Staff Reports 

OXFORD — Cherokee County High School shortstop Audrey Haygood broke open a tie game with a line shot to center in the fourth inning to score a pair of runs. The ball was darted all the way to the fence as Haygood hustled around the bases to score. The Lady Warriors held on for a 5-4 win over Prattville Christian in the Class 4A state softball tournament on Monday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford.

The Lady Warriors will play top-ranked Orange Beach in winners bracket action at 3 p.m. Orange Beach defeated Curry 10-2 in other first-round action on Monday.

Prattville Christian took an early 1-0 lead on a solo home run to left field by Chloe Hollon. Cherokee County tied the game at 1 on a fielder’s choice at second off the bat of Lanie Williams. That scored Raechel Russell, who reached base on an infield single with one out.

The Lady Warriors took the lead for good with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, with Haygood delivering the big blow. Russell followed with a double to right and Abby Lea contributed a single to center that scored Russell for a 5-1 advantage.

Prattville Christian got a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, and a solo home run to left in the sixth by Kandice Crosby in the top of the sixth brought the score to 5-4, but Lady Warriors pitcher Emma Hill managed to get prevent another run from scoring.

Hill worked all seven innings. She gave up four earned runs on nine hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts. She was also 2-for-3 at the plate.

Abby Lea went 3-for-3 for the Lady Warriors. Bristol Bass delivered a hit and scored a run. Macy Lea also scored a run.

Sara Payton Schmidt had a pair of hits for Prattville Christian, including a double. She also scored a run. Saniyah Weaver was 2-for-4 with a RBI. Payson Hanson added a hit and a RBI.

Alivia Messick suffered the loss. She tossed six innings and gave up four earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.