Albertville, AL – Oxford takes top state-qualifying spot in 6A, and Piedmont clinches No. 2 spot in 3A; Alexandria, White Plains sweep way to winners’ bracket finals
Thursday was a big day for area teams playing in the East Regional tournament at Sand Mountain Park.
To sum things up, Oxford, Piedmont and Spring Garden added to the list of area teams to clinch state-tournament berths. Pleasant Valley clinched Wednesday.
Alexandria and White Plains each swept their Thursday games to reach winners’ bracket finals Friday morning. Both teams stand one victory away from clinching state berths.
As things stand, Calhoun County now has three 30-win teams, and Alexandria has 27 wins. Here’s a rundown:
Class 6A
OXFORD VS. PELL CITY
FINAL: Oxford wins 4-1, sweeps through East Regional to claim its top state qualifying spot for 6A.
OXFORD SWEEPS: The Yellow Jackets (30-10) beat Area 12 rival Pell City 4-1 on Thursday to complete a sweep of three regional games and clinch the East Regional’s top state-qualifying spot for Class 6A.
Oxford beat Minor 18-1 and Mountain Brook 7-3 on Wednesday.
Berkley Mooney, who rested instead of pitching in an area-final loss to Pell City, frustrated Pell City all day, allowing 11 hits but one run with four strikeouts and one walk.
Kenlee Rodgers and Reagan Sanders each had to hits and an RBI, and Rodgers’ day included a double. Justice Woods had a single, run and RBI.
“It was a total team effort,” Oxford coach Wendy McKibbin said. “They played for each other.”
Oxford will open state-tourney play against an opponent to be determined Thursday at 9 a.m. at Choccolocco Park.
Class 3A
PIEDMONT VS. GLENCOE
FINAL: Piedmont 2, Glencoe 0. Piedmont clinches third state-tourney berth in as many years.
PIEDMONT ADVANCES: The Bulldogs (38-15) finished off a 2-0 victory over over Glencoe. Weather forced suspension of play Wednesday, with Piedmont leading 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
The Bulldogs earned the East Regional’s second state-qualifying spot and will open play against an opponent to be determined Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. at Choccolocco Park.
Savannah Smith finished off a four-hitter against Glencoe after pitching a three-hitter in a 12-0 victory over the Yellow Jackets in Tuesday’s second round. She struck out six batters and walked one.
Jaycee Glover had Piedmont’s lone RBI. Armoni Perry and Cayla Brothers each had two hits, and Brothers had a triple.
“Very proud of our girls for coming through under pressure,” Piedmont coach Rachel Smith said. “You play the whole season (50 games plus), and the berth in a state tournament comes down to playing five clean innings. Our defense and pitching made the two runs we scored before the delay last night stand up.”
Class 5A
ALEXANDRIA VS. SARDIS
FINAL: Alexandria wins 13-1.
ALEXANDRIA VS. ST.CLAIR COUNTY
FINAL: Alexandria wins 6-4, will play Scottsboro in Friday’s 9 a.m. winners’ bracket final. Winner clinches a state berth.
ALEXANDRIA SWEEPS: The Valley Cubs (27-18) made it five consecutive wins Thursday, beating Sardis 13-1 and St. Clair County 6-4 to advance to Friday’s 9 a.m. winners’ bracket final against the Scottsboro.
Against St. Clair County, Clancy Bright had a single and two RBIs. Pressley Slaton had a double and RBI, and Allyssa Hunt singled and drove in a run. Charlee Parris hit a triple.
Slaton got the win, spreading out seven hits and giving up no earned runs with five strikeouts.
Against Sardis, Slaton had two hits, including a double, with three RBIs. Brenlee Sparks hit two triples and drove in two runs, and Christian Hess was 3-for-4 with a double, three runs and two RBIs.
Lauren Weber had two singles and three RBIs.
Slaton pitched a four-hitter with five strikeouts over five innings.
“I’m pleasantly surprised,” Alexandria coach Brian Hess said. “I’m proud of the way we played. We need to clean up some things defensively, but overall a great day. Hopefully, we will be able to carry it over to tomorrow.”
Class 4A
WHITE PLAINS VS. ETOWAH
FINAL: White Plains wins 5-3.
WHITE PLAINS VS. NORTH JACKSON
FINAL: White Plains wins 3-0, will play Madison County in Friday’s 9 a.m. winners’ bracket final.
WHITE PLAINS SWEEPS: The Wildcats (30-14) beat Etowah 5-3 and North Jackson 3-0 to advance to Friday’s 9 a.m. winners’ bracket final against Madison County.
Callie Richardson and Leighton Arnold combined to pitch a one-hitter against North Jackson. Richardson allowed one hit with four strikeouts and three walks through the first five innings, and Arnold worked the final two innings, allowing no hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
Richardson went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
Against Etowah, Arnold pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts. She allowed one earned run.
Richardson homered, hit a triple and drove in four runs. Arnold had two singles and an RBI.
“Today was a great day,” White Plains coach Tiffany Williams said. “Overall, we have come together as a team, played for each other and executed where we needed to. I am very proud of them.”
JACKSONVILLE VS. CHEROKEE COUNTY
FINAL: Jacksonville falls 9-7.
JACKSONVILLE VS. CORDOVA
FINAL: Jacksonville eliminated, 5-0.
Class 1A
FINAL: Spring Garden beats Cedar Bluff 5-4, earns state tourney berth. Panthers will play Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Choccolocco Park. [read more sports stories…]
