Sparkman sweeps Bob Jones; wins Area 15 race
Kelsie Daniels of Sparkman connects for a hit against Bob Jones
MADISON- Wednesday afternoon in a game delayed a day due to weather, Sparkman took their first step to what many believe will be another state championship. The Senators blasted Bob Jones 11-0 in five innings to close out the area schedule. The win clinches the regular season area race and Sparkman finished in first place and will host the area tournament next Thursday and Friday, May 1 and 2. Buckhorn and Hazel Green finished in second and third place with Bob Jones last.
Kailey Stoker did most of the damage for Sparkman as the freshman slammed a two run home run in the third inning to build the lead to 6-0. On the mound she two-hit Bob Jones through four innings before being relieved by Paige Bannerman who worked a 3 up 3 down fifth.
The win means Sparkman can play their way to the Northwest Regional at home unlike last year when Buckhorn won the regular season area title and hosted.
Sparkman coach Dale Palmer isn’t taking anyone for granted.
“Any team in our area can beat any other team on any given day. All it takes is getting a little momentum,” Palmer said. “If we play the way we are capable of playing, we can beat everybody. The last two or three games we haven’t played that way but today we played pretty well.”
It was Bob Jones who played sloppy in the field. One unofficial scorer recorded six errors for the Patriots. Alex Brown started for Bob Jones at pitcher and gave way to Annabelle Smith in the top of the third trailing 6-0. A variety of fielding errors and a bases clearing double by Bevia Robinson helped Sparkman put five on the board in the fourth to put the game out of reach.
Palmer held out starting pitcher Sam Mayhall as he sets his rotation for a weekend tournament at Hoover.
“Sam has won 20, Paige has won 8, and Kaily has won 22,” Palmer said. “Sam will pitch one game at Hoover and Monday to start Senior night and she will have two days off (before the area tournament).”
Stoker has come on this season and picked up where Jana Korak left off last season for Sparkman. Korak graduated after being named MVP in the State Tournament.
“She’s a good player. She throws four different pitches, all for strikes when she needs to,” Palmer said.
Sparkman is lead by a core group of six seniors who have been a part of two straight state championships. All six have signed to play in college next year. But if Sparkman can three-peat they would be the first team to win three in a row in Alabama high school since fast pitch became an official sport in 1996.
“We are just taking it one game at a time,” said catcher Taylor Hurford. “If we get there, we get there. If not, it’s been a great few years. I’m pretty confident, I love my team and I believe we can do it.”
Another senior, infielder Jordan Bullock echoed those thoughts.
“It would be great but I’m not really thinking about it right now. I just want to get better with the rest of the team.”
Among the seniors, Bullock has signed with Jacksonville State, Mayhall and Hurford have signed with Martin Methodist. Ariel Smith has signed with Alabama A&M, Bevia Robinson has signed with PensacolaState, and Morgan Bailey with CalhounCommunity College. .
