Sparkman downs James Clemens 13-7 on Alumni Night

by Mike Easterling for the Record

HARVEST — Tuesday night was one of celebration at Sparkman High School’s softball field.

Before a Class 7A, Area 8 game with James Clemens, the Senators honored their 2006 state championship team on Alumni Night.

“They established the culture of being a winner,’’ Sparkman coach Dale Palmer said of the first of his six state title teams. “Talk about words like dedication, teamwork and commitment — they brought those terms to life every day. Since then the kids have tried to live up to that.’’

A moment of silence was held for 2006 star shortstop Emily Daye, who died in a 2012 car crash, and the father of Buckhorn junior Zoie Emrick. Her father died Monday.

Later, the current Senators took an early lead en route to a 13-7 victory over the Jets.

Sparkman’s Lily Calvert blasted a 3 run home run in the first inning off Jets starter Maddie McKeon after hits by TJ Wester and Mackenzie Nutt.

James Clemens bounced back to tie the game on Shelby Booker’s three-run double in the top of the second.

Sparkman surged ahead 6-3 in the bottom of the second and went up 9-4 in the fourth. James Clemens got solo home runs from Maddie Chaffin and Aubrey Little to pull within 12-7 in the sixth.

“They made more plays than we did,’’ Jets coach Travis Barnes said.

For Sparkman, still ranked #1 in Class 7A, Kailey Stoker pitched 5 innings and Lily Calvert came in to pitch the final 2 innings.

Sparkman (27-3 overall, 4-0 area) was led by Calvert, who threw a one-hitter in a 2-1 win over the Jets last week, who finished with three hits and five RBIs. TJ Webster was 3-for-3.

Booker had three hits for the Jets (16-10, 1-3).