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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Chilton County area high school softball teams took care of business in their respective area tournaments with six teams punching their tickets to the Central Regional Tournaments in Montgomery.

Chilton County and Maplesville High Schools both defended their home field to win their area tournaments while Billingsley, Isabella, Jemison and Thorsby took their spots in the regionals with runner-up finishes.

The double-elimination regional tournaments will be played on May 5-8 with the winning and runner-up teams advancing to the state tournaments. All Chilton County area teams will be in the Central Regional Tournaments at Lagoon Park.

 

AHSAA Class 1A Area 7 Tournament at Maplesville High School

Maplesville defeated Verbena High School in the first round of the tournament 14-4 behind 16 hits. Hannah Crowe went 3-for-3 with a home run and five RBIs to lead the Red Devils, followed by Kamylia Talley and Auburn Bassett with three hits each. Kennedy Reed controlled the circle throwing five innings with seven hits, four runs (two earned) and two strikeouts.

Verbena bounced back and stayed alive in the tournament with a 13-1 win over Billingsley, outhitting the Bears 13-5. Adie Tubbs threw a solid five innings for Verbena with five hits, one unearned run and two strikeouts while Kiara Ray led the way at the plate going 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Shelby Grant and Shelbie Adams each had two RBIs for Verbena as well.

This set up a win-or-go-home matchup between Billingsley and Verbena to see who would advance to the tournament final and regional tournament. The Bears held a slim 4-3 lead in the sixth inning but posted four runs in the frame to win. Claire Seamon was 3-for-4 for Billingsley and Sadie Primm & Harmony Arnold added two RBIs each.

Maplesville dominated the final over Billingsley winning 12-0 to claim the championship. The Red Devils outhit Billingsley 13-2 with Crowe knocking another home run and recording six RBIs. Talley was 4-for-4 with two RBIs and Mollie Kayte Smith was 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and two RBIs. Smith also manned the circle for the final giving up just two hits in five innings with two strikeouts.

Billingsley and Maplesville both advanced to the Class 1A Central Regional in Montgomery at Lagoon Park from May 7-8.

 

AHSAA Class 6A Area 5 Tournament at Chilton County High School

CCHS made easy work with the Class 6A Area 5 tournament, starting with a 11-3 win over Calera High School in the first round to advance to the regionals. The Tigers outhit Calera 12-4 and were powered by home runs from Kaylee Dunn and Macey Pierce, and Pierce was 4-for-4. Avree Williams added a 3-for-3 effort with a double, and Dunn shut down Calera in the circle, throwing a complete seven innings with four hits, three runs and eight strikeouts.

Calera got back to the final to face the Tigers, but it was the Mallie Harrison show for CCHS. Harrison threw a complete game surrendering only two hits while striking out four batters. She also launched a home run in her 3-for-3 effort at the plate along with three RBIs.

Chilton County advances to the Class 6A Central Regional in Montgomery at Lagoon Park from May 7-8 as the No. 1 seed. The Tigers are slated to play the No. 8 seed Spain Park High School on May 7 at 9 a.m.

 

AHSAA Class 2A Area 7 Tournament at Horseshoe Bend High School

Isabella got the tournament started off well with a 15-0 win over Central of Coosa County High School in the first round. Maleigha Mcgalliard threw a three-inning no-hitter with three strikeouts while Eliza Lovett went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs and Natalie Smitherman went 2-for-2 with three RBIs.

The Mustangs lost to the hosts Horseshoe Bend High School 15-0 to set up another matchup with Central Coosa, this time a spot in the regionals on the line. Central led 6-4 going into the sixth inning, but Isabella erupted for 11 runs in the inning to blow the game open. Lovett led the way with a 4-for-4 effort with four RBIs.

Isabella lost 14-0 to Horseshoe Bend in the tournament final but still advanced to the Class 2A Central Regional in Montgomery at Lagoon Park from May 5-6. The Mustangs are the No. 8 seed and are slated to play the No. 1 seed Highland Home High School on May 5 at 9 a.m.

 

AHSAA Class 3A Area 8 Tournament at Childersburg High School

Thorsby got its area tournament started with a dominating performance over B.B. Comer High School winning 14-0. Brooklyn Reeser was 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs, Kadence Parker had an inside-the-park home run and five RBIs and Tamara Hinton posted three RBIs.

Thorsby lost a close one to Childersburg High School 3-2 with Reeser going 3-for-3 with a double, but the Rebels claimed their regional spot the next game beating Comer 16-1. Hinton and Raygan Linville each drove in four runs and Addison Wood was 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. Hinton controlled the circle for four innings with three hits and four strikeouts.

Thorsby lost 11-5 to Childersburg in the tournament final but still advanced to the Class 3A Central Regional in Montgomery at Lagoon Park from May 5-6. The Rebels are the No. 5 seed and are slated to play the No. 4 seed Lee-Scott Academy on May 5 at 9 a.m.

 

AHSAA Class 5A Area 7 Tournament at Demopolis High School

Jemison made a statement in the first round of the tournament defeating Montevallo High School 8-0 led by Hannah Popwell with seven innings in the circle giving up four hits while striking out five batters. Popwell and Arabella Lack were each 3-for-4 with an RBI at the plate, followed by Abby Pate and Makinzi Eggers with two RBIs each.

Jemison lost to Demopolis High School 17-2 to set up a win-or-go-home rematch with Montevallo for a spot in the regionals. The game sat tied entering the sixth inning, but the Panthers put up three runs in the bottom half of the inning to win the game behind an RBI single from Haley Sanchez and a two-RBI single from Popwell.

Jemison lost 15-5 to Demopolis in the tournament final but still advanced to the Class 5A Central Regional in Montgomery at Lagoon Park from May 5-6. The Panthers are the No. 8 seed and are slated to play the No. 1 seed Holtville High School on May 5 at 10:45 a.m.