Live updates
- Updated: May 10, 2023
Oxford, Piedmont, Pleasant Valley and Spring Garden active in East Regional softball. Oxford’s semifinal baseball series against Cullman is postponed to Thursday/Friday.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
Rain and lightning forced postponement Oxford’s Class 6A semifinal baseball series with Cullman. They’ll play a Thursday doubleheader, at 5 and 7 p.m., at Oxford High School’s Bud McCarty Field. The if-necessary Game 3 would be Friday at 5 p.m.
Lightning forced a delay before Wednesday’s Game 1 started. Heavy rain followed and forced postponement.
East Regional softball
CLASS 2A
PLEASANT VALLEY CLINCHES: Lily Henry shook off her Tuesday struggles in the circle to pitch a complete game, spreading out six hits with three strikeouts, and the Raiders advanced to the state tournament as the East Regional’s No. 1 Class 2A qualifier.
Henry also hit a triple and RBI double, going 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs on the day.
Leadoff hitter Macey Roper delivered two hits and scored two runs, and Haylie Lee tripled and scored a run.
“We’ve been talking all week about David and Goliath,” Pleasant Valley coach David Bryant said. “We focused on the faith that David had. He did not know going in how it would turn out. He had to walk by faith, and he had to pick up the stones and sling them.
“We had faith and slung the stones this week. Our kids competed and pulled together. We had so many great moments and players step up today. Lily did an outstanding job in the circle, and our defense made plays. We had a huge double play when it was 3-1.”
CLASS 6A
OXFORD SWEEPS: Oxford (29-10) breezed through day one at the East Regional to earn a berth in Thursday’s 12:15 p.m. winners’ bracket final against Area 12 rival Pell City.
The Yellow Jackets scored eight runs apiece in the second and fourth innings while dispatching Minor 18-1 in the first round. They pounded out 14 hits, with inside-the-park home runs from Justice Woods and Adajiah Wilson. Wilson drove in four runs and Woods two.
Ashlyn Burns hit two triples and drove in two runs.
Emma Aderholdt, Berkley Mooney and Emma Tims-Becerra each hit a double.
Kaelyn Crossley pitched a four-hitter with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Oxford advanced to the winners’ bracket and beat Mountain Brook 7-3. Mooney pitched a complete game, allowing 10 hits and seven walks but striking out 13 batters.
Crossley had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Wilson also had two hits and an RBI, and Burns added her third triple of the day.
“Great team effort,” Oxford coach Wendy McKibbin said. “We hit well.”
CLASS 3A
FINAL: Plainview beats Piedmont 4-0 in winners’ bracket final to qualify for state tournament. Piedmont will play Glencoe at 4:45 p.m., with winner claiming other state qualifying spot.
PIEDMONT-GLENCOE
B2: Piedmont leads 2-0. Play stopped for lightning, will resume Thursday at 1 p.m.
CLASS 1A
–Spring Garden vs. Skyline, 1:45 p.m.
FINAL: Skyline wins 15-0. Spring Garden will play the Ragland-Cedar Bluff winner for a state-tourney berth at 4:45 p.m.
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