Staff Reports

ALBERTVILLE – Following an early morning 5-2 setback against Ohatchee, the Collinsville Lady Panthers survived a nine-inning battle with Locust Fork 7-5 to stay alive in the Class 3A East Softball Regional at Albertville’s Sand Mountain Park on Wednesday.

Collinsville (23-19) will take on Glencoe at 10:45 a.m. Thursday in an elimination game.

In the loss to Ohatchee, Collinsville held a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. Ohatchee then scored three runs to regain the lead and added another in the sixth for the final.

Brayleigh Smith and Gabriella Whitmore were both 2-for-3 at the plate for the Lady Panthers. Smith also scored a run.

Maelee Barkley had a hit and a RBI. Aubrey Reeves added a hit and a walk. Ella Coker finished with a hit.

Bella Wills pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Smith worked 1 2/3 innings and gave up an earned run on two hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

In the win over Locust Fork, Collinsville built a 5-0 lead before Locust Fork rallied to tie the game in the seventh and force extra innings.

With score still tied at 5 in the top of the ninth and a runner on, Whitmore singled in the go-ahead run. Jemma Smith followed with a single to extend the lead.

Coker went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and a run. Maelee Barkley belted a pair of doubles and scored three runs. Aubrey Reeves was 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and two RBIs. Jemma Smith went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Halle Peek was also 2-for-5 with a RBI.

Carlee Davis, Lexii Burt, and Brayleigh Smith each had a hit. Brayleigh Smith also scored a run.

Wills earned the win in relief of Brayleigh Smith. She worked three innings and allowed an earned run on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Brayleigh Smith tossed six innings and gave up three earned runs on seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts.