James Clemens, Sparkman going to state softball championship

James Clemens softball coach A.J. Daugherty with Katie McCarley and Emily Jacklin (Photo Contributed/Angie McCarley)

MADISON- James Clemens went undefeated in two games at the North Regional at the Huntsville Sportsplex and will be a top seed at the AHSAA softball championships held May 19-21 at Lagoon Park in Montgomery. A 3-1 win over Grissom earned the Jets their first ever trip to the softball championships, then a 3-0 win over Sparkman meant a #1 seed.

“Its great to be a part of. We have put in a lot of time and hours going back to the first team four years ago,” said Jets head softball coach A.J. Daugherty. “This senior class were freshmen when we opened the doors. All four seniors are key leaders and contributors. We just need to play Jets softball. Get good pitching performance, good defense, and timely hits.”

The Jets have played at a high level all season and that has continued in the post-season as they won four out of five games. They stayed in the winners bracket at both the area tournament and the regional.

“I don’t think we will get in the losers bracket but if we get our backs against the wall down there we are prepared for that. We’ve got two really good senior pitchers that we have a lot of confidence in.”

Senior Aubry James has done it with the bat and in the circle. She is a 20 game winner. Another senior, Emily Jacklin has 25 wins against only one loss this season.

Jacklin pitched a 1-hitter against Grissom with 11 strikeouts. Aubry James pitched a complete game shutout against Sparkman in the regional. James also drove home the wining runs in each game.

Other seniors are first base Katie McCarley and shortstop Caroline Payne.

Caroline Payne throws out a baserunner after fielding a grounder in Regional action (Photo by David Swager)

The Jets will open against Central-Phenix City on Friday May 20 at 12:00. Sparkman opens against Auburn.

“Baker is the defending champion but it comes back to us,” Daugherty said. “If we play like we are capable of and play to the standard we expect we will have a chance to beat anybody. All the teams will be good, you don’t get to this point and see slouches.”

If the Jets win a state championship it would be the first “blue map” trophy ever for the school.

Sparkman got a dominating pitching performance by Kailey Stoker against Grissom in a game they had to win to advance to Montgomery.

Buckhorn and Grissom saw their seasons end.