North Alabama teams fall out of winners bracket in Oxford
Fyffe, Bob Jones, Plainview, Athens and Hazel Green all lost Friday, but the title chances are still alive for some.
Posted: May 21, 2021 9:38 PM
Updated: May 21, 2021 10:54 PM
Posted By: Max Cohan
Plenty of blue maps were still up for grabs on Friday morning. Several North Alabama teams tried to stay out of the losers’ bracket, while those already in tried to claw their way to the title game.
In 7A play, Bob Jones was just a win away from a championship game as they squared off with Fairhope. Unfortunately for the Patriots, Pirates’ pitcher Alea Johnson had other plans. The LSU commit tossed a no-hitter, striking out 17 as Fairhope dominated Bob Jones, 6-0.
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
MONTGOMERY The fourth-ranked Springville softball team opened up its Class 6A East Central Regional run on Wednesday afternoon with an extra innings win over Gardendale, as freshman Bella Bullington knocked the walk-off home run to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The freshman’s timely shot sent her Tigers into the winner’s bracket with a 2-1 victory over the Rockets.
Springville first baseman Bella Bullington steps up to the plate during an East Central Regional game on May 12, 2021.
Photo by Erik Harris
Her only hit finished Springville’s first game in Lagoon Park with six total hits, matching Gardendale’s output.
By Erik Harris, sports editor
High school softball season has officially kicked into postseason gear as area tournaments have begun for many teams. From this point on, the wins and losses only get bigger.
This week, several local squads will vie for regional tournament spots, which will go to the champion and runner-up of each area tournament. Area brackets will unfold under a double elimination format with two wins resulting in an area championship game berth and a guaranteed spot in next week’s regional action.
See local area tournament breakdowns below.
Clay-Chalkville first baseman Camberlan Brown looks in a throw during a home game.
A pair of local softball teams secured key area wins on Tuesday night
See game recaps below.
The Hewitt-Trussville softball team saw the ball well on Tuesday night.
Senior shortstop Jenna Lord smacked two grand slams and the No. 1-ranked Huskies tore past Vestavia Hills 18-8 in six innings.
As a team, the Huskies (33-2-1, 4-1) finished with six home runs, 12 hits and 17 RBIs in 28 at-bats. The girls also drew 11 walks and struck out only once in the dominant Class 7A, Area 6 victory.
Lord was joined by Kenleigh Cahalan, Anyce Harvey, Crystal Maze and Katelyn Murphy in the home runs club. Harvey finished with two hits, two RBIs and five runs scored and Cahalan added a pair of RBIs and three runs scored on Tuesday.