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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Chilton County high school softball teams were able to beat the impending weather and get in both sets of pool play games for the 2024 Chilton County Softball Tournament on March 6-7 at Maplesville High School.

Pool play on March 6 saw Chilton County, Isabella and Maplesville high schools have their games moved from March 8 to avoid the rain, and the electricity started quickly with the Mustangs and Red Devils in game one of Pool B.

Isabella built a 5-0 lead and took that into the bottom of the fourth inning, but Maplesville posted five runs in the frame to tie the game. The next inning, as time exceeded 75 minutes, Maplesville’s Kennedy Reed slapped an RBI single to plate the winning run and give them the win 6-5. Reed was 3-for-3, and Mollie Kayte Smith hit a solo homer while striking out seven Isabella hitters.

Anna Johnson and Aliyah Patterson each had two hits to lead the Mustangs, and Johnson had two RBIS.

Maplesville showcased in game two as well, this time against Chilton County, and took an early 1-0 in the first inning. From there, it was all Tigers outhitting Maplesville 11-3 and sprinting to a 13-1 win in five innings.

Jaden McGee collected two of the three hits for the Red Devils and stole a base. Brianna Goggins and Macey Pierce each had three RBIs for CCHS, and Tyeshia Williams had a 3-for-3 effort with three singles.

Isabella and Chilton County closed out night one, and the Tigers carried over their momentum for a 12-0 win in five innings. Goggins was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, a double and a three-run homer that ended the game. Pierce was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a double, and Anna Cate Burnett contributed two RBIs. Ava Baugh struck out six Mustang batters in the circle for CCHS.

Jemison, Thorsby and Verbena high schools held Pool A on March 7, and the Panthers and Rebels got the day started. Thorsby opened the game with four runs, but Jemison cut the lead in half the next half inning. They cut it down again in the bottom of the third inning to 5-4, but Thorsby’s Makinley Turner roped a double to restore some breathing room with two runs in the top half of the fourth inning, Thorsby’s lone extra base hit in the game. The Rebels would go on to win in four innings after time restraints 7-4.

Brooklyn Reeser was the only Rebel with multiple hits going 2-for-3, and Addison Wood had two RBIs. Reeser threw four innings surrendering five hits, one run and striking out six batters.

Gracie Conway and Alyssa Hayes each had two RBIs to lead Jemison.

The Rebels utilized its back-to-back games and carried over momentum against Verbena to make it a pair of 7-4 wins in pool play. A pitcher’s duel between Verbena’s Jaycee Quinn and Turner saw the game stand at 1-0 in Thorsby’s favor after three innings. However, the Rebels got to Quinn for six runs across the fourth and fifth innings to earn the win. Quinn struck out eight batters.

Turner won the pitcher’s duel going five innings and giving up two hits, four runs (three earned) and striking out 12 hitters. Allie Reeser led Thorsby at the plate going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Quinn was 2-for-2 with a double and triple off of Turner.

Verbena and Jemison closed out pool play, and the Panthers jumped on the Red Devils early, cruising to a 13-6 win. Abby Pate was 2-for-3 with the four RBIs, and Olivia Gilliland and Conway had two RBIS each.

Quinn was 2-for-2 with a double, and Kiara Ray had two RBIs for Verbena.

The March 9 schedule is now set after pool play, and the games are slated to begin at 9 a.m. However, with rain in the forecast in the morning hours, the games may be pushed back depending on the weather.

2024 Chilton County Softball Tournament March 9 Schedule (tentative times)

Game 1: Jemison vs. Isabella at 9 a.m.

Game 2: Maplesville vs. Verbena at 11 a.m.

Game 3: Chilton County vs. G1 Winner at 1 p.m.

Game 4: Thorsby vs. G2 Winner at 3 p.m.

Game 5: Championship Game at 5 p.m.