Sparkman wins two; can clinch Area 15 today
Ariel Smith smacks a hit against Bob Jones pitcher Alex Brown in Area 15 Tournament action
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
HARVEST- Sparkman is a win away from clinching their third straight Area 15 Championship. The Senators will get that chance today at 5 p.m. when they face whoever comes out of the loser’s bracket. All games are being played at Sparkman’s home field.
In Thursday’s action Buckhorn defeated Hazel Green in the first game. Then Sparkman defeated Bob Jones 11-1 in six innings. Then in a winner’s bracket late game that wasn’t over until after 10 p.m. Sparkman defeated Buckhorn 5-3.
Today, Bob Jones and Hazel Green play at 1 p.m. to keep their seasons going. The loser’s season ends. The winner plays Buckhorn and that winner plays Sparkman. Only the top two advance to the Northwest Regional next weekend.
Bob Jones got a first inning homerun from Sidney Booker for a brief 1-0 lead. With Alex Brown in the circle, the Bob Jones defense faltered in the second inning opening the flood gates as Sparkman plated seven runs. Haley Cope started the inning when her grounder got through the first baseman’s legs. Walks to Morgan Bailey and Kenzie Moore loaded the bases. Booker then mishandled a grounder and her throwing error allowed two runs to score. Hits by Ariel Smith and Kailey Stoker plated runs and Cope smacked a two-run double as the Senators batted around.
Alex Brown worked a scoreless third and fourth inning. She was relieved by Aubri James.
Sam Mayhall got the win for Sparkman.
Sparkman got the winning runs when Cope had a two run single and came around to score on a hit by Haley Moore.
Against Buckhorn it was more of the same. Haley Cope went 2 for 3, Jordan Bullock went 2 for 3 with 4 RBI’s including a double and a triple. Kailey Stoker went 2 for 3 with a home run and was the winning pitcher.
After the game Sparkman’s six seniors were honored because the Senior Night game was rained out on Monday.
The seniors have been a part of two state championship teams and are now leading the way as Sparkman marches to many believe will be a third.
“We are taking it one game at a time but I am making the most of what’s left,” Jordan Bullock said. She is one of the seniors.
“I’ve got, at most, two more weekend in this uniform and don’t doubt for a second that I won’t be giving it everything I have. These have been the greatest four years of my life.”
The other seniors are Ariel Smith, Sam Mayhall, Morgan Bailey, Bevia Robinson, and Taylor Hurford.
