We are still trying to figure out who needs to be in the lineup,” Chambers said. “We’re playing a lot of people; we still don’t have all our positions nailed down yet. It’s early, what matters is to be playing our best in April.”
Among the positions still being contested are second base, shortstop, center and right field.
Annabelle Smith is the top starting pitcher with Alex Brown and Aubri James following her. “They have done a great job,” Chambers said of the pitchers.
Madi Duthu is getting a look at shortstop. Lemesha Russell and Sydney Fiddler are competing for centerfield. Mikayla Jones and Kaylee Rose are working at second base.
Among the every-game starters are Sydney Booker at third base, Alyssa Worden catcher, Avey Gooch at first base and Emily Duncan in left field.
Sydney Booker
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
Bob Jones hosts Hoover on Thursday before going to Auburn for a tournament over the weekend.
The first area game is at home Tuesday March 4 against Hazel Green at 4:30. Then the next area game will be at Buckhorn the following Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Bob Jones will travel to James Clemens on Thursday, March 13 for the Breast Cancer Awareness Game. First pitch is 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 1 Bob Jones hosts two-time defending state champion Sparkman in another area game.
The Bob Jones Tournament at Palmer Park will be the weekend of April 3-5.
