Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

The Verbena High School softball team came into Class 1A Area 6 tournament the heavy favorite. They outscored Area 6 teams 67-0 in their four games and were on a mission to secure the top area seed in the state playoffs.

And they did just that, in a resounding way.

The Red Devils faced Autaugaville High School in the semifinals on May 2, and posted a massive first inning.  After a 1-2-3 inning from Madison Bryant, Jaycee Quinn got the hit parade started with a double that plated two runs. Kiara Ray and Bella Galloway each followed that with an RBI single to make it 4-0

Autaugaville issued 13 walks in the game, 11 of those in the first inning. Verbena made it 7-0 after scoring on a few wild pitches, and had the bases loaded again. Quinn stepped to the plate and hit an inside the park home run to make it 11-0. Emilee Hayes drew the last walk of the inning to score the 12th and final run of the first inning.

Quinn was 2-for-3 with six RBIs, and Hayes posted two RBIS and two walks.

Verbena added five more runs in the second inning, and the game was called after three innings.

Autaugaville beat Loachapoka 25-23 in the consolation bracket to advance to the area championship game on May 3.

The same fate awaited them by way of Verbena.

The Red Devils had a tamer first inning posting just two runs. Doubles by Jasmin Moates and Paris Battle each scored a run. It was the second inning in this game where Verbena posted a double-digit number in runs.

Four doubles in the inning scored four runs. Ray and Quinn added RBI triples to push the lead to 14-0 after two innings. Galloway laid down a bunt in the third inning to plate the 15th run and end the game.

Verbena allowed one hit to Autaugaville in the area tournament. Verbena will face the runner-up from Area 3 tournament in AHSAA Class 1A state softball tournament.