Weekend warriors
- Updated: March 12, 2023
After rough start to the week, Munford rallies from elimination bracket to win Talladega County tournament, break Lincoln’s eight-year hold on title
By East Alabama Sports Today
LINCOLN — Munford suffered a perfect game to start the week then came out of the elimination bracket to break Lincoln’s eight-year grip on Talladega County high school softball supremacy.
Pitcher Khloe Shears led the way as the Lions came through seven games in two days, including five on Saturday, and fought their way out of the elimination bracket to win the county tournament.
Munford beat Lincoln 10-4 and 11-4 In the championship round to clinch it.
The victory came four days after Oxford pitcher Berkley Mooney pitched a perfect game against Munford.
“Winning this championship is a sweet feeling for our kids,” Munford coach Darrell Smith said. “Lincoln has won this thing eight years in a row.
“Coming into today, we had only played three games all year. So we were not battle tested. Oxford come in and thumped us 5-0 Tuesday. Since then, our kids set their focus on winning the county tournament.”
Munford lost its tourney opener to Sylacauga 1-0 Friday despite Shears pitching a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts.
The Lions rebounded to beat Winterboro 17-0 and reach Saturday. Emma Gaither pitched a complete game.
On Saturday, Munfird defeated B.B. Comer 7-0. Shears and Gaither combined for the shutout. Kastin Lathem and Chloe Pickett had three hits apiece.
Shears got the win and Gaither the save as Munford beat Fayetteville 8-0. Lathem and Pickett each went 3-for-4.
Shears got the win and Brooklyn Pressley the save in a 13-2 rout of Childersburg, which put the Lions in the final round against Lincoln. They broken open a 4-4 game in the top of the seventh, and Shears finished off a complete game.
Munford trailed the winner-take-all game 3-2, but Lathem, Pickett and Twyla Marlow each went 3-for-4. Shears pitched four innings, and Pressley, an eighth-grader, finished off an 11-4 victory.
Cover photo: Munford celebrates after winning five games Saturday to clinch the Talladega County tournament title. (Submitted photo)
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