Area softball
- Updated: May 1, 2023
Piedmont bats keep on rolling in victory over Saks; Wellborn gets out to lead, answers Weaver challenges to earn shot at Piedmont; Ohatchee, PV still alive
Class 3A, Area 10
At Piedmont
Monday
Piedmont 10, Saks 0
Wellborn 7, Weaver 5
Weaver 16, Saks 3
Tuesday
Winners’ bracket
Piedmont vs. Wellborn, 4 p.m.
Weaver vs. Piedmont/Wellborn, 5:30 p.m.
Final round, 7 and 8:30 p.m.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
PIEDMONT — Calhoun County champion Piedmont reignited its offensive groove just before area-tournament play, and the Bulldogs grooved on in Monday’s tourney opener.
Jenna Calvert’s two-run double touched off an eight-run rally in the third inning, and host Piedmont went on to beat Saks 10-0 in five innings in Class 3A, Area 10 action.
The Bulldogs advanced to Tuesday’s winners’ bracket final against Wellborn, which beat Weaver 7-5 later Monday.
Piedmont continued a roll that kicked in while winning three games in the Hokes Bluff pre-area tournament at Gadsden City over the weekend. One weekend prior to that, Piedmont lost four games in the Albertville pre-area tourney.
“I feel like we’ve come together a lot, especially in this tournament we just played this weekend,” Calvert said. “We started coming alive with the bats. We had struggled a lot with the bats, but we came alive this weekend.”
Piedmont’s eight-run third broke open a scoreless game.
The rally featured Calvert’s two-run double, Savannah Smith’s two-run single, Armoni Perry’s RBI double, Jaycee Glover sacrifice fly for an RBI, Emma Grace Todd’s infield single to score a run and another run resulting from a rundown.
The Bulldogs added two runs in the fourth.
“We got to the second time through, and we got some barrels on the ball,” Piedmont coach Rachel Smith said. “Even the first time through, we hit the ball solid but right at people.”
Todd had two hits, and Piedmont got a hit apiece from the first five batters in the order. Calvert, Smith and Jaycee Glover each had two RBIs.
That meant a comfortable day in the circle for Carson Young, who pitched a five-inning no-hitter.
“It was just a good, clean ballgame,” Rachel Smith said.
WELLBORN 7, WEAVER 5: Wellborn led throughout but had to answer a challenge, after Weaver closed to within 3-2 in the fifth inning.
“We came back (to the dugout), and we were like, ‘Naw, we’re not going to let that happen,’” Wellborn pitcher Autumn Parsons said.
The answer was Wellborn’s four-run rally in the top of the sixth. Destiny Benefield, Jaylyn Chattin and Jordan Hunt had back-to-back-to-back singles, and Kyra Tirban followed with a double. The rally started when leadoff hitter Cassidy Gray reached as a hit batsman.
Benefield went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Chattin and Hunt had two hits apiece, and Parsons drive in two runs.
Parsons pitched the first five innings, and Benefield worked the final two to finish the job.
“That was a lot of fun,” Wellborn coach Brenda Vinson said. “They played really well together. We got into some pressure-cooker situations and started stepping up and calling time and talking to one another.
“It was a really good team win.”
WEAVER 16, SAKS 3: Weaver’s softball team rewards game accomplishments with a tiara, and Peyton Marvasty wore it proudly after the Bearcats beat Saks to move within one victory of clinching an East Regional berth Monday.
That the tiara came with her first home run of the season? So much the better.
Marvasty’s home run and Kynlee Fulmer’s two-hitter highlighted Weaver’s rebound game after falling to Wellborn. Weaver will play the Piedmont-Wellborn loser for an East Regional berth Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
The survivor also moves on to the area final at 7 p.m.
“It’s all business tomorrow,” Weaver coach Gary Atchley said. “One of us is going, and one of us is done.”
Weaver found its groove against Saks with a run in the third inning. Then came three in the fourth, six in the fifth and four in the sixth.
Marvasty’s home run was part of the Bearcats’ six-run fifth.
“It felt good,” Marvasty said, tiara shining atop her head. “I looked right at my dad (Justin), because we work every single day. Even after practice and off days, we go outside and work. It all paid off.”
Marvasty wore the team tiara for the first time this season.
“Normally, I have a pinch runner run for me, so I don’t really score,” she said.
Weaver had several strong plate performances against Saks. Jadyn Smith with 3-for-3 with two doubles, five runs and two RBIs. Kinley Marvasty went 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs, and Annaliese Shirvinski went 3-for-5 with a double, run and five RBIs.
In the circle, Fulmer struck out six batters and gave up earned runs. Her two-hitter came less than a week after she threw a no-hitter against Jacksonville Christian.
“It was tough, at times, but it’s really paid off, everything we’ve done this season,” said Fulmer, daughter to Weaver assistant coach Andy Fulmer. “I can’t thank anybody else but my dad. He’s really pushed me, even when I thought I was at my limits.”
Class 3A, Area 11
At Hokes Bluff
Monday
Glencoe 11, Ohatchee 2
Glencoe 7, Hokes Bluff 4
Tuesday
Ohatchee vs. Hokes Bluff, 4:30 p.m.
Finals
Glencoe vs. Ohatchee/Hokes Bluff, 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.
GLENCOE TO FINALS: At Hokes Bluff, Glencoe’s Summer Crump pitched a three-hitter against Ohatchee, and Abigail Bunt, Hailey Hanners and Aubrey Maxwell had three hits apiece. Hanners had two doubles and drove in five runs, and Maxwell had three RBIs.
Ohatchee’s Savannah Reaves, Mackenzie Luna and Tabi Davidson had a single apiece. Luna and Davidson each had an RBI.
Against Hokes Bluff, Cayse Willett and Emma Hyfield homered. Hyfield had three RBIs, and Willett had one.
Class 2A, Area 9
At Pleasant Valley
Monday
Woodland 11, Ranburne 0
Woodland 15, Pleasant Valley 7
Pleasant Valley 18, Ranburne 3
Tuesday
Finals
Pleasant Valley vs. Woodland, 5 and 7 p.m.
PV REBOUNDS: At Pleasant Valley, Madyson Cromer hit home runs in back-to-back at bats against Ranburne, and Haylie Lee homered to help power Pleasant Valley’s rebound after falling to Woodland.
The Raiders had 21 hits against Ranburne. Cromer and Gracee Ward had four apiece, and Cromer drove in five runs. Lee had three hits and three RBIs.
Macey Roper, Sydney Beason, Emma Harvey and Alexa Cranmer had two hits apiece. Harvey and Beason each hit a double.
Cover photo: Piedmont’s Cacey Brothers makes a diving catch against Saks during Monday’s Class 3A, Area 10 tourney action at Piedmont. (Photo by Jean Blackstone)
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