Sparkman, Bob Jones advance to softball regionals
HUNTSVILLE – Sparkman’s softball team reserved a seat in the regional tournament, buying its ticket at the Class 7A, Area 7 tournament at Huntsville High School.
The Lady Senators came out of the elimination bracket to force the host Lady Panthers into a second game in the championship round before falling short. However, Sparkman’s second-place finish was good enough to earn a spot in the North Regional.
“Back-to-back to back games, especially in that intense situation, kind of just drained them a little bit,’’ Lady Senators head coach Macie West said of her team. “But that’s the, the beauty of the postseason–you don’t get breaks.’’
Monday, Sparkman plays Hewitt-Trussville and Huntsville plays Vestvia Hills in Albertville at the East Regional. Both games are at 9:45. Winners and losers will play a second game at 3:15.
“Our girls are a very talented group,’’ Morris said. “I think they could go toe to toe with anybody as far as our offensive matchups.’’
Meanwhile, Bob Jones advanced to the North Regional as 7A, Area 8 runner-up and will play Thompson, while area winner Austin plays Hewitt-Trussville. Both games are set for 9 a.m. Winners and losers will play again at 1:45 p.m.
- 7A, Area 7 tournament
Huntsville 14, Sparkman 2: Raychel Harmon had three hits and an RBI for the Lady Senators. Caylee Cowan, Emma Harwood and Jillian McClure all homered in a 15-hit attack by host Huntsville. All three had three RBIs.
Sparkman 10, Huntsville 9: Chaia Betts, Krimson Phillips and Maggie VanDewynckel all had two hits and two RBIs as Sparkman forced a second game in the championship round.
Sparkman 8, Grissom 7: In an elimination game, the Lady Senators got a two-run double by Hardin, a double and and three RBIs by Harmon. Caitlyn Pollard got the win and Bella Mayfield the save.
Huntsville 12, Sparkman 2 (5 innings): Mayfield had two hits in the loss. Amya Duster went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored for the Lady Panthers.
Sparkman 8, Grissom 1: Harmon went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Pollard went the distance for the win.
- Class 7A, Area 8
Austin 7, Bob Jones 1: In Decatur, the host Lady Black Bears claimed the championship behind three hits and three RBIs by Charlie Barnes.
Bob Jones 4, James Clemens 3: Carson Horton hit a three-run home run in the top of the first in an elimination game. Winning pitcher Ja’leiyah Johnson gave up four hits, struck out four and walked none as James Clemens was eliminated..
Austin 6, James Clemens 5: Arden Breedlove hit a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh. The Lady Jets got a two-run homer by Makaila Lee.
Bob Jones 12, Florence 1: Horton went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Laney Dollar tripled androve in four runs on a triple and single and Nahlani Simpson tripled among two hits with two RBIs.
James Clemens 5, Bob Jones 1: Pitcher Preslee Etheridge got the win behind a two-run double by Lee.
Austin 14 , Florence 6: Khalila Mason hit a three-run, inside the park homer in the first inning. She also had an RBI-single.
