OXFORD Springville is one win away from its fifth state softball championship.
Three straight comeback wins on Friday in the first day of Class 6A state tournament action has put the fourth-ranked Tigers (39-10) in the championship series on Saturday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford. Their opponent will be either Helena, Mortimer Jordan or Hazel Green.
Springville senior Reagan Cornelius delivers a pitch during a state tournament win over Saraland on May 21, 2021.
Photo by Ron Burkett
Springville, following a championship run through the East Central Regional last week, started its state tournament climb with a 10-3 win over Saraland on Friday morning. Head coach Brandon Easterwood’s club then notched two winner’s bracket victories over top-ranked Athens and No. 6 Hazel Green.
By Erik Harris, sports editor
OXFORD Two-out rallies made the difference for Springville on Friday morning in the first round of the Class 6A state softball tournament.
The Tigers (37-10) shoved in six of their runs with two outs on, junior Makalyn Kyser smacked two home runs, senior Reagan Cornelius pitched four-plus shutout innings of relief and Springville started up its tournament run with a 10-3 victory over Saraland.
Springville junior Tori Barnes connects with a hit during a state tournament game against Saraland on May 21, 2021.
Photo by Ron Burkett
After the Spartans jumped out front with three runs in the top of the first, Kyser and company rebounded with 10 unanswered to stretch things out of reach. The East Central Regional champions pushed two across in the bottom of the first, one in the third, four in the fourth and three more in the sixth.