White Plains, AL – White Plains’ home-run power shows through again as Wildcats reach county tourney’s championship around, await Alexandria-Piedmont winner; Piedmont’s Smith gets 200th win
By Joe Medley
“The Middle” is a sitcom about family life in flyover country, but the middle of White Plains’ order is no joke.
They’re turning the fence into flyover county in the Calhoun County tournament.
Leighton Arnold hit three home runs during Wednesday’s action, and Callie Richardson hit another as the fourth-seeded Wildcats beat top seed Piedmont 7-0 and No. 3 Alexandria 7-4 to reach Thursday’s final round.
Under first-year coach Tiffany Williams, White Plains (17-8) reaches the final day of the county tournament unbeaten, needing only to beat the elimination-bracket survivor once on Jacksonville State’s University Field to win the double-elimination tournament.
“From last year, this is a big comeback for us,” Arnold said. “I think last year we had an opportunity, and I think this year is probably one of our better opportunities.
“I think we’re in the right position, and we should be here.”
The middle of White Plains’ order is key. Arnold bats third, followed Richardson and Cassidy Arnold. All have home-run power, and lead-off hitter Hallie Williams and No. 2 Cooper Martin get on base ahead of them.
“They’re very strong,” Williams said. “We’re all happy and thankful that we have them on our team, and we depend on them.
“Everybody in the lineup has been a big part.”
Arnold, Haylie Smith and Karli Otwell homered during White Plains’ comeback from a 6-0 deficit to beat Pleasant Valley 7-6 on Tuesday. Arnold swung the biggest stick Wednesday, including a two-run shot in White Plains’ 3-run first inning and two homers against Alexandria.
Richardson also homered against Alexandria.
Having home run power in front of her and behind her in the lineup “is great, honestly,” Richardson said. “I don’t have to worry about all of the pressure being on me. I can trust my other players.”
All three also pitch, and Leighton Arnold pitched two-hitter with five strikeouts against Piedmont on Wednesday.
ALEXANDRIA: The Valley Cubs beat Oxford 3-1 before falling to White Plains 7-4 on Wednesday.
Leadoff hitter Jill Cockrell was one of the day’s stars for the Valley Cubs, going 3-for-3 with a double, run and two RBIs against Oxford. She hit a solo home run against White Plains.
Pressley Slaton got the win against Oxford, pitching a one-hitter with four strikeouts and three walks in five innings.
The Valley Cubs have won the past four county titles, in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. There was no county tournament in 2020 because of COVID-19.
They’ll have to win three games Thursday at JSU to do it again, but Alexandria coach Brian Hess said winning county is a point of pride for his team.
“The girls that have been here the longest are motivated,” he said. “It’s just trying to get some of these kids that’s never been a part of it motivated. I don’t think they really know what they’re dealing with it.
“Some of them, it’s their first county tournament to participate in, and the moment has gotten to them a little bit. Just trying to work through it and get a little better every game.”
PIEDMONT: The Bulldogs got through Tuesday with a 1-0 victory over Jacksonville then fell into the elimination bracket Wednesday with a 7-0 loss to White Plains. Message from Piedmont coach Rachel Smith?
Awaken the bats.
“Our pitchers were throwing really well, and we’ve been able to escape because our pitchers were throwing one-hit shutouts and shutouts,” she said. “Your pitchers can’t continue to make those kinds of appearances over and over again. Eventually, they’re going to have a day where people hit the ball, and we hadn’t been hitting the ball.
“That showed up in Game 1.”
Piedmont answered with two victories in the elimination bracket … 20-0 over Weaver and 8-3 over Oxford. Those victories marked the 199th and 200th of Smith’s career, and her players presented her a 200th-win commemorative ball after the Oxford game.
‘They were in like a huddle hiding something,” Smith said. “I thought they were going to give somebody a birthday spanking or something. I had no idea what that was.”
Piedmont will play Alexandria on Thursday at 4 p.m. at JSU. The winner advances to the double-elimination tourney’s championship round against White Plains.
2023 Calhoun County softball tournament
Tuesday
Woodland Park
Double elimination
First round
No. 7 Weaver 1. No. 10 Jacksonville Christian 0
No. 6 Ohatchee 17, No. 11 Saks 0
No. 4 White Plains 19, No. 13 Anniston 1
No. 5 Pleasant Valley 18, No. 12 Faith Christian 0
No. 8 Jacksonville 9, No. 9 Wellborn 4
Winners’ bracket
No. 2 Oxford 4, Weaver 1
No. 3 Alexandria 8, Ohatchee 1
White Plains 7, Pleasant Valley 6
No. 1 Piedmont 1, Jacksonville 0
Elimination bracket
Anniston 24, Faith Christian 2
Ohatchee 14, Anniston 1
Weaver 13, Wellborn 0
Pleasant Valley 22, JCA 5
Jacksonville 15, Saks 0
Wednesday
Woodland Park
Winners’ bracket semifinals
Alexandria 3, Oxford 1
White Plains 7, Piedmont 0
Winners’ bracket final
White Plains 7, Alexandria 4
Elimination bracket
Weaver 3, Ohatchee 0
Pleasant Valley 6, Jacksonville 3
Piedmont 20, Weaver 0
Oxford 5, Pleasant Valley 1
Piedmont 8, Oxford 3
Thursday
Jacksonville State University
Elimination bracket final
Piedmont vs. Alexandria, 4 p.m.
Championship
White Plains vs. TBD, 6 p.m.
If-necessary game, 8 p.m.
