Staff Reports
WHITE PLAINS – Playing a tough schedule is finally beginning to pay off for the Cherokee County Lady Warrior softball team.
The Lady Warriors won the Class 4A, Area 9 tournament at White Plains on Saturday. They defeated the host Lady Wildcats in the championship game 2-0 behind pitcher Emma Hill, who scattered four hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
“It’s a great feeling bringing back an area championship to Cherokee County High School,” head coach Brad Weaver said. “These players and coaches have worked extremely hard this year and have earned this title. We have had an insanely hard schedule this year, but I really think it has helped us play better in the postseason.
“Our fan base has been with us for every step in this journey and I would like to thank all of them for their endless support as well as helping us achieve our goal as area champs. I hope we will have a huge crowd in Albertville for regionals this year, especially since we will be playing much closer to home than we have in years past.”
As Weaver said, Cherokee County takes on the Class 4A, Area 13 runner-up on Tuesday, May 10 at 12:45 p.m. in the East Regional at Albertville’s Sand Mountain Park.
Against White Plains in the championship game on Saturday, Anna Walker led the Lady Warriors at the plate by going 2-for-3. Carson Coley doubled and scored a run. Grayson Tucker contributed a hit and a RBI. Audrey Haygood and Macy Lea both added a hit. Abby Lea drove in a run. Hill and Lanie Williams both drew a walk.
Cherokee County also defeated White Plains and Jacksonville on Friday night to earn its spot in Saturday’s title game.
In Friday’s 6-1 victory over White Plains, Hill struck out 12 batters and gave up an earned run on nine hits with a walk. She also doubled, singled, walked and drove in a run.
Williams doubled twice and drove in a run. Walker doubled, scored a run and had a RBI. Tucker tallied a single and a run. Raechel Russell singled, scored a run and drove in another. Coley walked, scored a run and had a RBI. Haygood walked and scored a run. Abby Lea had a RBI. Samantha Stubbs scored a run.
In the Lady Warriors’ 5-2 tournament-opening win over Jacksonville on Friday, Cherokee County scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the win.
Tucker homered and drove in three runs. Walker added a pair of hits, including a double, and scored a run. Coley contributed two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Williams also had a pair of hits and drove in a run. Haygood and Macy Lea both had a single and scored a run. Hill and Abby Lea both finished with a single.
Hill earned the win in the circle after working all eight innings. She didn’t allow an earned run on five hits. She also walked two and struck out seven.