Softball heats up; Sparkman, Bob Jones wrap up area play
Janna Korak
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
HARVEST- The playoffs can’t start soon enough for the Bob Jones softball team. The Patriots finished Area 15 play 0-6 after dropping an 8-2 game to Sparkman on Tuesday night April 23.
Buckhorn had already wrapped up first place in Class 6A, Area 15 and will host the tournament May 2 and 3. Buckhorn will play Bob Jones in the first game and Sparkman will face Hazel Green. It is double elimination and two team’s season will end and two will advance to the NW Regional.
Sparkman coach Dale Palmer knows any team can get hot and go deep in the playoffs no matter what they did in the regular season.
“Any two teams can come out of the area,” Palmer said. “Buckhorn beat Bob Jones by 1 run. Hazel Green could get hot and beat us. Anything can happen. But I feel confident where we’re at. We don’t have that dominating pitcher but we have three or four really good pitchers.”
Senior Jana Korak is one of Sparkman’s top pitchers. She dominated Bob Jones as she pitched a complete game with five strikeouts. She is one of three returning all-state players along with Jordan Bullock and Bevia Robinson.
“After the second inning she was hitting her spots. Our pitching has to give the fielders a chance to make plays,” Palmer said.
Korak has been clocked in the 60 mph range all season.
Sam Mayhall leads the staff in wins. Meg Willis leads the team in home runs and has been swinging a hot bat. Her double off the fence plated a run to put Sparkman up 7-2 against Bob Jones.
Jordan Bullock had three RBI’s including a two run single in the first inning. Bullock and Bevia Robinson are the table-setters for Sparkman.
“We’re making some changes to the lineup to get more offense,” Palmer said.
One priority is having his top players healthy and fresh going into tournament time.
Korak battled shoulder and back injuries last season and was still the MVP in the state championship tournament. She was the winning pitcher in three of Sparkman’s four victories including the championship game against Vestavia Hills.
Palmer needs Korak and Willis to get hot at the same time “so teams can’t walk one to get to the next one. It puts opponents in a tough spot if we can do that.”
Bob Jones has not been able to right the ship since their first area game against Buckhorn when they were leading 5-3 going into the seventh inning. The pitching faltered and Buckhorn scored 11 runs in the seventh inning and went on to win 14-5.
Now, the Patriots are missing a key player. Sydney Booker has missed the last two games after she felt sick during a game in the Florence tournament and had to come out.
