Bears post 38 runs in doubleheader sweep of Autaugaville

Published 9:14 am Friday, March 31, 2023

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Billingsley High School made a statement in AHSAA Class 1A Area 6 softball play on March 30 sweeping a double header over Autaugaville High School. The Bears ended both games early in three innings.

“Any time you get a win, no matter who you are playing or what it is, it is good for morale and good for everything,” Billingsley coach Tyler Kelley said. “There were a few things we did not so well, but overall, it is always good to win.”

Billingsley won game one 20-7 behind 12 hits as a team and earning 15 walks. Eight of the nine batters had a hit. Yasmine Averhart led the way going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Four of the Bears’ eight first inning runs were scored via walks, and Brylin Tomin had a triple in the inning. Billingsley had a monster inning in the second with 12 runs, and Sadie Primm and Caydin Hornady each picked up an RBI in the inning.

In the circle, Ada Willis controlled the game for the Bears, throwing three innings and giving up seven runs (four earned) and striking out six hitters.

The two wins on the day got Billingsley back to .500 on the season overall, and back to .500 in Area 6 play after two losses to Verbena and Maplesville high schools earlier in the season.

“We are doing okay,” Kelley said. “We need a little more consistency on the rubber and at the plate, but I think the more games we play that will come, and I think things are on the right track.”

In game two, the Bears carried over their momentum from game one and cruised to a 18-3 win. Billingsley bettered their game one total of hits posting 14 in game two. The second inning was again very prosperous for the Bears producing 12 runs in the frame again to blow the game wide open.

Tomlin had a home run and four RBIs to lead the way, and Willis went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Needing two runs in the third inning to end the game, Kelsy Smitherman knocked a two-RBI double to center field to end it. Madison Chandler and Primm had two hits each, and Primm was the winning pitcher, throwing three innings and giving up two hits and striking eight hitters out.

“Like we did today, we cannot play according to what our competition is and play to our standard,” Kelley said. “If we play a team that is a high-level team, that is the only time that we change our level of play, and we elevate it. That is the biggest thing I want to see them do (the rest of the season).”

Billingsley steps out of area play and hosts Isabella High School on April 4 at 6 p.m. in their next matchup.