Another classic
- Updated: April 29, 2024
In another showdown of pitcher-catcher batteries, Piedmont prevails over Weaver 3-1 for Class 3A, Area 10 title. Both teams advance to regional.
Area softball tournament results/pairings
Class 6A, Area 12
At Choccolocco Park
FRIDAY, April 26
Oxford 14, Gadsden City 1
Pell City 15, Clay-Chalkville 0
Pell City 15, Oxford 4
SATURDAY, April 27
Clay-Chalkville 29, Gadsden City 16
Oxford 21, Clay-Chalkville 2
Finals: Pell City 7, Oxford 3
Class 5A, Area 10
At Alexandria
MONDAY, April 29
Central-Clay 2, Lincoln 1
Alexandria 15, Central-Clay 0
TUESDAY, April 30
Central-Clay 12, Lincoln 7
Finals: Alexandria vs. Central-Clay, 6:30 p.m.
If necessary, 8:30 p.m.
Class 5A, Area 13
At Southside
SATURDAY, April 27
Southside 5, Douglas 1
Boaz 7, Sardis 4
Douglas 4, Sardis 3
MONDAY, April 29
Southside 12, Boaz 0
Boaz 15, Douglas 0
TUESDAY, April 30
Finals: Southside 6, Boaz 1
Class 4A, Area 8
At Handley
TUESDAY, April 30
Munford 13, Talladega 0
Handley 15, Munford 0
Talladega 16, Munford 1
Finals: Handley 15, Munford 0
Class 4A, Area 10
At White Plains
MONDAY, April 29
Jacksonville 16, Cleburne County 1
White Plains 23, Anniston 2
Anniston 7, Cleburne County 3
White Plains 11, Jacksonville 0
TUESDAY, April 30
Jacksonville 16, Anniston 2
Finals: White Plains vs. Jacksonville, 6 p.m.
If necessary, 7:30 p.m.
Class 4A, Area 12
At Cherokee County
SATURDAY, April 27
Cherokee County 1, Ashville 0
Oneonta 3, Etowah 2
Ashville 10 Etowah 1
Oneonta 3, Cherokee County 1
MONDAY, April 29
Cherokee County 5, Ashville 0
Cherokee County 8, Oneonta 0
Cherokee County 4, Oneonta 1
Class 3A, Area 7
At Beulah
FRIDAY, April 26
Randolph County 5, Dadeville 4
Randolph County 3, Beulah 1
SATURDAY, April 27
Beulah 13, Dadeville 3
Finals: Randolph County 10, Beulah 2
Class 3A, Area 10
At Piedmont
SATURDAY, April 27
Piedmont 11, Saks 1
Weaver 12, Wellborn 2
Wellborn 25, Saks 12
Piedmont 1, Weaver 0
MONDAY, April 29
Weaver 9, Wellborn 0
Finals: Piedmont 3, Weaver 1
Class 3A, Area 11
At Hokes Bluff
FRIDAY, April 26
Glencoe 13, Ohatchee 1
SATURDAY, April 27
Hokes Bluff 3, Glencoe 1
Glencoe 12, Ohatchee 11
MONDAY, April 29
Hokes Bluff 10, Glencoe 0
Class 2A, Area 9
At Pleasant Valley
MONDAY, April 29
Woodland 4, Ranburne 1
Pleasant Valley 15, Woodland 0
Woodland 7, Ranburne 0
Pleasant Valley 15, Woodland 0
Class 1A, Area 7
At Wadley
TUESDAY, April 30
Lochapoka vs. Notasulga, 9:45 a.m.
Wadley vs. Lochapoka/Notasulga, 11:15 a.m.
Elimination bracket, 12:45 p.m.
Finals, 2 p.m.
If necessary, TBD
Class 1A, Area 11
At Spring Garden
FRIDAY, April 26
Spring Garden 17, Faith Christian 1
Cedar Bluff 10, Jacksonville Christian 0
Jacksonville Christian 12, Faith Christian 2
TUESDAY, April 30
Spring Garden 6, Cedar Bluff 2
Jacksonville Christian vs. Cedar Bluff, 5 p.m.
Finals: Spring Garden vs. TBD, 6:30 p.m.
