Area softball
- Updated: May 3, 2023
Pleasant Valley’s seventh-inning rally just enough to hold off Woodland for area title; Alexandria extends streak of regional appearances with rout of Lincoln
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 6, Woodland 5
Pleasant Valley 15, Woodland 13
By East Alabama Sports Today
PLEASANT VALLEY — Most valuable player Lily Henry’s three-run double keyed Pleasant Valley’s five-run seventh inning, and the Raiders staved off Woodland’s five-run charge in the bottom of the inning to win 15=13 and complete a Class 2A, Area 9 tournament championship.
Pleasant Valley (17-13) and Woodland (21-13) advanced to next week’s East Regional at Albertville.
The host Raiders opened the three-team area tournament with a 15-7 loss to Woodland on Monday but stayed alive by elimination Ranburne 18-3.
They had to beat Woodland twice Tuesday to win the double-elimination tournament and did. Rebekah Gannaway’s walk-off double keyed a 6-5 Pleasant Valley victory in Tuesday’s first game with Woodland, and the Raiders survived a slugfest to win the title.
They led 10-4 going into the bottom of the sixth, but Woodland scored four runs to draw within 10-8.
Henry’s double in the top of the seventh gave Pleasant Valley a 13-8 cushion, but the Raiders would need more. Gracee Ward’s RBI single made it 14-8 and turned out to be the game-winner, as Woodland rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seveth.
Gannaway homered twice in the decisive second game and drove in four runs. Henry’s two hits, including a double, came with four RBIs.
Ward went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, and Madyson Cromer went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Kaleigh Crenshaw led Woodland with a home run, double and two RBIs. McKenzie McCormick delivered a double and two RBIs, and Taylor Wilson had two hits and two RBIs.
All-tournament team
Ranburne: Blair Forsyth, Gabi Benefield, Jayla Stewart.
Woodland: Juliana Lovvorn, McKenzie McCormick, Kaleigh Crenshaw, Leah Williamson.
Pleasant Valley: Macey Roper, Rebekah Gannaway, Madyson Cromer, Haylie Lee, Lily Henry (MVP).
Class 5A, Area 12
At Alexandria
Tuesday
Lincoln 4, Central-Clay 2
Alexandria 13, Lincoln 1
Thursday
Central-Clay vs. Lincoln, 4 p.m.
Finals
Alexandria vs. Central-Clay/Lincoln, 6 and 8 p.m.
ALEXANDRIA 13, LINCOLN 1: Host Alexandria (24-18) made quick work of Lincoln on Tuesday to reach the final and extend the Valley Cubs’ streak of regional appearances.
Alexandria will play the Central-Clay-Lincoln winner in Thursday area finals but has already clinched an appearance in next week’s East Regional at Albertville. The Valley Cubs had reached the regional 22 years in a row, covering the program’s fast-pitch era.
Alexandria won state titles Class 4A in 2004 and 2014 and finished as Class 5A runner up in 2022.
The Valley Cubs, who roared for four home runs and 23 runs in their regular-season finale against Pleasant Valley, got 15 hits Tuesday. Pressley Slaton homered and doubled while going 3-for-3 with four RBIs.
Slaton also pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Charlee Parris went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs, and Brenlee Sparks went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run.
Allyssa Hunt had a double among her two hits and two RBIs, and Lauren Weber had a double and RBI.
Christian Hess drove in two runs while going 2-for-3.
Class 3A, Area 11
At Hokes Bluff
Monday
Glencoe 11, Ohatchee 2
Glencoe 7, Hokes Bluff 4
Tuesday
Hokes Bluff 12, Ohatchee 5
Finals
Glencoe 15, Hokes Bluff 9
HOKES BLUFF 12, OHATCHEE 5: Ohatchee’s Alyssa Davis homered and drove in two runs in her final high school game, and Hannah Fitch doubled and drove in a run in her prep finale. Ohatchee finished 16-20.
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