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Jemison and Verbena opened up their quest in the 2017 Chilton County Softball Tournament on March 16 with a pool play matchup.

After the Red Devils jumped out to a commanding lead early, the Panthers crept back into the game and won in extra innings.

It was a methodical performance by the Panthers who trailed 4-1 after the first inning, but continued to close the gap with a run in the second inning and two in the fourth to tie the game at 4-all.

“The dugout was kind of quiet [after first inning], but our team has so much heart, that we brought ourselves back up,” Jemison junior Hannah Rose Corbin said. “We’ve definitely matured a lot and our seniors have really taken the wheel.”

Due to games in pool play using a time limit, the game was forced into extra innings entering the sixth.

According to the rule, Verbena was allowed to have a runner on second base to start the inning.

That base runner later came around to score on a wild pitch that sailed to the backstop and gave Verbena back the lead.

However, Jemison was also allowed to begin the bottom half of the inning with a runner on second base and one-upped the Red Devils with a pair of runs to clinch the victory.

“Every inning we had base runners on, and we thought that if we got that one hit, it could get the momentum back in our favor,” Jemison head coach Nathan Hayes said. “It was a heck of a game. Verbena made us earn every single thing.”

Corbin came in relief for starting pitcher Kennise Bolton in the second inning after a rocky start. Corbin finished with 11 strikeouts over five innings.

“I felt that she throws a little bit faster, and that maybe it would take Verbena some time to adjust to that speed,” Hayes said.

According to Hayes, the last thing you want is extended innings when trailing during a timed game. Quick innings are the key to any chance of a rally.

Freshman Jenae Pierce got the start for Verbena and pitched a complete game that included 20 first pitch strikes.