Staff Reports
SAND ROCK – Spring Garden’s Abbey Steward got the Lady Panthers’ softball season off to a strong start Thursday against Sand Rock. Steward tossed a no-hitter in a 5-1 victory to advance to the winners bracket in the Cherokee County Tournament on Thursday.
Steward allowed four walks and gave up an earned run with 10 strikeouts in six innings of work.
Neely Welsh led the Lady Panthers at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two runs and four RBIs. Maggie Jarrett was also 2-for-3 with a double. Avery Steward had a hit, a walk and scored a run. Abbey Steward contributed a hit and Bri Boles walked and scored a run.
Sherina Foster walked twice for the Lady Wildcats. Katelyn StClair walked and scored the Lady Wildcats’ lone run in the first inning. Aliyah King also drew a walk.
EllaGrace Hood suffered the loss. She worked six innings and gave up three earned runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
Spring Garden battles Cherokee County Friday at 3:30 p.m. Sand Rock takes on Cedar Bluff at 5 p.m.
Here is a roundup of Thursday’s other softball tournament action.
Cedar Bluff 15, Gaylesville 3
SAND ROCK – Cedar Bluff collected 16 hits, including home runs from Jordyn and Rylie Walker, in a 15-3 win over Gaylesville in the Cherokee County Softball Tournament opener.
Jordyn Walker went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Rylie Walker also doubled, scored a pair of runs and five RBIs. Harlie Nelson and Mattie Payne both went 3-for-4. Nelson scored twice. Payne drove in a run and scored another.
Reece Patterson doubled twice, scored two runs and drove in two. Natalie Baty also had a pair of hits, including a double, with a walk, three runs and two RBIs. Caitlin Slayton added a hit, a run and two RBIs. Haley Allen finished with a hit, a run and a RBI.
Baty picked up the win for the Lady Tigers, who advanced to face Cherokee County in other tournament action on Thursday.
Cherokee County 9, Cedar Bluff 3
SAND ROCK – Cherokee County scored nine runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 9-3 victory over Cedar Bluff.
Karlee Jolly homered and drove in two runs for the Lady Warriors. Abby Lea doubled, drove in a run and scored a run. Anna Walker added a hit, a run and two RBIs. Emma Hill had a hit, a walk, a run and a RBI. Audrey Haygood and Carson Coley both walked and scored a run.
Jordyn Walker and Allen led the Lady Tigers at the plate with a pair of hits. Allen also scored a run. Emma Haney doubled and scored a run. Nelson and Baty both had a hit and a RBI. Patterson walked twice. Payne walked and scored a run.
Lea earned the win. Patterson suffered the loss.
Sand Rock 15, Gaylesville 0
SAND ROCK – Sand Rock’s Jadyn Foster no-hit Gaylesville in three innings, and Sand Rock’s offense pounded out 11 hits in a 15-0 victory in the tournament nightcap on Thursday.
Jadyn Foster finished with 10 strikeouts. She also doubled, walked, scored two runs and drove in three. Hood homered, doubled, scored twice and drove in four runs.
Katelyn StClair collected three hits, two runs and a RBI. King and Rylin StClair both doubled. King also scored a run and had three RBIs. Rylin StClair scored twice and drove in a run.
Emma Sipsy and Lily Clanton both collected a hit, a run and a RBI. Sherina Foster had a hit and scored a run. Lacey Barnette walked twice and scored a pair of runs. Zoey Handy had a walk and scored a run.