Mixed bag for softball teams
- Updated: March 24, 2015
Alexandria wins twice, PV splits, Jacksonville swept
By East Alabama Sports Today
GULF SHORES — It was a mixed bag of success for the Calhoun County teams playing in their first day of the Gulf Coast Classic II on Monday.
Alexandria swept its two opponents, beating Winfield 15-1 and Athens 3-2; Pleasant Valley split its two games, beating Lee-Montgomery 5-0 and losing to North Jackson 2-1; and Jacksonville lost its two games, falling to Alabama Christian 5-0 in a perfect game and Oakman 8-0.
Alexandria 15, Winfield 1
Alexandria 3, Athens 2
Third baseman Alyssa Carrizales made a diving catch with the tying and winning runs in scoring position for the game’s final out to preserve the win over Athens and help Alexandria complete its sweep.
The Valley Cubs (11-6) rallied from an early 1-0 deficit with three runs in the third inning. Winning pitcher Lauren O’Dell drove in one of the runs with one of her two hits. Timberlynn Shurbutt drove in the other two.
Fifth-ranked Athens cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the third and threatened in the final inning – the fifth – before Carrizales made the defensive play of the game.
“We’re so young, that was finally the spark we were looking for,” Cubs coach Brian Hess said. “They’re a top team in 6A and for us to hold them was a … sign my young team has grown up a bit. That a stepping stone we can use for the rest of the season.”
The Cubs, who are just outside the 5A poll, completely dominated the third-ranked team in 3A in their first game. They batted around in each of the first two innings and everyone in the lineup scored at least one run.
O’Dell went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, Summer Watts went 3-for-3 and Shurubtt and Erin Farlow each had two hits and two RBIs.
North Jackson 2, Pleasant Valley 1
Pleasant Valley 5, Lee-Montgomery 0
The ninth-ranked Raiders (9-7) got two strong outings from their freshmen pitchers and split their two games in Sims Park.
Alisa St. John blanked Lee on four hits in the second game. Savannah Williams went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base, while Maddi Bentley and McKinley Parris each had a hit.
Anna Bryant was the tough-luck loser in the opener, giving up a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth after the Raiders tied the game in the top of the inning. Bryant drove in the tying run with a fielder’s choice.
“We didn’t hit the ball well today as we usually did, but our pitching and defense did well,” PV coach David Bryant said. “I was real pleased with our pitchers. They threw the ball well and our defense played well; that kept us in the game. Our hitting was off a little bit. If it comes around tomorrow with the pitching and defense like today hopefully we’ll have a good day.”
Alabama Christian 5, Jacksonville 0
Oakman 8, Jacksonville 0
The Golden Eagles had a tough day at the plate against their two ranked opponents.
ACA freshman Lacey Spear threw a perfect game at them with seven strikeouts, while they managed only three singles against Oakman.
“Our girls were hitting the ball, we were putting it in play, but they made some fantastic defensive plays,” Jacksonville coach C.J. Boyd said.
In the ACA game, Caitlyn Ryan was robbed on a diving catch in the outfield and Sierra Stone had a shot that was caught at the fence.
Spear threw 74 pitches in her gem. She went to three balls on only three hitters and never had two balls on a hitter after the first out in the third inning.
Pitcher Reagan Stallings had two of Jacksonville’s three hits in the second game. Essence Hutchinson had the other.
ACA entered the game ranked fourth in Class 5A. Oakman was ranked second in 3A.
MONDAY’S SOFTBALL LINESCORES
Alexandria 15, Winfield 1
Alexandria 690 — 15 12 3
Winfield 001 — 1 2 1
WP: Leighton Sparks. LP: Barrett. 2B: Timberlynn Shurbutt (A), Jessica Shaw (A); Gilmer (W).
Alexandria 3, Athens 2
Alexandria 003 00 — 3 8 2
Athens 101 00 — 2 5 0
WP: Lauren O’Dell. LP: Morris. 2B: Connon (A). HR: Hall (A)
Alabama Christian 5, Jacksonville 0
Alabama Christian 100 011 2 — 5 11 0
Jacksonville 000 000 0 — 0 0 3
WP: Lacey Spear. LP: Reagan Stallings. 2B: Schylur Edwards (A), Laura Nickolson (A).
Oakman 8, Jacksonville 0
Jacksonville 000 00 — 0 3 5
Oakman 310 4x — 8 7 1
WP: Lay. LP: Reagan Stallings. 2B: Madeline Custred (O), Autumn Custred (O).
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