Softball season ends for Bob Jones and James Clemens
HARVEST- Bob Jones and James Clemens softball teams came to the area tournament hoping for an upset to propel them into the playoffs. It didn’t happen.
Combined, they went 1-4 at the area tournament and both will miss the playoffs. Bob Jones has not advanced to the North Regional since 2014. James Clemens went all the way to the AHSAA Softball Championships last year.
Bob Jones lost to Sparkman 13-10 then 6-5 to James Clemens Wednesday morning. James Clemens lost to Buckhorn 2-0 Tuesday and 11-2 Wednesday.
Both teams had first year coaches and they struggled to find consistent pitching.
The losses were tough for Bob Jones coach Whitney Deaver. The Patriots led Sparkman twice by two runs but errors opened the door for Sparkman to build a big lead. Cassidy Duskin closed out the win for Sparkman.
Bob Jones was within one out of defeating James Clemens but Jordan McMeans hit a pitch from Hannah Pope over the fence that bounced off the top of the scoreboard for a walkoff win.
There were bright spots. Senior Nicole Buccierri hit a two run home run against Maddie McKeon to put Bob Jones up against James Clemens. Buccierri will play at West Alabama. Bob Jones seniors Emily Quick, Hunter Smart, and Hannah Pope played their last game.
“It’s a disappointing way to end the season,” Deaver said. “These girls worked hard and put themselves in a position to win and I made the wrong pitch call. Hannah pitched well, she deserved to win. She came out and gave it everything she had.
I’m proud of the way they fought in the area tournament. I want them to know we can win here. Losing in area is not going to become a tradition. We lose 4 seniors and we will miss them but we have a strong sophomore group coming back. We’ve got to work on everything this offseason”
Returning sophomores include shortstop Heather Phillips, pitcher Emma Jarrett, third baseman Erin Chambliss, and catcher Payton Ward.
James Clemens will lose the last of the team that led them to the cusp of a state championship last season. Seniors Shelby Booker (signed with UAH), Laura Lin Chaffin (Snead St.) and Mary Kate West played their last game.
Sparkman defeated Buckhorn to claim the area championship and a No. 1 seed in the North Regional