If necessary, 8 p.m.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
PIEDMONT — Rachel Smith might one day use one of those new communication devices with her catcher.
As long as Piedmont’s has Savannah Smith pitching and Cacey Brothers catching, no need.
Faced with another likely low-scoring showdown with Weaver’s battery of Kynlee Fulmer and Peyton Marvasty in Monday’s Class 3A, Area 10 final, Smith and Brothers dialed up the game they needed for Piedmont to win 3-1 and clinched their third consecutive area title.
Both Piedmont (21-9) and Weaver (19-9) advanced to the East Regional at Albertville’s Sand Mountain Park. Both will play May 8 at 10:45 a.m. against opponents to be determined.
Both will go to regional having been tested in area.
“I knew we were going to get Weaver’s best effort,” Rachel Smith said. “They put forth a great effort. Very scrappy bunch, and they were doing some things pitching wise that were keeping us off-balance.”
Piedmont and Weaver played a classic winners’ bracket game Saturday. Savannah Smith pitched a four-hitter and won 1-0 against Fulmer, who pitched a three-hitter.
The Bearcats have won 12 of their past 15 games under first-year coach Andy Fulmer, Kynlee’s dad who’s best known for leading Weaver’s wrestling program to three consecutive state titles. Weaver’s strong stretch included a 7-2 victory over Piedmont at home April 18, the answer to a 10-0 loss to Piedmont on March 7.
The evolution of their scores through the season foretold an area-final showdown.
“Just a ton of growth from these girls from the beginning,” Andy Fulmer said. “Things were a little rough in the beginning. We were 0-3, and these girls have just battled. They’re bought in. They love one another.
“The mentality totally changed when we got into area play with them.”
The area finals were likely to be another pitchers’ duel, and that it was. Kynlee Fulmer allowed five hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts in seven innings. Savannah Smith, the tournament’s most valuable player, pitched a four-hitter with nine strikeouts to prevent an if-necessary second game.
As for how Savannah Smith and catcher Brothers approached it, well, that’s their department.
“Our pitcher and catcher, they’ve been locked in this week,” Rachel Smith said. “Cacey and Savannah, I can’t credit them enough for the work that they do as a battery.
“It’s all on them. The pitch calling, everything. They’re a very good team.”
Savannah Smith is a senior, four-year starter and Jacksonville State University signee. Brothers is a junior and third-year starter who spent a lot of time last summer catching bullpens for the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league’s Smash It Sports Vipers, who played their 2023 season in Oxford.
So, what was their approach in a game with little margin for error?
“They’re a pretty good hitting team,” Savannah Smith said. “Today, I was just working on hitting my spots. That’s something I didn’t do when they beat us.”
Of 95 pitches, she pitched 66 strikes. Kynlee Fulmer pitched 67 strikes in 115 pitches.
Weaver got on the board first when all-tournament pick McKennah Homesley singled home Anna Shirvinski in the second inning, Shirvinski singled to reach base and reached second base on a passed ball.
Piedmont broke through with a three-run fifth featuring Eliza Mathis’ RBI single, Cayla Brothers’ sacrifice bunt to plate and run and Savannah Smith’s RBI single.
It was all the offense Piedmont would need in a game of dominant pitchers working with veteran catchers.
Brothers “did a really good job,” Savannah Smith said. “There were so many plays where she was just so heads up. Somebody would run just out of the middle of nowhere. I wouldn’t even be paying attention, and it would just go right over my head.”
As for Weaver, Andy Fulmer sees lots to like about his team as it returns to Albertville for the second consecutive year.
“These girls, they’re warriors,” he said. “I love them. I’m proud of them. I told them I was proud.
“They went to war for 14 inning (including Saturday’s game) against one of the best teams in 3A, and they just laid it on the line. They have so much guts, so much heart, so much grit. That’s my crew right there.”
CLASS 1A-3A ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP: Savannah Smith, Piedmont.
Piedmont: Carson Young, Cayla Brothers, Cacey Brothers.
Weaver: Kynlee Fulmer, McKennah Homesley, Peyton Marvasty.
Wellborn: Destiny Benefield, Jordan Hunt.
Saks: A.J. Twymon.
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