Local softball roundup, Feb. 23-28
Here’s a look at the softball action from around Franklin County last week:
Monday, Feb. 23
Phil Campbell 12, Covenant Christian 2
The Lady Bobcats eased past Covenant Christian to start their week after putting up crooked numbers in the first three innings of the game and then adding a solo run in the bottom of the fourth to give them the necessary 10-runs to end the game in the fifth. Shiloh Madden, Madison Baker, and Addi James all had two RBIs each and four PCHS players scored multiple runs. In the circle, James overpowered the Lady Eagles, allowing two runs (neither earned) on two hits and striking out five.
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Haleyville 6, Tharptown 2
Shoals Christian 16, Vina 6
Russellville 10, Florence 4
Down 4-2 going into the sixth inning, the Russellville Lady Golden Tigers used a huge eight-run sixth inning to sink Class 7A Florence to start their week. There were more errors (13) than hits (9) in the game and that was the story in this one. Of Russellville’s 10 runs only two were earned and of Florence’s four runs just one was earned. Taitum Bishop did have a solid outing in the circle for RHS, tossing a complete game and striking out 11 Lady Falcons. Bishop also had two RBIs, as did catcher Erin Grimes.
Phil Campbell 12, Winston County 2
Chandler Benford had a day at the plate for the Bobcats on Tuesday, accounting for five of his team’s 12 runs, including a game-high four RBIs. Phil Campbell, which outhit Winston County 13-4, put up crooked numbers in all but the first inning to eventually run-rule WCHS in six innings. Three straight RBI singles in the top of the sixth proved to be decisive in the shortening of the game. Isaac Duboise received the win after pitching three scoreless innings and striking out four batters.
Wednesday, February 25
Russellville 8, Hatton 1
Russellville took care of business at home against Hatton in the midweek game, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings and finishing strong with a four-run fifth inning. Taitum Bishop, coming off her win over Florence the previous day, picked up another one after hurling three scoreless innings. She was relieved by Kaylee Suggs who finished out the final four innings. At the plate, Sadie Odom had a solid day with a clutch three-run double, as did Alexia Groce and Bishop who both smashed home runs.
Thursday, Feb. 26
Tharptown 10, Cherokee 0
Cadence Kennedy pitched a nearly perfect game in Tharptown’s shutout win over the Cherokee Lady Indians. Allowing just one walk, Kennedy didn’t allow a hit and struck out 10 batters over the course of five innings. She also had a solid day at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Lexi Little and Gabi Johnson led with two hits each and Allie Gann scored a team-high two runs.
Friday, Feb. 27
Vina 11, Covenant Christian 7
After falling behind 6-0 in the bottom of the first inning, the Lady Red Devils responded by scoring 10 unanswered runs in the second through fifth innings. In the circle for Vina was Lana Bell, who, after taking a beating early, finished the rest of the game strong. Bell tossed all seven innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking three. Harleigh Ridge was Vina’s top producer at the dish, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. Three Lady Red Devils scored two runs and Braxtynn Quinn had two RBIs.
Red Bay 11, Covenant Christian 4
Russellville 12, Mars Hill 0
Russellville’s Taitum Bishop continued her solid week in the circle with a double-digit strikeout performance over four shutout innings against Mars Hill on Friday. Allowing just two hits, Bishop recorded 10 strikeouts in the circle to go along with her one hit and RBI at the plate. Leadoff batter Ticelee Gholston and second baseman Sadie Odom also performed well in the blowout win, both batting a perfect 3-for-3. Odom and Sappington, who went 2-for-3, led the team with three RBIs each.
Red Bay 8, Tremont 7
Tied 6-6 after three innings of play, Red Bay plated two runs in the fourth and final inning and then held on to eke out a win over Tremont. The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first thanks to RBIs from Kyla Blackburn, Emma Blackburn, and Lexi Medina. However, Tremont was able to cut into the lead and then tie the game up with a four-run bottom of the third. In the top of the fourth, RBHS retook the lead on a go-ahead, two-run double by Mikayela Jackson to make it 8-6. In the bottom half, pitcher Hadley Griffin, who tossed all four innings, allowed one run but staved off a complete Tremont comeback to earn the win. Griffin finished with three strikeouts and allowed four earned runs off five hits.
Saturday, Feb. 28
Tishimingo County 10, Vina 0
Phil Campbell 11, Covenant Christian 10
Phil Campbell trailed 10-9 after an explosive first two innings by both squads, but it was the Lady Bobcats who ended up with just a little more in the tank. PCHS scored solo runs in the third and fourth innings to tie and then win on a walk-off RBI single by Addi James that scored Mckenzie Kratz. Amyah Hamilton earned the win in the circle after coming in in relief of Shiloh Madden for the final two innings.
Vina 6, Oakman 1
A five-run third inning proved more than enough for Vina to claim victory in a five-inning contest against Oakman. After drawing two walks to start the third, Vina scored its first run on a dropped third strike. An RBI double by Kenzie Elrod made it 2-0, Lana Bell stole home to make it 3-0 and then Braxtynn Quinn’s RBI single make it 4-0. Vina rounded out the scoring in the inning thanks to an Oakman error. The Lady Red Devils’ sixth and final run came in the next inning on a groundout RBI by Bell. In the circle, Bell received the win; she allowed just two Oakman hits and the one run allowed was unearned.
Russellville 10, Brooks 7
Tharptown 5, Berry 0
The Lady Wildcats shutout the home team Berry in the four-inning contest. Cadence Kennedy led the way towards the shutout with another solid performance in the circle, allowing just two hits. Aided by three Berry errors, Tharptown scored its five runs on three hits. Alyssa Fischer, Gabi Johnson, and Sophie Waldrep were credited with RBIs.
Belmont 6, Phil Campbell 0
Cordova 6, Tharptown 3
Corinth 8, Vina 1
Tharptown 4, Lynn 3
Tishimingo County 8, Phil Campbell 4
Tharptown 7, Cordova 6
The Lady Wildcats scored all seven of their runs in the first inning of the two-inning game. Alyssa Fischer finished with two hits and an RBI for THS and Lexi Little collected two RBIs on a double. Cadence Kennedy was in the circle and pitched both innings, allowing two runs in the first and four in the second, doing enough to hold off Cordova in the end.