Staff Reports
ALBERTVILLE — Spring Garden jumped out to a four-run first-inning lead and didn’t look back in taking an 11-4 victory over Cedar Bluff in a Class 1A East Softball Regional elimination game on Wednesday at Sand Mountain Park in Albertville.
The game ended Cedar Bluff’s season at 14-14.
“It’s tough playing a team that many times in a season,” Cedar Bluff coach Mandy Walker said, referring to the six times the two teams played this season. “I was proud of our girls for their fight. They came back alive (after the first inning), but we’ve just been on a roller coaster this season.”
The Lady Tigers were their own worst enemy in their final meeting with Spring Garden. They committed 10 errors.
”We talk about having a couple of innings to win the game, but we had a couple of innings with some errors right off the bat. They were able to jump out on us early and we could never find our groove to get back in the game.”
Addie Word led the Lady Panthers with three hits. She also scored twice and had a RBI. Helena Ingram added a pair of hits, including a triple, two runs and a RBI. Maggie Reedy also contributed two hits and drove in two runs.
Layla Ingram doubled, walked and scored three times. Lilly McCain managed a hit and a pair of walks. Olivia Law and Maggie Jarrett both finished with a hit.
Avery Steward earned the complete game win. She gave up two earned runs on 10 hits with two walks and eight strikeouts for the Lady Panthers, who advanced to face Ragland in another elimination game at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
Ciana Smith led Cedar Bluff at the plate with three hits, including a pair of doubles. She also had two RBIs.
Rylie Walker and Kylie Vadon both connected on a pair of hits and scored two runs apiece. Kaylyn Vadon had a hit and a walk. Kindal Grace and Za’Niya Kyle both finished with a hit. It was Kyle’s final game as a Lady Tiger.
”That’s the toughest part of it,” Coach Walker said. “She’s feeling it by herself. She’s a special kid and you can’t replace her.”
The Lady Tigers return the rest of their lineup next season, something that encourages Coach Walker moving forward.
“We had some seventh and eighth graders who experienced this and we’ve got a slew of 10th graders. If we just dial in we could be special the next couple of years.”