By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
SAND ROCK – The Sand Rock softball faithful vividly recall the countless heroics left-handed slap-hitting leadoff batter and center fielder Brylie St. Clair had a few years ago.
On Tuesday, a day in which Sand Rock honored St. Clair, current sophomore outfielder Maddie Clanton did her best impression of her at the plate.
Clanton came through in the clutch, delivering a two-out, walk-off single to right center to score Aubie Camp with the winning run in the Lady Wildcats’ 5-4 Class 2A, Area 13 victory over Cedar Bluff. It was Sand Rock’s first home win of the season.
“It was very special knowing that I did that for her,” Clanton said. “I was very nervous, but I knew I had to hit the ball for my team and win it for them.”
Clanton finished the game going 2-for-3. She also doubled to left and scored in the bottom of the sixth inning and walked to load the bases in the second.
“We talk all the time you just never know when that moment is going to come for you,” Sand Rock coach Josh Bates said. “Maddie’s been seeing the ball real well and putting it in play. She had a good hit the at-bat before, and I felt very confident she was going to give us a chance to win the ball game. That’s what she did. She smoked that ball. It was big for her and big mentally for our team to push for that win.”
For a while, it looked as if Sand Rock (8-14) wouldn’t have to win the game in such dramatic fashion. The Lady Wildcats built a 4-1 lead heading into the top of the seventh, but Cedar Bluff (5-11) battled back to tie the game.
Tylee Bradford, who homered to left field in the top of the second, was intentionally walked to lead off the inning and bring Jaycee Cagle to the plate. Cagle crushed a home run to center field to bring the Lady Tigers within a run.
Pitcher Kaylyn Vadon then reached on an error to represent the tying run, bringing Anna Henderson to the plate with no outs. Henderson delivered a bunt single to give the Lady Tigers runners at first and third. Nine-hole batter Kyriah Vadon grounded out to third to score Kaylyn Vadon with the tying run before Sand Rock starting pitcher Emma Sipsy retired the side.
Camp led off the bottom of the seventh for Sand Rock and was hit by a pitch. Following a ground out by Raven Todd and a strikeout by Addisyn McMichen, Clanton belted the game-winning hit.
“It’s a memorable night to get over the hump and get that (first) win at home, but also on a night where we’re honoring one of the best if not the best player I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Bates said.
The highlight of the St. Clair ceremony following the game was the unveiling of a banner featuring her in her Mississippi State uniform. The banner lists her years playing softball at Sand Rock (2014-19), her years at Mississippi State (2020-24), and her professional softball team, the Texas Monarchs (2024).
Bates said the banner will be placed in center field between the scoreboard and the flagpole.
“We’re going to put her back in center field because that’s where she was. That’s where she belongs,” Bates said. “It’s a surreal moment to be able to put that banner up and honor her. She’ll be out there from now on. That way all the kids can see what she accomplished.
“It’s a great night she’ll remember and our kids will remember. I’m glad on a night we’re honoring her we were able to pull out a win.”
Alyvia McMichen also had a pair of hits and scored a run for Sand Rock. Macy Martin and Molly Grace Lay had a hit and a run apiece. Aliyah King also contributed a hit and walked. Sipsy walked twice and drove in a run.
Sipsy also earned the win. She allowed three earned runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
In addition to Bradford and Cagle’s homers, Henderson had a pair of hits for Cedar Bluff. Paityn Walker and Ciana Smith both finished with a hit.
Kaylyn Vadon suffered the loss. She finished with four strikeouts.
NOTE: You can read Shannon Fagan’s one-on-one interview with St. Clair on Wednesday afternoon.
